River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-08-02
A EAIR STATEMENT
Albert Grinin's Appeal to the Patriotic
temperance Men of the Country.


ee, has issued an address TO the coun-
ny in which he summarizes the work
IF the National Republican convention
IN temperance mat sel's and appeals -
he voters TO support the ticket nomi-
mated by the convention. He gives his
reasons for this advice. Below is Mr..
Grifiin's address;
Intense partisans and misinfcrmed men are
making so many mi1statements about the ae-
ion az me late Republican National oonven-
ion that II seems necessary TO state the real
acts. The truth is that the anti-saloon cause
suffered one defeat and gained three victories.
rhe defeat was the refusal OF the Committee
On Resolutions 10 put an ant.-saloon plank in
the platform. This was at first regarded as a
Waterloo, and IL the contest had ended there
IN overwhelming disaster at the polls would
rave been inevitable. The first victory was
he adoption OF plank committing the party
against the National whisky ring protection
AK, which plank was supported by every de-
Hded temperance man on the committee.
Business men know that IL is the retail, and
lot the wholesale price Of an article that az
eets consumption. Remembering then that
he imposition OF a tax OF q gallon on spirits
lid not cause the slightest Increase in the price
Of drink Of whisky, that the reduction TO 50
cents per gallon was not followed by a fall.
nor the subsequent increase to %
cents by a rise, il is evident that the tax
souId not have operated a restriction.
Remembering, again, that the taxes paid
IN liquor amount 20 about s70,Oo0,OOO a year,
aud that all the principal distillers, brewers
and wholesale dealers determinedly oppose re-
pealing the tax, il is evident that in some
way, II benefits that trade" for IL Is incon-
;eivable that the men engaged in such bust
aess would be anxious to nav so much money
nothing. Discussion %
perance men solid against the National
liquor tax as liquor men are now in favor of IL.
State tax on saloons operates very differ
entity from a National tax on the liquor itself
The second victory was the nomination OF
Seneral Harrison, because of his record as
total abstainer and an avowed anti saloonist.
When the committee decided not 90 report an
plank number Of us went through
the different delegations, urging those who
realized what q colossal blunder had been COM
mitted, TO support General Harrison as their
second choice, on the ground that il had be-
come necessary 10 nominate some one whose
record would be platform" So large a num-
Der agreed to this that. when a concentration
was finally attempted, he was found 20 be the
second choice OF so many that IL became neces-
sary for the managers 10 support him. Some
OF them, however, intended TO give him but
two or three ballots and then go TO Mr.. Sher-
man, but he was so much stronger than they
had supposed that they could find no excuse
for leaving him. II the committee had reported
an anti-saloon plank the friends of that cause
would not have made the desperate efforts for
him that they did, and il is more than possible
that some one else would have been nominated
The third victory was the final adoption by
the convention of a temperance plank, intro
duced by Congressman Boutell, OF Maine As
an attempts being made to create an impress
sion that il is not part OF the platform. and was
not intended TO mean any thing in particular,
quote Mr.. Boutelle's opening remarks as re-
ported by the Chicago Tribune, which is not
friendly 10 the anti-saloon cause:
Mr.. PRBSIDEST-On behalf of a large number
of the delegates OF this convention. by their
request, and in accordance with their wishes, 1
desire TO move the suspension of the rules and
adopt a resolution 10 be added TO the Repub-
lican platform. The Republican party stands
before the country for the protection OF the
ballot for the protection OF American industry,
and for the protection of the purity OF the
home. lApplausel. The affairs of Republican
ism in this country stand by the fresides OF the
American people. tApplausei. The founda-
tion OF this grand organization of ours is the
sobr!ety. the morality and the virtue OF the
common people. IApplausel. The Republican
rarity sprang into existence as the champion of
moral reform in the United States Of America.
IApplausel. II stands to-day, If IL stands for
any thing, as the standard bearer OF every
principle that tends 20 elevate our common
humanity and eradicate the evils which threat.
en- the body polite.
Several delegates excitediy opposed the sus-
pension of the rules or even the reading Of the
plank, but the sentiment OF the convention was
so strongly against them that, after consider
able confusion. it was read as follows taken
from Chicago Tribune:
The first concern of all good governments is
the virtue and sobriety OF the people and the
purity OF the home. lCries OF GoodJ The Re
nublscan marty cordially svmpafhfzes with all
Eise and well-directed efforts for the promotion
81 temperance and morality. loud applause.
numbers Of the delegation 20 their feet, and
sries OF Good. y
Nearly every State then seconded the motion
for a suspension of the rules, and amid great
the plank was adopted by a rising
vote with only one nay. In short, it was evil
dent 20 every dispassionate person who wit
messed the scene that the Republican party had
crossed the Rubicon and burned all bridges be-
mind them.
The foregoing is a candid statement Of the
facts. At one time il looked as though all was
lost but courage and perseverance finally
saved the party and the cause. The liquor in
terests imperiously demanded that the whole
subject should be ignored IN the platform and
that mo temperance man should be put on the
ticket" even Directing 10 Senator Allison sole
ly because he came from the prohibition
State. The convention answered by nom
mating the most pronounced temperance
candidate IN the field, by disappearing of
the one National law that gives aid and
comfort 10 the whisky ring, and by almost unan-
imously putting IN the platform a plank un-
equivocaliy avowing the sympathy Of the Re
publican party to the entire nation with the
cause
When to such acton is added the fact that
within the last two years the Republican legis-
lators of every Republican State excepting
California, Nevada, Illinois and Wisconsin
have angered the dram-selling fraternity by
passing or attempting TO pass laws against
their interests, it is insensate folly to expect
that they viii anywhere support the Republic
an party. Some Of them may pretend to do so,
but their promises will be worthless. Dram
sellers are not exceptions to the universal rule
that men seldom vote against what they believe
TO be their own interests.
Under these circumstances. IS il not the plain
duty Of every earnest, disinterested friend OF
temperance 10 give the Republican party
hearty support: II presents TO them a lifelong
enemy of the saloon q candidate, on a mod
crate but unambiguous temperance platform,
while the Democratic candidate is exactly the re-
verse. and stands on a platform denOuncing
sumptuary laws. One Of these two platforms and
candidates will De approved by the Nation
next November. and, let him squirm and chop
logic as he may, the cold clammy fact remains
that . temperance man who refuses 20 support
the Republican ticket consents TO Demo
cratic SAIGON rules ancs lurtuer, tnaL II ne
in any way undertakes 10 still further
weaken the Republican party he becomes.
while thus engaged, an active saloon defender.
He may try TO quiet his conscience by dream
ing dreams. and coniuring up visions of great
things in the future, but if he is honest, he
must admit that he is for the present time
helping the saloon 20 retain its grip ia the
country. Ask the dram seller Of the United
States, conhdentally, how they desire you 10
vote, and nineteen-twentieths OF them will say
" for the Democratic ticket" Ask further
whether they prefer 10 have you vote for Hsr-
rison or Fisk and they will answer promptly.
Fisk They are not thinking about 1892 or
1895 but i8Ss. They propose to make use OF the
present and work for the future afterwards.
Are you really willing TO let them drag scores
of thousands OF men, women and children 20
ruin now, in the vague hope that you can
drive twenty times your number hereafter into
d sregarding their own convictions and obey
ing your commands?
Temperance men OF America. l implore you
to put aside passion. prejudice and party spirit
while considering the matter. And l especial
" ask those Republicans who, before the con-
vent'on rectified the committees mistake, de-
cided 10 join the third party. not to let pride OF
opinion or temper keep them where their in
fuence in this contest must necessarily
strengthen the liquor power and make strug-
Cling humanity more helpless. I was also
grieved and angry flor had been deceived in
some cases.. but the sobs and means OF suffer
ing multifudes ever pleading for help now,
1ade il impossible 10 long take council Of
wrath. Revenge may be sweet but ii is sweet
er stan 20 lift up the fallen, provided il is done
before they have been tTampled 20 death. The
bid friends you leave behind are as honest and
as hard-headed as you are You can not be
driven; neither can they. They have as much