The Indianapolis journal., 1888-08-07
Mr.. Mcpherson Exposes the Absurdity
of Some of Voorhees, Assertions.
President Cleveland Said To Be Meditating
Surprise for the Politicians-NOtes of
the Campaign in the HOOsier State.
THE PROHIBITIONISTS.
Points from Gen. Fisk's Letter Accepting the
Nomfn alton for President.

Points from Gen. Fisk's Letter Accepting the
Nomination for President.
CHICAGO, Aug. 6-The letters of acceptance
of the national Prohibition party candidates
for President and Vice-presldent are made pub
lie this afternoon. The letter of Gen. Clinton
B. Fisk, candidate for President, is dated at Sea-
bright N. j.. July %. The opening paragraph
expresses q grateful sense of the honor
ferred upon him by the Indianapolis convention
and formally accepts the nomination. It then
proceeds as follows:
"Within few years the temperance reform
has altogether changed 'front.' In the great con-
fict which has been, aud is yet wagiDg, the tenn
perance forces no longer face human appetite
and habit alone; they oppose legislation. law. the
purpose OF political parties, the policy OF State
and Nation. What law creates law alone can
kill The creature of law, the saloon, the liquor
traffic. can die only at laws hands or at the
hand OF laws executor. Conceived In avaricious
inqulty, born of sinful legislative wedlock, the
licensed saloon, the legaized liquor traffic. bas-
tard child of civilization protesting purity aud
virtue. must be strangled by the civilization
which begot 1t, that civilization must 60 for
ever branded with the scarlet letter of its own
shame 1t is not enough that we reform the
individual we must reform the state, the policy
of great commonwealths, OF a whole people
must be remade and put 10 harmony with sound
economic principles, the true co-operatioo
national prosperity and genuine brotherhood OF
man. So broad demand as this can be met In
but one way. 1t has been well said "A political
reform can become fact in government ouly
through a political party that administers gov
ernment' A reform SO vast as this We advo-
cate, ir volving such radical changes IN State
and national policy, is utterly dependent for its
agitation and copsummat.on upon some party
agent or force. The national Demo
cratic party in its platform utters no word in
condemnation of the greatest foe to the Repub-
lie, the liquor traffic. That party having stead
fastly In its utterances at national conventions
maintained its allegiance to the American ga
loon 1t was no disappointment to any one that
at ST. Louis. in 1888, il rsafirmed its old posi-
ton on this the greatest question now be-
ing debated among men. 1t was
with great reluctance that accepted these
conclusions, and came to admit the imperative
need Of a new party, while yet the party of my
cL DICE, the national Republican party, main
tanned its organization. 1t cost me the
sacrifice of cherished associations, when, four
years ago, / enrolled myself in the ranks Of
party Prohibitionists, under the flag of prohibi-
tion bleached snowy white by the tears of smit-
ten women and children through generations of
sorrow and want. l have hour Of re-
gret. Every day since then has shown vet moro
clearly the logic of my course and the inevitable
truth Of my conclusions. In Michigan, In Texas.
In Tennessee and Oregon, so-called non-partisau
efforts to establish prohibition have failed,
through partisan necessity born Of liquor ele-
Island and Maine the laws have been shamslessly
defed for like reason. The entire trend of
things, these last four years has proven hspeSSs.
the broader range of prohibition effect through
pon-partisan means, and equally futile. as q
final consummation, the narrower methods OF
local option and high license, while from the
Supreme Court itself has come, with startling
emphasis, a declaration 80 nation nalizing this
form that it can never be made a local or State
limitation again. The first concern of
good government said the recent national Re-
publican convention at Chicago, is the virtue
and sobriety of the people and the purity Of the
home Revenue, then. is not governments
chief concern whether coming from internal
taxation OF from tariff importations; and
any source Of revenue which discounts the vir-
tue and sobriety OF the people, and begets iru-
purity in the homo. should be the first object as
sailed by every party processing to seek good
government; while the revenue derived from
such q source should be the first TO be forsworn
not alternativey, for sake of a protective
tariff, but positively. for the sake of protection
dearer and more vital than the tariff
yield. Had not left the Republican party four
gears ago. should be compelled to leave it now.
when. after reading the words have quoted,
from q resolution supplemental to, but not in
cluded in its platform, and finding In these
words my own idea of governments chief con-
cern set forth, / search the long platform
through in vain. to find condemnation of the
saloon or hint of purpose to assail it, or any
sign of moral consciousness that the saloon
is curse and its income too us..
holy for tho Nation to share If sAe
chief concern has no place in party platform,
and party has policy to that 'chis2 con-
cern.' that party does not deserve the support
of men who love good government and would
see it maintained. The Prohibition
party's chief concern is for the purity of home
and the virtue and sobrlety of the people. That
party is now labors truest friend which would
par the importation Of paupers from abroad. or
close the tariff door Of competition to pauperize
foreign industry. and then bya liquor system
perpetuate the manufacture OF paupers and
criminals in our own midst with which honest
labor must compete. and whom; largely, honest
labor must support"
The letter closes with review Of the prlnci-
pies of prohibition.