The Portland daily press., 1888-09-07
POLITICAL PROHIBITION.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST pAeE.1

parts; that minority ought to rule the ma
jority.
Political parties cannot move faster than
the people. Parties are the servants Of the
people; they are machines by which the peo-
pie work out their purposes in government.
Inc nrst duty OF party to nominate men to
take the government where they find it, and
60 guard it from the outlawry of the wicked.
lie who willingly sacrifices good already in
corporated into law, in the hope that out Of
political dishonor and the chaos Of reckless
ness snail be evolved better social conditions
and higher forms Of civilization that man
mas not rightly studied constitutional gov
ernmenL Inc lcon0clast Is not likely to be
a builder Moral reforms seeking recogni-
tlon In government are not accomplished
through party action, but through and out of
the brain and heart of men trusted by the
people 10 40 whatever needs to be done. That
great statesman, John Sherman, was not
elected to bring about resumption of specie
payment; the people of his State sent him to
the United States Senate as strong man. a
sound fnancier. Out of his knowledge and
ability ana the necessities of the times was
born the financial system which has made
our national credit universally unchallenged.
Henry w. Blair was not elected to introduce
pronlDlt0ry amendment or to originate his
great plan Of federal aid to public schools.
He was sent to the House and afterwards to
the Senate because he was a man who could
be trusted. "His works praise him in the
gates"
The Republican party as a party has al
ways stood for the highest temperance legis-
latlon which the people demanded. The Re-
publican party in its rank and file and
through its individual representatives has
originated and enforced the EXTREMIST legis-
lation yet on record. Beyond this no party
can 60 without first yielding its claim to be
servant OF the people. A party should not
assume the role of moral reformer. Reforms
are vital with moral nurOocQ hnr, nf inf
gence and conscience; they gather to them
selves by the attraction of human sympathy
and the cohesion of truth, individual after
individual, until out of the mass of individ-
uals comes so strong sentiment that legis-
lation Is had. and government feels the touch
OF the reform. Then party organization Of
fers It's machinery in support of the reform
which the people have adopted.
The record of the Republican party proves
1t to be made up of men out of whose brain
and heart reforms have come in the past and
are likely to come in the future. The party
in its organism has gone and will go Just as
fast as the people sustain. L once heard a
minister say that he could not support the
Republican party, in certain State. because
it was not up to the standard set by his
church for its membership. What confusion
in statement Church membership Is based
upon moral and spiritual conditions; party
membership upon citizenship and political
belief. To set up the same standard for both
relations Is to mix the text of the Saviour's
command, Render unto Caesar the things
that are Cssar's and to God the things that
We are told, with information not emphasiz-
ed with the charity which rejoiceth not in
iniquity." that the temperance plank of the
Chicago platform, adopted by that honora-
Bile body of representative Americans, in
party, fellowship with nine-tenths of all the
for temperance than a declaration of the
Liquor Dealers Association. What incon-
sistencyl AS well might comparison be
drawn between a Straightforward avOwal of
devotion from an honest man to a good wom-
an, and the protestations of the iibertine to
the poor creature he would make his prey.
Not the least of the disastrous results of
Third Party" doctrine and policy is this
confusion Of moral standards, this calling
evil good and good evil. The charity which
tan inp politics as to the Christian anywhere
else; TO indicate that the two great parties
OF the country are differentiated only by the
whiskey hogshead and the beer keg, is a
frlyollty and recklessness in Illustration pre-
Guiding answer by Argument To say in one
breath that prohibition is the demand of the
hour, that prohibition prohibits, and then
proceed to defeat the men who have voted
Tor prohibition and the party that Cordially
sympathlzes' with prohibition, does not tend
to inspire confidence in the mental vigor and
moral uprightness of those who challenge
approval OF their devotion and policy.
The Third Party trades in the devotion
OF women and the heroism of men. 1t goes
TO the drunkard's wife and the broken-heart-
cd mother; with much ostentatiOn it saws.
I'VE will fight for you, we will avenge you OF
your adversary. Join our train, and follow
us! and the women follow. 1t induces
those women to give their money, their SER
vices, their influence" the most precious of
their treasures, in support of party ticket.
the only possible result of that party tick,
Ell being to decrease the chances of electing
the best men nominated by the two great
parties.
This Third Party" goes to strong. true
men, ministers of the Gospel, perhaps. and
says, You are the foe of the liquor traffic;
you desire its overthrow; then vote with us
this ticket labeled Prohibition" BY every
such vote cast are the friends Of the saloon
encouraged.
Its sad, indeed, when Christians are will
ling to do evil that good may come; are will
ling that prohibition shall be DELAYED in or
der that party may be built up. 1t is
boldly stated that prohibition Is not desira-
hibition party. Did ever Republican Pro-
hlDltionist or a Democratic ProhibitiOnist
make such declaration?
With great pleasure the Republicans of
Iowa and other States testify to the good
work of certain Democrats who voted for
prohibition, or who not voting for it at the
popular election are now active supporters
OF its enforcement. The Democratic party
In Iowa at its conventions defere to the grow
ing sentiment in its ranks, and no longer de-
nounces prohibition or gives open support to
the saloon.
It's boosted that the Third Party is the
only political party which honors the wom-
an. Honors woman indeed 1t appropri-
ates her work and her influence to It's own
purposes and pays in fulsome batteries;
IL gives to women seats in con-
ventions, and places their names
on meaningless committees and tickets
impossible Of success. Flattery is cheap:
full convictions are desirable; woman's So
cial and religious influence adds respectable
ity to propaganda. The personal respect Of
the good men of The Third Party Is wor
thy the emulation Of any woman. but sap
posed party honors are no criterion Of that
respect. The pity of it is, that women, gen
tic and refined, and sometimes strong.
should be vain enough to be thus caioled and
their God-glven powers thus mortgaged, Do
not prayers ascend for this party and its
candidates? Certainly So did many Chris
tan men and women pray for success of the
Confederate army. Were they not sincere?
To be sure; and God who knows all hearts
answers all sincere prayers in His own time
and His own way.
How the Prohibition party shall serve the
ends o.. good government does not yet APP
pear; that it shall do so faith bids us believe.
HE maketh the wealth Of man to praise