Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-12
ERRORS OF TEMPERANCE WORKERS

/ To the Editor Of the Eagle.
The great want among temperance
workers Is uniformity of action This
absorbing subject is now in politics and
must be worked out on this line. The
Democratic party are fully committed to
out and out anti-temperance. The Pro-
hibitionists are for the wholesale de-
struction Of the liquor traffic with one
uncompromising stroke and refuse to
work on any other line. The Repubi-
cans are for prohibiting any further ag-
erosion of the evil and by all expedient
means working for its determination
from the land. 1t was precisely so in
the old anti-slavery agitation. In 1860
the hot-headed abolitionists who could
see nothing but slavery, opposed the Re-
publican party as too conservative, be-
cause they did not indorSe their extreme
ultra views on slavery and advocated
destroying the government and even the
churches to accomplish their end. If
Lincoln had endorsed such a platform
as this, he would have been defeated and
God only knows what would have be-
come OF the nation. While the nation
was being gradually educated up to the
point of emancipation, these We're fight
ing the president because he did not 90
faster. Early III the war, when Col.
Fremont freed the slaves who came to
him, Lincoln had to forbid it because the
people had not been educated up to that
advanced step.
So tits now. The prohibitionists only
ca he iat =
liquor business, and are unwilling to
work on any other line. With them it
is rule OF ruin" If they cannot cut the
tree down with one stroke they oppose
the man who by successive strokes ac-
composites the end. The Republican is
an aggressive prohibition party 1t is
true there are many corrupt, bad men in
1t, Ike there are in all organizations. but
It's doctrines on this subject are good.
All that has been accomplished in the in
terest of temperance has been through it.
and all the states that have adopted CON
stltutlonal amendments were Republican
states, and yet the ProhbitioniSts make
all their fights against the Republican
party. They admit that they accept
nothing from Democrats and have no
hope OF carrying the election themselves,
yet they work TO divide the Republican
vote and let the free whisky Democrats
into power. The Democrats well under
stand this, and while they despise them
IN their hearts they encourage these will
ling dupes IN their misguided work.
In Kansas we have all the laws we
need on temperance. If they were
multiplied a hundred fold it would not
render them more efficient. In all re-
forms public sentiment must first be
educated up TO the standard where it
approves of ii. Without this it can not
stand. The stream can not rise above
the fountain head and though it NAV
require years, it is better to advance
gradually than with one leap gain the
summit unprepared to hold 1t. The
children of Israel were kept forty wears
IN the wilderness because they were un-
prepared for citizenship in the land of
Canaan, and instead of taking all the
land ct once, they drove out the in
habitants little by little" Confirmed
almost Is Interchangeable as the /
skin or the leopard's spots. |
must be overcome, and the multitudes /
Of foreigners in their Ignorance and I
prejudice, who annually flock 10 our !
shores, must be educated to the standard I
OF temperance. There Is a great work /
to do and if the temperance workers are /
wise enough to take what they can get
and then press on for more, the end Will /
be permanently and safely gained.
l an in favor of the entire prohibition
Of the liquor traffic. except for medical. /
and scientific purposes. I'll
cannot get this l viii take local option.
AMI if l fail in this, Will take license
lnder the restrictions Of the courts. as in
Better half loaf than
no loaf at ALL
To ProhibitioniSts would say. do not
help an enemy Kill friend because he
iiEfers with you as TO the best means 10 +
obtain desired end. Ii is said man
'nce met bear, ana seeing a fight was
Inevitable. prayed thus Tor help; Lord,