Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-11-25
W.4N7'ED-A MORAL LSSIIE


W.4N7,L'D-A MORAL ISSUE.
Experience has shown that there is
no way in which man can be kept
always in line with his party, unless
that party is leading him in the direc.
tion Of his conscientious convictions.
So long as he feels that the ballot in
his hand represents the principles of
right, so long will he be sure to vote
it. But let him feel that simple ex-
pediency is represented by his ballot
and that there is as much right on the
SIDE OF the opponer. as there is on his,
and he will not very much care as to
which ballot he votes. The knowledge
he has of the opposite candidates, loca-
ton of the men on the tickets, home
and society influences, and q thousand
other things will cause him to waver
srom lis party allegiance.
In view Of these thoughts, it might
De pertinent to enquire as to what was
Che moral question bearing on the last
election? What question was there
for settlement about which ones con-
science might be aroused, and a feel
ing of right and wrong brought forth:
The plain fact is, there was no such
question. Slavery, on which men
consclences once brought them in line
is no more. The war spirit and the
corresponding patriotism are thing
of the past. They did not enter into
this campaign at all. Consequently
men were only bound by intellectual
ties to their parties. They could vote
any one of the tickets and feel that
they were doing no wrong. Having
no positive convictions, they foated
with the tide, which in this case was
IN the direction of the seeming enlarge
nent of trade offered by the demo-
cratic party.
With only ten states left out of
forty-two, with the south solid in its
opposition, aad the west apparently
given over tc free trade and free coin.
age vagaries, with the national govern
msnt in all its branches in the hands
of the democrats. it would seem to be
the part of wisdom in the republican
party to seek for a moral principle
which might bind its members to-
sethsr as anti slavery did IN the
tifties, and which might serve as an
attractive power to draw honest, con.
scientious men to it. Such moral
question is to be found, in the inls.
ment of the present writer, in legal
prohibition If the liquor traffic. 1t IS
the only question upon which at the
present time any considerable number
OF men are refusing to compromise.
1t represents the release of the nation
from thralldom as grievious as that
of slavery. 1t is principle in which
the great mass of the republican voters
already believe. 1t is principle with
which sympathy has time and again
been expressed in the national plat
form. 1t is true that great many
men would be driven from the party
by it, but great many woald also be
attracted to it. 1t is interesting to
note the growth Of the prohibition
sentiment as shown by ths vote for
president. In 1876 James A. Black,
prohibition candidate for president re-
ceived 5,6OS votes, in 1890 Neal Dow
received 10.9O5, in 1884 st. John re-
ceived ISL, ,Os2, iii 1883 Fisk received
46,406, and in 1892 Bidwell has re-
ceived $4,000 votes.
This steady growth means something
but if the republican party were to de.
clare in unequivocal terms for pro.
hibition, the national prohibition party
would vanish into thin air. The morsl
question to bind its members together
would be found. New life would be-
given. Success might not co,he As
soon as by compromising, fusion meth.
ods, but when it did come it would be
solid.and we could "point with PRIDE to
the achievements Of the party. II is
worthy Of serious consideration