Blue-grass blade., 1892-02-20
THE PROHIBITION PARTY.

It Was Organized to Kill the Saloon
System of America
The prohibition party was started be-
cause there did not exist any political
party that ''filled the bill" in the eyes
of those who helped to organize it. Its
formation was political necessity, at
least to some of the voters in this coun-
try. And if the new party was a neees-
sity at that time, it is-if possible
more necessary now.
Therefore, all talk on the part of its
opponents, based upon denial of that
party's right to exist as disturbing
element in the politics OF the country,
is simply bosh
As the object of all political organiza-
ton is to win victory at the polls until
the objects they have in view are ac-
complished, it must also be expected
that the prohibition party will continue
to fight for supremacy, no matter what
may be the result to other political
parties
The argument that vote cast in the
north for the prohibition party is half
vote for the democratic party. and that
a vote cast in the south for the prohibit
tion party is half vote for the repub-
ican party, should have no weight
whatever with men who have strong
convictions which neither of the old
parties represent A vote cast. for a
principle means just what the ballot
calls for-no more. no less.
The prohibition party was not start
ed, primarily, to kill off the republican
party or the democratic party. 1t was
organized to kill the saloon system of
America. But if it ever succeeds its
victory must be gained at the expense
of both the old parties. Victory for
the prohibition party means death to
that which gives victory and also direc-
tion to both of the larger parties.
When the republican party came into
power it did so at the expense of both
the whig and democratic parties, and
its final triumph involved the destruc.
tion of that wicked institution of slav-
cry which the democrats uunnld and
the wings dared not antagonize in any
effective way.
The prohibition party is not Sunday
school institution or a temperance So
ciety To belong to it a man need not
be connected with any religious society
or even be total abstainer Person.
ally, / would like to see every prohibi-
tion voter an earnest Christian and an
abstainer from all intoxicants But all
that is required of a man who desires
to be party prohibitionist is that he
shall vote the prohibition ticket
Under the circumstances it becomes
the active members of the prohibition
party to be broad in their views; for be-
fore the principles of the party can be
embodied in the laws of the land. and
then enforced, men of many different
shades of opinion will have to be
brought into the ranks of the party, in
order to secure for it the power to make
and enforce laws
The future growth of the prohibition
party will depend more on the spirit of
the rank and file of its members than
on anything else. 1t can not be a close
corporation affair, for the reason that
1t has such a tremendous evil to guard
against; it can not be run to suit the
whims of 4 few men, for the liquor
traffic is too powerful to be hurt by any
party which should allow a Jew men to
direct its policy for their own self-glori-
fication.
The prohibition party was born to
fight a colossal evil, and it requires
gigantic strength combined with an ag-
gregation of the brain-power of many
smart men to win in the desperate
struggle.
The agitation for the prohibition of
the liquor traffic by law has come to
stay in the politics of this country. The
prohibition party has an issue that will
have to be fought out until settled
and settled right.
The leaders of the prohibition party
have only one duty to perform, and
that is to do their utmost to convert the
voters to the cause of prohibition How
best to do it is question which they
should carefully consider.
A political party, before it comes into
power, must prove that it has men in
its ranks that have hearts and heads
big enough to sympathize with and
think for the whole people; together
with their pcculiarities, their supposed
wants, and their positive necessities
The republican party won the respect
of the people 10y having for it's leaders
such men as Mr.. Lincoln, Mr.. Seward,
Mr.. Chase, Mr.. Morton, Mr.. Giddings
and others like them, too numerous to
mention 1t had right ON its side and
was backed mp by brains.
The liquor traffic would cave in be-
fore a year is over if the good men of
this country could all agree to work to-
gether for the accomplishment of that
desired result.