The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-10-27
NoN.PARrIsAN PROHIBITION.

About two months ago the 'fnOn-
partisan prohibition convention" held
its annual session in this city. Daring
itself new Lumc-the estate non Par
tisan Prohibition association" Wilt
our friend the enemy please bear this
in mind and cease speaking of as as
sthe Prohibition Party" which is an
distinct Organization and is, as
its name Indicates, a political party,
called the s'Third Party"
In the face of the stoutest protests on
our part we have been told that We are
u political party, aud as to the name
we have assumed 1t has been charged
against the members of this association
that we are sailing under false colors,
that the word uon-partisan Is q mark
of hypocrisy behind which We are
working to disrupture the Democratic
party. IT any gentleman who may
have been present at the late non par
tisan prohibition association should
subsequently, be found 10 be IN asivu-
cate of the "NationaI Prohibition par
ty," it is trumpeted as an evidence
that we are all of the same stripe.
About three or four years ago the
writer was present at the first State
Prohibition convention. There were
Of course, prior TO that time, many
Temperance organizations throughout
the State but up to that time there
was no State organization. The CON-
veniion met In Shreveport. The at
tendance was not large, but among
the numb Der was Representatives of sew
oral Democratic papers Of the State,
and well remember how extremely
cautious were those gentlemen, with
others, to take any part whatever in
the proceedings until the position OF
the convention WAS clearly and unmis-
takably defined as non. partfsan
movement. At each annual VEN
tion held since this position has been
reiterated aud, il that were posi- bic,
more strongly emphasized, and for
! that very reason we have hud the
sympathy and support Of many Of the
staunchest Democratic papers OF the
State, aud among the members of this
association are just as true Democrats
as any who have sneered at this move
ment.
But we are asked what about Capt.
B. and Mr.. f. and others who were
In attendance at your 81 ssion and are
known to be avoWed advocates Of the
National Prohibition party? We an
swer that the fact that we have national
prohibitionists in our ranks proves tt,at
the position we profess to occupy is
indeed what 1t purports to- be--"nOn-
partisan" Would it be pon.partisau
ii 1t excluded any party Democrat.
Republican or Third Party? In poll
tics we may differ, In religion we may
differ, but our hopes and aims are one
prohibition; and it is as unfair to speak
l OF this movement as a f.Third Party"
movement, because some OF it, mem.
bers are advocates Of that party, as t.
call it Republican movement, be-
cause some of its advocates may be
Republicans. Apropos. quote the
following published in tho Kuston CAL
igraph year or two ago. on "Demcc-
racy vs. Probibion":
"1n the prohibition movement which
is now sweeping over the South, there
ia no menace whatever to Democracy,
1t does seem that no sensible mtn
would contend that the prohibition
movement in the South is intended to
injure or supplant any political psrty
when the character Of its followers and
the influences brought TO bear are
known. 1t is not championed by
broken down and disgruniled poll
ticans who espouse its principles in
order to ride into office and power
again, but on the contrary, its advo-
Gates in the main are composed Of the
non political element of The country,
| who have no desire to come in contact
with the COMMUNICATING influences
which attach to politics. AS an honest
Democrat, 1t saddens our heart TO sec
the great old party playing the game IT
the silly candle fly and bantering an
issue which will ultimately work It's
ruin and total annihilation.'
The latest sensation along this line
was started by passenger who arrived
here from Ruston on Sunday last. He,
1t seems, reported that Rev. J. A.
Parker of Ruston, a prominent mem-
Der of the Prohibition Association held
here, had announced himself as a cam
didate for Congress ON the Prohibition
ticket and would run against Hon. G,
J. Boatner our present nominee. He
1 t~n. Hn,~