Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-10-25
LErTeRs FRoM LIE PEOPLE,.
The rrohIbltIon rosltIon.

To the Editor Of EVENING JOURNAL.
Just now there is great deal being
said about that class Of temperance advo-
Gates who propose voting the Prohibition
ticket, state and national Many otherwise
good people charge them with throwing
away their votes, inasmuch as they can
not hope to be successful at the polls
This cannot be successfully supported
by logic 1t must be borne in mind
that we are not voting for men. True
there appears on the ticket the names Of
our standard bearers but these men
stand only for the great principle. and it
is for the principle, rather than for the
men, we vote The candidates NAV be
defeated, and yet the issues they repre-
sent may be elected So that while we
do not hope to elect the Prohibition can.
didates, yet we do hope to elect the pro
hibition issue; and for this reason alone
Il not for any other, temperance men are
justified in casting their ballots for the
Prohibition party. But there are other
reasons for this action, Let us look at the
situation: The Prohibition party assume.
and its position can be logically held. that
the abolition Of the liquor traffic is the
greatest question now before the nation.
| The first plank in it's platform declares
That the manufacture and sale Of alec.
holic beverages shall be made public
crimes and punished as such Bv this
declaration it can be seen that the Pro
hibton party speaks in no uncertain
tones on this great question its advocacy
Of the temperance cause amounts to an
imperative demand that the Internal
saloon shall be abolished.
Now what arc the positions held by the
old parties on this overshadowing issue
Of prohibition? Every one knows or
ought TO know, that the Democratic
party is arrayed fairly and squarely on
the side Of the saloon. That party makes
no profession Of temperance proelivties
whatever, but openly confesses its hos
Utility to all prohibitory legislation We
charge the Democracy with being q rum
party and it unblushingly pleads guilty;
| it needs no trial SO that we are an
agreed that vote for the Democratic
party is a vote for the saloon Let us
now look at the Republican party. and see
I where it stands en- this momentous cues.
! ton. This party makes a hypocritical
/ profession Of temperance sentiment, and
would have temperance people believe
that it is the only party through which
they can ever expect to accomplish their
! purposes. We assert that it is a rum
party, and that it does not favor the
! prohibition Of the liquor traffic There is
not q word in the national platform of
/ the Republican party about prohibition
I he question that is of SO much impor-
lance to advanced temperance men is
totally ignored, and the Republican
party thereby places itself on the side OF
| the saloon. The Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette, the leading Republican organ OF
Ohio, not very long ago, said. 1T is vain
to say that the Republican party must and
| shall become a prohibition party. Ii
must and shall do no such thing. Those
who are in it simply to make it so might
as well go at once, for they win not sue.
coed The Commercial Gazette is right.
| The Republican party is not in the
slightest degree prohibition party, for
If 1t were so many prominent brewers
and liquor dealers would not find in il
I such a congenial atmosphere The per,
manent chairman of the Chicago conven.
ton, Morris NJ. Estee of California. is
said to be q prominent wine mer.
chant. The chairman of the Finance
Committee of the State Central Com.
mittee of the Republican party OF
Pennsylvania is Colonel d. G. Kellar OF
Reading, who is also president of the
Pennsylvania Liquor League A fine TEN.
perance Cd party that, which puts liquor
men in such prominent positions. But
| further argument as to the standing OF
| the Republican party on the prohibition
issue is not necessary. 1t is held power.
less in the hands of the saloon element.
The difference between the Democratic
and Republican parties is that the former
pleads guilty to the charge of being a
rum party, while the latter, being also
guilty, yet practices hypocrisy and
pleads not guilty.
Now this being the position held by the
different parties what is the duty Of that
class of men who believe in and are work
ing for the overthrow Of the saloon? 1t
can be seen by any intelligent person
! that they cannot with any degree Of con
sistency whatever support either the
Republican or Democratic parties since a
vote for either would be a vote for the
continuance Of the licensed liquor traffic.
Welllearned temperance men recognize
this fact, and hence their only alternative
is to vote for the Prohibition party, which
make its dominant issue the overthrow
Of the saloon. This party stands for the
preservation of the Sabbath and the pro
lection Of the home. and in it are to be
found the best and most intelligent men
Of our country. The liquor traffic will
soon receive its death blow, and that
blow viii be administered by the rising
Prohibition party vote for such a
party is not vote thrown away, but a
ballot cast for either the Democratic or
Republican party is worse than wasted,
as such a ballot is an endorsement Of
the saloon business o. f. X.
Wilmington Del October 25 1883