Evening journal., 1891-11-21
LeTTeRs :FaoM The paopLE.
PTohibItIOnists Not Political Foot BalIl


ProhibItlonists mol Political Foot Balls
10 the Editor Of the EVENING JOURNAL.
SR.-Your editorial iE-yesterdsy's is.
sue, The Political Foot Balls would be
true if the term Temperance people"
or Ii Prohibitionists were spelled with a
small p, SO as TO designate them from
the political party by that name. 1t is
true, be II said to their shame, that tenn
perance people have trusted TO the Re
publican party for favorable legislation
on the liquor question, only to be- betrayed
occasion has the Republican party in
New York received the support Of the
temperance element of the party by
prohibition to vote of the
people; aud on more than one occasion
has the Legislature of that state broken
it's promises to the temperance people
made them mere political foot balls. +"
The experience Of the temperance people
Of New York Is not different from that
of any other section OF the country. All
they have ever received has been ''cor-
dial sympathy" from the last national
convention-of the party Of Great Moral
Ideas, which convention had for its
chairman one of the most extensiye,wine-
growers OF California. 1t must be very
encouraging to the temperance element
OF the party to know that the Republi-
cans have furnished the first Vice Presi-
dent OF the United States TO engage In
the liquor business This same Vice
President was nominated by the conven-
tion which extended its cordial sym
pRthY to all wise and wall-directed
forts at temperance reform.
But the term Temperance people" In
this case. does not refer to the Prohibit
tion party. Three hundred thousand
voters marched up to the polls In 1888
and voted for General Clinton B. Fisk
for President. These voters represented
the Prohibition party, which cannot be
hoodwinked by false promises made by
the Republicans The Prohibi ion party
Is distinct and separate political organ
ization, and asks no tavors Of either the
Republican or the Democratic party. The
statement In your editorial that "the
| Pfohibitionists learn nothing by expert
ence. but turn again TO catch every false
promise the Republicans make" is mis-
/ leadiug. in that the Prohibtionists have
never exacted any promise from the Re
4 publ cans for them TO break. The Pro
hibition party is fast gathering to it's
support the most advanced tenn
| perance advocates in the e)un.
try The National Woman &
Christian Temp rance Union, 300, 900
strong, has given ths party its moral
support since 1884 aud at its convention
Just closed IN Boston reiterated its allie
glance / make this statement withou
feat Of successful contradiction Nc
man who believes in the principle Of pro
hibition Of the liquor traffic can con
sistently support the Republican OF
Democratic parties, inasmuch as both o.
those parties are for the license system
II all temperance people will follow th'
logical conclusion OF their principles
they will inevitably land in the Prohibi
tion party. The position OF the Demo
cratic party Is understood by all,
makes no pretensions Of temperate
sentiments. but in all its platform
brings up reference to "old sumptuary
The Republican party is equally rum
soaked, but has hitherto posed as tn,
Temperance party, thus adding the extr
sin Of hypocrisy. g. E. X.