The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-11
JUDGE ROGER 8. GREENE's VIEWS.
Tho Prohibition Party Candidates. Let
ter OF Acceptance.


SEATTLE, Sept g, 1892
Mr.. W. ". shorthlll and Mrs. c. 1. Haggard,
Secretaries State Prohibition Convcntion-Dear
Sir and Lady: Your favor of the LIST formally an
nouncing to me my nomination for governor OF
the state of Washington reached me on the 5th
inst l accept the nomination. 1t is a token of
esteem and confidence exceedingly pleasant to
receive and is the more affecting because at the
time it was made the state convention knew
that preferred no: to receive it and that pro-
fessonal engagements would absolutely forbid
my taking an active part in the campaign. I
may be permitted still, however, to express my
regret that the honor has not fallen on another
and worthier.
Our platform, upon which our party in this
state stands for the great political struggle of
this fall, is one every plank of which deserves
the attention and acceptance of every thought
full voter. There is not an unsound fiber in it. It
presents all the greater issues now agftating the
people Of the country, and it presents none but
great issues 1t is III harmony with the national
Prohibition platform and with all the national
platforms of our party for the last twenty years.
and with everything that progress, good sense
and the needs of the times ever will put in auy
future platform For while it does not ex-
pressly undertake in this campaign to push for
the Fighting of every known political wrong.
1t does definitely propose aud purpose to press
onward to the righting of some few OF peculiarly
immediate ana practical importance which are
named in it, and which are in the direct line of
future and more advanced endeayor for the
public good.
First of all our party urges the people of this
state in their political capacity to accept the
true view of the liquor business and deal with
1t accordingly. That it antagonizes all other
pursuits by diverting the money, employing the
men and running the brains which should carry
on and expand them; that from motives OF mere
avarice aud greed it wastes the substance, de-
bases the morals, wrecks the homes and saps the
life OF the community; that it is gigantic,
growing, cruel, terrific and portentous monster;
that for its own selfish ends 1t controls aud, as
long as 1t is allowed legal existence. will con-
troll the conduct of any great political party who
does not oppose it, that it has been most mis-
cbievously debating the policy of our national
and most of our state administrations on all
questions touching itself for the last fifty years.
that directly or indirectly there Is not an indi-
vidual in the entire nation who is not ag.
grieved, damaged and cursed by it. Ali this has
been over and over again amply DEM
onstrated to every one who has had
patience and candor to consider
the arguments Other political parties fail 10
grapple with the evil or even complain of it.
They actually give way to 1t and serve it. We
therefore are arisen to denounce it and insist
that il be prescribed by law and constitution,
and do by the very name of our party declare
that such party is needed, and that a party
we not only consider 1t, but purpose to deal
with it, as the most pressing, insidious and de-
structive enemy with which our state or nation
has at present by the ballot to contend.
We hold that any people ought, as "a people, to
govern themselves, and that the governments of
our state and nation were intended to be
founded and maintained upon that principle.
Under a government. then, which like ours is
theoretically "by the people," every submits
sion OF any question OF persons or policy To the
bal Ot is intended ) Appeal the maturei
Intelligence and the moral sense OF that people
Necessarily, for making such an appeal, line
must be drawn somewhere between those
who shall and those who shall not be
permitted to vote. That line, from the
nature of the case, cannot but be arbitrary. But
ii II be so drawn as practically to exclude from
voting any considerable class of citizens whose
intelligence is matured and whose moral sense
is unvinated, we have practice at variance
with the theory. Persons thus excluded are not
only bereit Of their right, but the common
wealth is deprived OF the bench. OF all political
expression of their intelligence and moral sense
Although by name citizens. they are really sub
jects shut away from all the eevating expert
ence of political responsibility and effor; and
depressed under the ABSOLUTE dominion of those
who can vote. The exclusion of our women
from suffrage. therefore, is not right. 1t is
claimed 10 be right because expedient But
what is right is expedient, and nothing is sx-
pedient which is not right.
our partys idea OF tariff for this country ia
that il should be defensive as distinguished
from protective, and as providing Incidentally
for revenue as distinguished from being s.for
revenue only" Our people. II ever they did
need, 90 now no longer need a tariff designed 10
teget or nouEish struggling industries which ia
the proper reason and function OF u protee,iya
tariff Industries OF ali SORTS are already estah
hshed and thriving amongst Us Is varied and
manifold AS our multItndlaous AMI unriyalei
Rfsft
our industries may reach TO and maintain them.
selves IN foreign markets they do need and al
ways vii need TO te defended IN those n,s~Ea..
against hostile action o: the foreign govern.
ments. THIS can aud should To done bv
!uilcious tariff system. In which rectnroci,v
must De disiingut, thing feature Such 8 svs
ten the nation should therefore have ana
maintain. Incidentally the system will fur
nlsh revenue But the true mode ~
getting rsyenGe-ii the question be sirnply
ohe oil REVENUES by assessment and levy unon
'hs possessions OK the peof e III cases of state
county ana municipal taxes. Taea the aTnoru,
ana proportion OF the tax inposel Will ha o.,
and atoye board Then the burden of surno,t
ing 'Ae governments Will rcst, as il rightly
shou1d, upon the property owners instead o.
upon the consumers. tariff "for royeaue
oniy' is mode OF getting indirectly ana clsD.
oeshaelE out OF the pockets of the consumers m
'hs nASor imposing IL q revenue in such a wsv
shst none can ever discover how much he hiss
paid or whether more or less than his fsi- shs,a
IL has been and often still is advocated on :ha
very ground that u works indirectly 10 win a
TAX from man without his knowing IL and TIM.
avoids ihe p1olic irritation thar might ensua 10
each knew whs; he was paying Blu, eeeausa
'he Lax - sooner or later al paid By the con
! s~HlsEs. socn a tariff very IN Justly throws the
nam burden OF supporting the Eoyernrnsr.
"a hfa~a s.ss, tsNs -.