St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-19
BLAINE WAS THE END.
Rev. W. W. Satterlee Says the Repub-
lican Party Has No Candidate.
UNITY DIED WITH BLAINE.
The Methodist Church, He Says, Will
Fight License in Every
Guise.
To the Editor of the Globe.

To the Editor of the Globe.
The Republican party is greatly
straitened both for a candidate and a
platform. Neither of the old political
parties have any unifying principle, and
must be united, if at all, on a man, and
Republican unity died with Blaine. The
success of a party when based on man
can only be assured by intensity of de-
vOtiOn to that man. Blaine had "mug-
wumps," but those who loved him idol
lied him. No other statesman does or
can fill the place. The very hesitation
of the party places its love affairs where
the young WOman'S was who, having
half dozen ''strings to her bow" did
not know whom to choose. Such a
union lacks the essential elements of
happiness.
As to principle the party is not united
on anything. There is no question in
politics, fidelity to which constitutes a
man Republican. On the tariff some
are for protection, and the greater the
better: others are ''for revenue only"
Some do not hesitate to preside at free
trade meeting. 1t is matter OF
private opinion and local surroundings.
They declare the tariff the issue, but
they dare not make positive stand on
high license, but the party is full of
churchmen, who declare that license,
high or lOw,is compromise with crime.
Many of their voters are Methodlsts,
and this church has declared in its
highest tribunals against license III
every form and against political parties
controlled by the liquor traffic. Other
denominations are as firm. In Kansas
the party declares for prohibition, i'll
Iowa for submission and enforcement,
in Minnesota for license, and nationally
nothing. They say it is not a national
question. If so then they cannot con-
sistently make any declaration on
license or local option in their national
platform. In some places they favor
local option. and with the same breath
declare prohibition fraud. The anti
saloon Republicans wish the party to
change front on this question, but it is
too late, the battle is on. Had the
party, at the request of the womanhood
of America four or five years
ago, espoused the cause of the
home against the saloon, it could
not have Jared worse with it
then it did, and these four years would
have verified it and made it possible to
force the saloon issue onto the Demo-
CldtlC parry, anu tHuo uhitint7 eiO hio," i
forces of the country it could now take
advantage of the increasing tide of pro-
hibition to float out on the crest of the
wave of reform, and thus repeat its
glorious history of the past. But they
spat upon and spurned the issue, and
played the part of inquisitors by burn
ing in effigy the loyal followers of the
cause. If the party's national con-
vention shall declare for high license,
and thus take sides as national issue,
the remaining sentimental prohibition
ist will step out. If it declares for local
option. Louis Schade and tens Of thou
sands of German salOOnkeepers and
their friends will ''take with leaving"
The party cannot afford to do nothing
it fears to do anything, and thus the old
fence gives way under its rider, and
terrible shall be the catastrophe.
w. w. SATTERLEE.