The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-09-21
Friday, Sept. 81, 1883.
This number commences VOLUME
ELEVEN of the MIDLAND JOURNAL.
Indictment Against the Prohibition
PARTY.

s. N. Fellows, President OF the
Iowa State Temperance Alliance, has
published a series of "open letters
in the Iowa State Register, in oppo.
sition to the Prohibition party. An
ardent friend of temperance requests
us to publish the last of the series,
which we would gladly do if the
length of the article was not serious
objection. The following summing
up contains Mr.. Fellows argument
in brief space. His reason and the
points lie makes will be better under
stood than by going through his
elaboration of them.
OBJECTIONS TO THE NATIONAL PROHIBITION
PARTY.
l. It's MESSED immediate aim is 'to
smash the old political parties"
2. 1t seeks political success rather than
success of prohibition.
3. 1t has lowered its stand for the sake of
political success.
4. 1t depreciates the work of Prohibition
lists, outside of said party.
5. 1t seems to rejoice in any failure or
defeat of those not in said party.
G. 1t seeks to break down prohibition in
States where it has been secured by nom
partisan methods.
7. Only one in forty of Prohibltionists
adhere to said party.
8. 1t strives more earnestly to promote
prohibition party success than prohibition
sentiment.
9. 1t manifests less opposition to the rum
power than 10 the old political parties.
:. 10. It's methods are such as 10 secure thp
cooperation and support of those engaged
in the liquor traffic.
II. Its members assume to be the only
true prohibitionists.
~. II aims to reform parties, rather than
the people.
IS. 1t divides the ranks of the Prohibit
tionists.
IA. 1t exalts the political at the expense
of the moral phases of prohibition.
To- 1t therefore weakens the support of
the pulpit.
1G, 1t retards the growth of prohibition
sentiment.
II. 1t methods compel disirust of the
sincerity of its leaders.
IS. 1t methods strengthen opposition to
the principle of prohibition.
10. II is impossible to successfully build
Natioual political party on a single moral
issue.
20. A vote cast for the National Prohibi-
ton party. though not SO intended, is, there
fore, in its ultimate influence, vote for the
liquor traffic.
REASONS FOR NoN-PARTlsAN PROHIBITION
METHOD.
1. 1t follows the examl lie of the great
leaders in the anti-slavery reform.
2. 1t seeks the success of the principle CT
prohibition rather than of political party.
8. 1t avoids the expense, waste and doubt
full methods of political organization.
A. 1t eleyates the standard of prohibition
as a moral reform.
5. 1t seeks legal enactment to protect and
strengthen said reform.
6. 1t promotes no unnecessary antagon-
isms.
Z. 1t rejoices in the success of prohibition
wherever aud by whomsoever secured.
s. 1t secures the hearty aud unenbarrass-
ed support of the Christian pulpit.
9. 1t seeks first to reform the people who
create parties.
TO- 1t unites the ranks of prohibitionists.
IL. 1t tends to conciliate and win the sup
port of all good citizens.
~. 1t accelerates the growth of prohib;-
ton sentiment, without which legal prohi-
bition can never succeed.
IL. When the people are reformed, the
parties will need no reformation.
a. When in the State or Nation, pr ,hi-
bition sentiment becomes sufficiently strong,
il may utilize in its interests some existing
political party as in Iowa and Kansas.
Is. Non.partisan Prohibitionists may and
should support such political party as can
and will do the most for destroying the
liquor traffic, even though such party is not
ready 10 fully adopt prohibition in it.
16. The non.partisans method is the
quickest ard surest way to exterminate the
liquor traffic, as shown in Iowa and Kansas.
In the above indictment there are
20 counts, all of which, except the
], 5 and z are entirely false, and the