The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-10-29
QUESTIONS FOR MEMO.
EDITOR BULLETIN -

Memo in one of his articles at
tempts to drag down The honored
name OF Abraham Lincoln, by ascrib-
ing to him license sentiments or
views. Memo has been asked o0ce,
through the public print, for his
authority. He has remained silent
on this question, and as he is likely
to remain 50, | will try to give what
| think is his authority.
During local option contest in
Atlanta, Ga, in 1887, the anti.pro-
hlbltionists issued a flaming circular
picturing Lincoln in The act of strik-
ing the chains from a slave, while
underneath were printed these words:
"Prohlbition will work great injury
to the cause of temperance"
"a prohibitory law strikes a blow at
the very principles on which our
Government is founded" Similar
utterances were attributed to him in
various newspapers (notably the
Sioux Falls Leader) in 1889, and in
a pamphlet entitled, prosperity and
How TO Obtain It," which was cir
culated by the so-called estate Busi-
ness Mems and Bankers Associa-
tion' in Nebraska in 1890.
Mr.. John G. Nicolay, Lincoln's
private secretary ana biographer,
pronounces the above statements to
be spurious, that is false and mali
clous, and his open letter has been
published far and wide. Of course
Memo may never have read this
letter as published, but is he ex-
cusable? He, Memo, caused to be
published in the BULLETIN, state
ments similar to these, "Prohibition
lowers the value of property, raises
taxation, and is an injury to the rich
and poor alike To prove his posi-
ton he took Atlanta, Ga, as an ex.
ample. Omen, in reply, gave open
letters from the mayor and other
officials of that city while under pro-
hibition, proving that it was better
off financially and morally than at
any other period of its history.
After this Memo, without particle
of proof, repeats through the Bull
LETIN his former statement.
Memo cannot plead igaarance as
excuse for the above, neither can he
now in regard to the sentiments of
Lincoln. Did not Memo know be-
fore that Lincoln was lifelong alb
stalner, member of the Sons of
Temperance, and u prominent tenn
perance speaker and reformer; that
during his presidency he was instru-
mental in inaugurating one of the
greatest prohibition reforms the
world has ever known?
On Aug. 5, 1861, we find that the
President signed an act prohibiting
the sale in the District of Columbia,
of any spirituous or Intoxicating
drink, to any soldier or volunteer in
the service of the U. S. (See l. S. S.
Statutes at Large, Vol. II :44). On
July ID, 1862, the use of spirituous
liquors in the navy, for beverage
purposes, was forever prohibited.
Here again we find Lincoln's hand
and influence prominent for pr0hibl-
tion.
Memo also comes out with this
statement, "No tirst-class politician,
ETC., ever advocated prohibition"
Well, Memo, don't that sound lit
tie dogmatic, and said more for the
sake Of argument and bluster than
the exact truth. Let me name few
prohibitionists, many of whom are
widely known as such.
Beaconslield on July Is, 1874, in
speaking of prohibition on the great
estate of Shaftesbury Park, said:
''Ihe experiment which you have
made has succeeded--in its success
is involved the triumph of the social
virtues and the character ofthe great
body of the people .
Read this, signed by Senator H. W.
Blair, and the late Secretary of the u.
5. Treasury, VIM. Window: "We de-
clare war against the saloon, and
hold it to be the supreme duty of the
Government to adopt such measures
as shall restrict it and control its in
fuences, and at the earliest possible
moment extinguish it altogether"
| have always thought that these
men and Hannibal Hamlin, VIM. ?.
Frye and others | might name, were
frst-olass politicians. What do the
readers of the BULLETIN think about
it? What has Memo to say?