Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-11-06
COLUMN
EDITED BY A COMMITTEE.
THE PARTY OF PROGRESS.

phase of American life which is pre-
scented to US every four years: The
spectacle of two great parties in
great nation expressing their will at
the ballot box. That this spectacle |
is presented to US too often, is not the
point we would consider to-day; only
we would throw out this idea, at
random. 1t is belief that physical
organism is renewed every seven
years. II this is law OF nature, why
not good one to adopt as law OF
nations? 1t is not the parties that we
would condemn. There must be par
ties. Only in this way can principles
be put into practise. But we would
try and discover through the foggy
atmosphere, who is the loyal party
man? He who lets his party govern
him; he who virtually DISTINGUISHES
himself and refuses to vote because
he does not approve OF his party. or
he who with strong conviction and
de finite purpose, makes Use of which
ever party best represents his belief?
There were many men among the
best and strongest in the nation who,
at the time of Lincoln's candidacy,
voted the ticket which would kill
slavery. Although free trade with
them was a question Of conscience
and the tariff tremendous wrong, yet
the question of slavery was the domi-
nant issue, and they voted the Re-
publican ticket. Had not good, true
men of the Democratic party voted
with the Republicans at that time
slavery might still be cursing its
millions. Aud this must often be the
situation.
What is the test of vitality in a
party? Is it not the ability to stead
tasty adhere to great principles, and
quietly assume new duties as those
duties evolve themselves and become
paramount? AS politics stand to-day
no man Of sane Intelligence can
deny the temperance question Is
the overshadowing moral issue
Of the day. "Aud that alcohol is
competent to destroy the strongest
civilization if left unhindered in its
, poten,;a'ity." The party that recog-
nzes this fact and adopts measures OF
I reform in the direction Of prohibition
Of int importance, is to be the party Of
progress in the future.
The word prohibition need not
> f,ighten any one. There is not, new
, err was, and never will be, Reform
worth anything which is not in Its ma
, ture prohibitory. Emancipation was
, prohibition; rebellioa was a proh'bi
ton; every step taken against it wa
, taken under that condition that it wa
q prohibited. The beginning and th
n end Of the moral law is prohibition
= "Thou shalt, and thou shalt not.
n There is prohibition which does no
prohibit Any arbitrary, aornp
y measures in any party will fail. Par
ties ruled by sentiment without jude
ment will fail Parties ruled by zea
e without knowledge will fail. An
. the craze for drink will sometime
4 overmaster any law, human or aiyins
But this proves nothing against tt
.g law.
- "Ihere is an element in our cou'
20 try that casts ballot it cannot reao
- All element from which our prso
M cells and drunkarls' graves are fi'!et
10 an element that menaces public ord
T.. aud civilization always, but never
If fearfully as when it goes to the polls
"a That this element has reached such 6
4 gantic strength is due TO the fact, tia
ia there is another element in the cha1
acters of many men- oftimes o.
-. leaders which can cniy be charact'
h. lied as a luke-warm indifference
a good or evil. They have neither
-. wholesome liking, nor vigorous d
an like for anything. These men a
.ro often called eentlemanly men, GOO
he men, charitable men, trnstwortl
bar men, whereas the, truth is, they IA
!. indolent, self-iAdulgent and selfish
a criminal d, gree. Such men obi
crate distinctions ami cause a state
mental obscurity not only in their o'
by minds, but in the beliefs of tho
ice around them. We do not want su