The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-08-23
THE TEMPERANCE PLANK.

ANU OdlOOn hepuOllCan NaLlOnal COm
mittee. has received many inquiries froI
earnest Republican temperance men i
regard to the temperance plank in tn
Republican platform. Mr.. Griffin was
member of the Committee on Resolu
tions at Chicago, and is thoroughly cor
versant with the committees proceed
ings. He is asked how it happened tina
the temperance plank was not insertel
intthe first place, and what were the me
tives which led to its presentation lat
in the session. With view to replying
to such inquiries, Mr. Griffin has selected
a series of questions sent him by a cler
gyman, teacher in theological semi
nary, and takes them up in order. TIL,
questions are:
l. Why was not plank put into tn,
platform when first reported, like tn,
supplementary resolution finally adopt
ed?
2. How many of the delegates do yol
think were present and voted on thu
adoption of the resolution introduced by
Mr.. Boulelle?
3, Do you think there is anything il
the resolution offensive to the saloon
sts?
4. Was it introduced because of thu
expressed disappointment of yourself
and other prominent anti saloonists, al
well as the aroused indignation in thC
hope of no lding the temperance voter
| D. Does 1T mean anything?
MIR. Griffin answers these inquiries
and answers them satisfactorially, we
think. in the following public letter:
l. More than two thirds of the Plat
form Committee had expressed them.
selves in favor of the adoption of ar
anti-saloon plank, but most of then
were finally demoralized by the alarm
ing (and, in some cases, unfounded
statements of few prominent mon
and, as time was needed to prepare for
contest on the floor, those who remain.
ed firm decided that it would be bettel
to introduce an independent proposition
toward the close of the convention thar
to present a minority report, and the re-
suit confirmed the wisdom of thi
course.
2. Nearly all of the delegates wer,
present when the Boutele plank va
adopted, about 800 delegates rising t.
their feet in the affirmative and only on,
in the negative. Even before the reso
luton was read it was evident to every
one present that the sympathies of tn,
mass of the delegates and of the audi
ence were also with Mr.. Boutelle. No
was it "sprung upon the convention.
for Senator HiscOck, ex. senators Mile
and Platt and Chauncey NJ. Depew o
New York, and equally prominent mel
from other states had previously agreed
to support similar resolution.
B. The demand Of the liquor men wa
that nothing should appear in the plat
form that even meant temperance, ant
they were and are very bitter over tn
final action of the convention. The mex
day one of their leading political repre-
sentatives said to me: II would rathe
have given $40. 900 than have had tina
resolution pass" and overheard anoth
er of them in heated discussion say. il
response to statement that the brew
ers had once adopted a resolution tha
was as strong as the Republican plank
Yes, | am aware of that, but everybod,
knew they were not in earnest, Will
these d-n temperance Republican,
mean every word they have said an,
more" The language of the resolution
may not be offensive to all saloon keep
ers, but its idea and aim is. The Ilinoi
Stats Zeitung. the most influential Ger
man paper in the interior and which
edited by Herman Raster, the author o
the famous "Raster resolution" says:
saWhiIa tha Papnhl;oo,, NoNsnnol Cnn
vention in the beginning kept every de
claration for temperance out of its plat
form, it adopted, Immediately befor
separating. on motion of a member fror
Maine, and almost unanimously, resO
luton which pledges the party to sur
port all wise efforts for furthering ten
perance. Every child knows what sue
a declaration means from the mouth an
interpreted by the mouth OF the origins
prohibition State of Maine. The Reput
licau party, as such, stands now as tn
temperance party"
1t is doubtless true that, when tryin
to help the third party draw radics
temperance men out of the Republica
ranks, some dramsellers, who formerl
were and may even yet claim to be RI
publcans, pretend to be satisfied wit
the attitude of the Republican party, ,bu
no dispassIonate man believes them.
4. When he first heard that the CON
mittee had decided not to report an ar
ti.saloon plank, Mr.. Boutelle was astor
ished and announced his willingness t
present one at the proper time. Senate
Hoar and other prominent member
were equally emphatic in their declari
tion that the mistake must be rectifie,
and the efforts Of those of us who wei
especially looking after the matter wei
daily aided by multitude of letters an
kilograms that poured in on member
> until the feeling became 30 strong thu
, it swept everything before it.
3 5. 1t means all it says-and NOR
Herman Raster was right when /
wrote "The Republican party ,as sucl
= stands now as the temperance party"
l deeply regretted the action of II
p committee and would have been glad
> more ringing resolution had been fina
: ly adopted; but am not discouraget
and see no reason for supporting the Sc
4 loon party. even by indirection, On Il
1 contrary, rejoice that the Republica
I party has at last set its face against II
n saloon and shall help it to press forwaI
1t is no small matter to have committe
, the party everywhere against the whi
kew ring protection tax and in favor
"all wise and well directed efforts Il
|, the promotion Of temperance and mora
: ity." and to have nominated such ma
: as Gen. Harrison. After this nation
! Endorsement of the resistless tread
Republican sentiment, there can be J
!, doubt Of the fact that substantially evei
i man who cares more for the liquor bus
ness than he does for Republican prime
|, Piles will support the Democratic tick
= next fall; and this concentration OF Il
common enemy should cause corr,
spending union of the opponents of tn
business in the ranks of the only part
that is both able and willing to defer
it.
Mr.. Griffin's letter is a plain, fran
statement, which does not conceal
gloss over anything. It shows first thi
the temperance plank was presented
the time it was in furtherance of tixt
:, plan. and because it was believed to
the wisest moment to do so. In the Sc
ond place the letter makes it evideI
that the saloon people are disgusted
! the plank, and that their allegiance
the Democratic party is strengthened |
it. 1t is undeniable that tremendor
and dishonest pressure was brought
u bear on many of the delegates to Il
convention IN favor of absolute silen
on the liquor question, This pressure
4 first had an effect in the Committee {
u Resolutions, but was finally thrown Z
by the adoption of plank which, con
! ing from the men it did. irrevocab
u commits the Republican party again
:, the saloon. The first fruit of the r
U publican anti saloon movement is ere,
table and gratifying. and the moveme
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