River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-08-30


the temperance question, would have
had the slightest influence in bringing
back to their allegiance those already
in this organization; still it would
have been unwise for the convention
gratuitously and without good reason
to have furnished these folks ammu-
milton and weapons to be used against
itself. Moreover--and here | wish to
mention "a matter quite foreign to your
letter--this aid society with an acute
ness complimentary to their skill as
politicians while the other parties
have mostly limited their efforts and
political activities, to the period i'm
mediately preceding an important
election, these have been in the field
constantly. l think it quite true, to
say, that Notwithstanding their nu-
merical inferiority, that no political
organization has ever in like manner,
and during the interlude between
campaigns, been at SO much pecuniary
outlay in keeping speakers in the field
and in circulating party literature.
As a consequence of this and kindred
influences, there was remaining in the
Republican party at the beginning of
the campaign. a considerable number
of the more radical type of temper
ance men--to a man in favor of prohi-
bition, who were-at least osteRSibiy-
waiting to see what action their party
was TO take. Now, had the conven-
ton followed your suggestion of max
ing High License the national measure,
these men would have leaped the
fence into the third-party corral, like
a flock of sheep following the bell
wether. For you must know, that the
Prohibitionists hate High License with
an intensity only equalled by that they
entertain for the entire Republican
party, and they would have been de-
lighted to have this vantage ground
of attack. AS it is, the Republican
party pledges itself not only in a0Ords,
but by such acts as utterly dwarf into
insignificance everything accom-
plished by all other agencies, to
be sin sympathy with all wise and
well directed efforts for the promotion
of temperance and morality; thus
leaving the party as free as it hitherto
has been, to enact constitutional pro-
hibition as in Iowa, or high license as
in New Jersey, or local option as in
many other localities, as seems wisest
under local conditions. And as the
result of this course large proportion
of these wavering Republicans, while
temporarily disguised at what they
term lack of sand on the part of the
convention, are by the second sober
thought convinced of the wisdom and
judiciOus position of the convention,
and see how difficult or impossible
would have been the attempt by the
specific Endorsement of any one meas.
ure to please all interested parties.
And believe that the developments
of the campaign sill show that the
things which at the f-st were most
condemned, will in the end prove to
to have been wise and judicious.
Thus have we gone over those
points in the Chicago platform with
which you were most at variance,
without, from my point of view, being
able to discover those "grave and
dangerous mistakes you found in
them. So far from that, while con-
Tossing that the letter might have been
put in form less Objectionable to some
members of the party, yet the spirit
permeating the whole, will--with few
exceptions-find hearty response In
the heart of great party.
have made no reference TO those
portions of your letter that so greatly
modify your criticisms, (but which
many who quote you are very careful
not to print or tell and gives assur-
ance to your friends that aCGy dorm
you find yourself on a plane where
''we all touch shoulders.
AS Republican | am proud of our
party, proud of our leaders, and
believe with you-though for other
reasons-that while too phenomenal
almost for belief, yet the party is bet
ter than its platform, and if the nomi-
nees are not better than their party
they are of its best, which is good
enough for anybody y