The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-01-25

provoke healthy discussion, and to
bring before the people the ques.
ton which by common consent of
friend and fos in the old parties,
had been condemned to inocuous
desuetude."
Suddenly host of friends came
to the front, full of advice and
anxiety for the Amendments fate.
The air for time was blue with
threats and out of the confusion
arose the vexed question which is
our text.
AN IMPORTANT INQUIRY.
Can tho ratification of the
Amendment be more certainly as.
cured by tho withdrawal of the
Prohibition party from the field?
1t is q matter Of history that in
no state has Prohibitory Amend.
ment been adopted, where 1t has
failed to have tho cham pionship of
a political party. In Maine both
parties favored tho Amendment,
and in Iowa and Kansas the Re-
publican party stood sponsor for
the measure. The fate Of the
Amendments in Texas and Oregon
does not warrant as in attaching
any special merit to "pon.partisann
methods; and especially was this
demonstrated in tennessee and At.
lanta where the issue was Invested
Of all partisan entanglements.
GIVE ALL A CHANCE.
We are Of those who believe it
worth while to give each party q
chance to show its " faith" in this
direction by it's works. Give the
people q chance to see which party,
along with the other issues, will do
most to secure the ratification of
the Amendment, and certainly the
history Of successful work in this
direction is on the side of the Pro-
hibition party.
The surrender of the position
that party organization was neces-
sary would be at least implied, in
the consent to place no ticket in
the field during the coming cam
paign, unless it can be shown that
conditions have arisen, demanding
this change of base, not contem-
plated at the time Of organization.
This is not the case, as the memory
of those who listened to the discus.
sions of both sides at the time OF
organization will attest. The en-
tire ground was canvassed, and
looking full in the face the precise
condition of affairs that now exist,
these men severed former political
alliances, and banded themselves
together, not simply to secure the
submission and ratification of the
Amendment; but for the broader
and more desirable attainment of
State and National Prohibition.
This they declared to be the result
of mature elaboration and con-
scientious conviction, saying, II
can do no other, God help me-"
The conditions that demanded or.
ganization three years ago. call ur.
gently for its maintenance to-day.
Prohibition sentiment has be-
come contagious as the liquor traf-
flo has grown more arrogant over
temporary victory. Men have begun
to investigate the sources of its
power, and are discovering that it
lies in its political alliances.
Thoughtful men are clipping
their fingers under party ties, ready
to snap them when they pull the
wrong way. The grip of the 3d.
loon tightens as the party lash is
laid on. Prohibitionists need to
stand with steady nerve and clear
brain, ready to answer abuse with
argument, to prove their loyalty to
the Amendment by their labors
for it.
IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIZATION.
No one understands better than
the politician the importance of or.
ganization, and the difficulty of
rallying disbanded forces and this
recognition is the occasion for the
imperious demand that Prohibi-
tionists shall not put ticket in
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