The Delta independent., 1888-08-14
FISK ACCEPTS.
AND gives His Reasons for the Prohf-
bition pnrty's Existence.

anu gives His REASONS for the Prohf-
biiion pnrty's Existence.
CHICAGO, Aug. 6.-The letters Of &C.
septancJ "f Genera! Clinton b. Fisk and
John A. Brooks, Prohibition candidates
for President and Vice-President of the
United States, were made public this after
noon. General F.sk's letter is dated Sea-
bright, New Jersey, July 25. ltOpens with
an expression of q grateful sense of tine
honor conferred by the indianapolis con-
vention, and, after formally accepting the
nomination, prOcct DIS as follows:
"Within a few years temperance reform
mas altogether changed 'front.' In the great
conflict which has been and is yet raging,
the temperance forces no longer face hu
man appetite and habit alone. They op-
pose legislation, law, the purpose of polit!-
cal parties, the policy of State and Nation.
Whatla creates law alone can kill. The
creature of law, the saloon liquor traffic,
can die only at laws hand or the hand of
the laws executor.
at is not enough that we reform the indi-
vidnal; we must reform the state. A re-
form so vast as this we advocate, involving
such radical changes in State and National
policy is utterly dependent for its agitation
and consummaticn upon some party
force.
1.-THE National Democratic party in its
platform utter5 no word in condemnation
of the greatest foe of the Republic, the
liquor traffic. 1t was with great reluctance
came to admit the imperative need Of a
new party while yet the party of my old
choice, the National Republican party
maintained its organization. have seen
no hour of regret Every day since then
has shown yet more clearly the logic of my
course and the inevitable truth of my con.
clusions.
"1n Texas, in Tennessee and Oregon so.
called non-partisan efforts to establish pro-
hibition have failed through the partisan
necessity of those Of the liquor elements in
he old party composition. In Iowa, Rhode
Island and Maine the laws have been
shamelessly defied for like reason. The
entire trend Of things the last four years
has proven hopeless.
"Thc broader range OF prohibition effects
through non-partisan means are equally
futile as the final consummation of the nal
rover methods of local option and high
license, while the Supreme Court itself has
shown startling emphasis at the declaration
SO nationalizing this reform that it can
never be made of state limitation again.
1.-The first concern Of good government ,
said the recent National Republican Con-
vention at Chicago, lis the virtue and So
briefly of the people and the purity Of the
home.' If the chief concern has no place
in the party's platform, and the party has
no policy as to that chief concern that
party does not deserve the support of men
who love good government and would see
it maintained.
1.-The Prohibition party's chief concern
is for the party's home virtue and the So
bri ETY. of the people. That party is not la
boris truest friend which would bar the i'm
portation of paupers from abroad or close
the tariff door of competition to pauperize
foreign industry, and then by the liquor
system perpetuate the manufacture Of pau
pers and criminals in our own midst, with
whom honest labor must compete; whom.
largely honest labor must supportD