The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-10-16
PORTLAND PROHIBITION cLus.
Gen. Perry Explains why II Should
support Harrison and Morton.

The Portland Prohibition Club. at their
meeting at theirrOoms on Exchange street, in
vited Gen. j. j. Perry to address them and
explain why, in his judgement, they should
support Harrison and Morton. There was
good attendance. Gen. Perry said:
Mr.. Chairman: My own reasons for SUD-
porting General Harrison for the Presidency
Will be briefly stated, in response to your
kind invitation, but whether or not this will
coincide with your judgment on the premis-
es Is question for you and not me to set
tie.
The terrible evils of intemperance are not
denied, While the liquor traffic stands brand
ed before the civilized world as the gigantic
crlme,of crimes. In prohibition club af-
hrmative arguments are not needed to sus-
tain these two general properties.
The great question Of suppressing the liq-
uor traffic is not only reformating question
but in a certain sense a political issue. onr
votes at the ballot box should be so cast as
to afford protection to our homes and stand
practically against the saloon. In voting we
are not dealing with distractions but facts.
Frohloltlonists should vote not only for tenn
perate, but temperance men for office. By
this mean men of strict temperance habits.
and men who Will give the cause of temper
ance their warm official support in all practi-
ways.
Voting involves the question of political
these people. express their opinions upon
great national issues. Candidates for office
are but the representatives of the men who
vote for them and of the platform Of princi-
And our discussions tonight are not of tar
III, tariff reforms, Mills bills or Allison's
bills, none OF these, but the relations and
duties OF temperance men in the coming
Presidential election.
Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleaveland
and Clinton b. Fisk. are the candi-
known as Republican, Democratic and ID Pro- Pre-,
hibition. The candidate Of the Prohibition
party, Gen. Fisk, is mon whose reputation
the presidential race. General Harrison,
also, Is able, honest, and a temperance man.
But, as matter of fact, it Is not a race
between the three parties, but two, for the
presumption is strong that the Prohibition
party will not succeed In securing the cleo
tion OF single Presidential elector in the
whole country. 1t necessarily follows, that
every man Will be compelled to choose either
directly or indirectly between Harrison and
Cleveland. The prohibition party although
u prooaDly cannot choose single elector,
has grave responsibility it cannot avoid.
as between the two leading candidates
Four years ago 1t took the responsibility
and by its indirect action elected Grover
Cleveland for talk as much as you please
about Dr.. Burchard's Rum, Romanism and
Dinner" the 25,016 votes given to ex-Gover-
nor st. John (two-thirds Of which came from
the Republican party in New York, de-
feated Blaine and elected Cleveland. Wheth-
er these eighteen or nineteen thousand Re-
publlcans who voted for st. John voted
recklessly with regard to results, or preferred
Cleveland to Blaine is immaterial, for they
could have done no mole had they ivoted di-
rectly for the former, for by their rotes as
cast they elected him.
IL 10 fOr ...a 70 e Al
votes Of other States New York four years
ago was a pivotal State. it Is pivotal
State now. History often repeats itself, and
it may in this case. Let us pause and look
at the political situation in New York at the
present time. / speak OF this State because
the whole question seems to centre here
Nine chances out Of ten as New York goes
so goes the election.
There never was time in the history of
the temperance question as connected with
| political in this country when the lines were
| so squarely drawn between temperance and
| the saloons, as in the New York elections.
and the battle Is to be fought out upon this
| line between the Democratic and Republican
parties. The action of the Prohibition party
| in that State, will undoubtedly directly
| affect the result the same as it did four wears
| ago. Gov. Hill boasts that he had rather
| have the votes of the rumsellers than the
temperance men, and he is backed by the
entire saloon interest of that State and more
| especially OF that rum cursed city. He IS
| the regular candidate Of the Democratic
| party, and 1t Is this very party that support:
Cleveland. On the other hand, Warner
Miller, the candidate for governor of the
Republican onG n,dppy, party, Is strong temperance
| port, If elected, of the strongest Temperance
legislation passed by the Republicans anG
York legislature. '''0 ~
Here Is Hill, mortgaged soul and body Il
these breathing holes of hell" and boast
ed representative Of the vilest and most cor
rupt constituency that ever disgraced God:
eartn, on the one side, and Miller, the repre-.
sentative OF the churches, the clergy, the
vlrtuous aad honest citizens of the State. on
Cleveland and Harrison, upon the Presiden-
tlal tickets. Can it be possible that any hon
est Prohibitionist will SO vote as to contri-