The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-07-01
Prohibition Convention

=
cinnati on Wednesday and three
sessions were held. Col. Eli Ritter
of Indiana was made presiding
officer and Rey. Sam Small secretary
The convention was opened with
prayer by Catholic priest, Rev.
Father Mahoney. When delegates
and spectators had partly recovered
from the surprise caused by the
announcement of his presence and
name in such connection great
hush fell upon the assemblage. The
dark garp and pale, ascetic features
riveted attention instantly, as with
upturned eyes he solemnly invoked
the blessing of Almighty God upon
the convention and the prohibition
party, and asked that the truth and
the light might shine upon all the
people. With one accord delegates
and spectators were upon their feet.
and with bowed heads, amid strange.
ly deep silence, Joined in the priests
petition. It. was, With one exception.
the only instance on record in which
a Roman Catholic clergyman has
OBLIGATED at national political con
vention in the United States.
Father Mahoney, who is one of
Archbishop Ireland's assistants, is,
it appears, regularly elected dele.
gate to the convention from Mime.
sofa, and has been an active prohi.
bitionist for fourteen years. He
delivered the prayer at the personal
solicitation of Chairman Dickie. of
the national prohibition committee,
and ex Gov. John z. St. John, of
Kansas, the temporary chairman of
the convention.
NEARLY THOUSAND DELEGATES.
Soon after o'clock the conven.
ton was called to order for the after
noon session, a big audience being
present, The Silver Lake Quartctte
set things rolling with topical song
aimed at the old parties and ministers
"who face both ways" and then to
an encore gave another entitled
Levi containg hits at Vice Pres
ident Morton and his buffet in the
Shoreham Hotel in Washington.
Ex-Gov. st. Johns speech was
the feature of the first days proceed.
ings. The Gov. being named tenn.
porary chairman took the gavel and
delivered the following short, sharp
address:
members of the convention, I
return my sincere thanks and shall
ever be grateful for the distinguished
honor of being chosen to preside as
temporary chairman of this magaifi.
cent political convention-the great.
est and grandest in sobriety, moral
force and brain power that ever con-
vened on American soil. 1t presents
party that dares to do right because
it is right and condemn the wrong
because it is wrong. 1t stands for
peace, prosperity and happiness to
every home and death to every sa-
loon in the land. It demands for
women equal pay in the shop and
equal say at the polls. A free ballot
for the white men Of Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts, and Iowa, as we'll as
for the black men of Mississippi.
Louisiana and South Carolina; that
North and South, East and West,
black and white, rich or poor, every
human being, should have protection
to life and property; that the expen-
ses of the government be levied upon
the wealth instead of the necessities
of the people. We claim any system
which imposes a high tariff on the
food, fuel and clothing of the poor
and lets the diamonds of the rich
come in free is legalized robbery
under the guise of protection and
ought to be forever abolished that
all money should be issued by the
general government, and every dol.
lar. whether gold, silver or paper,
should stand upou an equality before
the law for all purposes, and that
the coinage of both metals should be
free that railway and telegraph lines
should be under the control of the
government, to be operated at cost,
in the interest of all the people that
President, Vice President and U. S.
tSenators should be elected by a
direct vote of the people and that
the term for President be extended
to six years, with no second success
sive term for any man; that all mo-
nopolies which Cypress the people
ought to be suppressed; that the
legalized liquor traffic for beverage
purposes is the greatest monopoly
that ever existed. 1t destroys $780,
900 lives and costs $1,000, 00O, 900
annually. and sends misery poverty,
crime and heartache broadcast
among the people 1t is the product
of democratic and republican rule, a
damning blot upon our civilization, a
sin against God, and ought to be
made crime against humanity and
driven from the face of the earth.
The prohibition party Is the only
party that dares to fight this might.
est curse of the world. Here we are
and We have come to stay. From
this hour on let no fusion. no deals.
no compromises be our motto. Let
our platform be so broad, just, clear
and comprehensive that all who love
God, or home, or country can join
L.