The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-09-25
Patent Lecture Frauds

If any there are who doubt the true status
of the Prohibition party at this time, that
doubt should be put 10 rest by the following
extract of published interview reported by
q newspaper correspondent, in which st.
John delivers himself of the following and
good deal more of the same kind Of
rodomontade which he substitutes for votes,
and loud sounding grandiloquent gasconade
| for facts and reason:
"You see,o continues this oracle, "the
Peoples Party started outsswith loud cry
of REFORM and thousands of good and sin
cere Prohibitionists, who were ready to
take any supposed short cut to Prohibition,
followed the crowd, until at last it came to
halt at Cincinnati in May last, where in a
National convention it proved 10 be as thor.
oughly subsequent to the liquor traffic as
the Democratic and Republican parties ever
were. In truth, there is bnt little TO dis
tinguish the Peoples Party from the two
old parties, excepting the Sub-Treasury
scheme, which involves the worst kind of
class legislation. This scheme, in fact,
makes pawnshop of the Treasury Depart
ment, which would afford relief only to those
who haye property to pledge, while the
extremely poor, who most need assistance,
would be left TO suffer. Stop the absorption
of the earnings of the people by favored
few. and open the way for labor at fair
wages, and the masses will not need to bor-,
row money. All the great body of the peo-
pie want is an equalization of the opportu-
mites to make a living, and they will make
it. Blot out the liquor traffic and thus save,
according to DR.. Hargrave's latest figures,
81 ,2S0, 100000 worse than wasted over the
liquor counters annually-saying nothing Of
the indirect loss, the corrupting influence
upon politics, the destruction of homes,
manhood. and the souls of its victims-and
there will be no demand for Sub.Treasury
scheme, or any other scheme 10 make it easy
for the people 10 get in debt. Give US
sober people and they will pay as they go.
''The Peoples Party, like the two old
parties, touching this mighriest curse of the
world, has been weighed in the balance and
found wanting"
Much Of this abuse is repetition of what
was said months ago by the plutocratic
press, and was the dictation of the gold
ring from Wall street. ST.. John is one OF
the patent lecturers who go about the coun
try delivering lectures on prohibition and
lis cure.all properties at $50 to 500 and
upwards each. While this mock prohibi-
lion party which is in the interest of the
gold ring can be kept together those high
priced lecturers make good thing of it.
While breaking up the liquor traffic
would be q great and universal blessing il
would not relieve the financial conditions or
add more money to the circulating medium.
or employ any more labor. 1t would be
bard TO find more ignorance of economic
conditions In the same amount of gasconade
any where in the whole round of newspaper
dom than is contained in the above extract.
ThesCincinnaii party was not opposed to
prohibition, for large majority of the
members present were prohibitionists, but
they we're opposed to having any affilation
with the gas bags who propose, under the
name ofprohibition party, 10 help the money
ring against the Alliance, while filling their
pockets out of all they can bleed by deliver,
ing high priced patent temperance lectures.
The chief business of the 81. John class
lectnrerS is talking money out oftemperance
peoples pockets, while they help the money
aristocracy blackguard the farmers and their
organizations. The prohibition party under
its present management has degenerated
into political fraud and stumbling block
to the cause Of prohibition.