The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-29

Such an honor is worthy the ambition
or any citizen OF this great nation, but,
10 my mind, IL Is to be doubly appreci-
ated when rendered by the only political
party which has had the courage TO
stand openly for the protection OF the
home, the womanhood and the child
hood of our country against the terrible
ravageS and destruction of the legalized
liquor traffic. The Prohibition party,
conscious of the integrity OF its motives
and purposes. and firm in its belief that
questions OF moral character should
take precedence over thos. purely eco
nomical. mas stood firm for "a score or
more OF years against al The attacks
or ridicufe, mlsapprehension and abuse
made against IL; Increasing in numbers
and gaining gradually the esteem ard
confidence OF those who are not willing,
as yet, To be enrolled under its banner
OF Protection 20 the Home"
During all these years it has steadily
pursued it's way IN the educating OF the
people To the constantly increasing en-
croachments OF the liquor traffic, show
ing how il is undermining our political
and social life. Interfering with the free
expression Of the Will OF the people at
the ballot box; controlling. to a large
extent.the leg slative bodies of the coun-
| try, adding heavily To the burdens OF
the already overburdened taxpayer
and above ALL bringing suffering, sor-
row, poverty and death to many of our
fellow citizens.
compensation for the labors and sacri-
fees OF those heroic men, who, during all
these years, have stood true 10 the
principle which gave brit. to the party
But. in edition. by their unswcrving
course, taking fresh courage after every
defeat, they have wrung from The press
at large, regardless of its political bias
testimonials Of the honesty OF purpose,
purity OF motives and exalted ideas
which have animated the party, as well
as the unselfsh spirit OF its members.
With such History, marked by its
years of toll and sacrifices, and sealed
by the blood Of It's martyrs, and still be-
Neving that public questions embracing
rsoral aspects should have the priority
~ settlement over those simply eco
nomic. however important, the Prohi-
bition party enters once again upon a
national campaign, and submits its
claims for support to the sober minded.
right thinking and unselilsh people OF
this country.
The platform adopted by the conven-
ton meets my hearty approval. and
though bnSed on the single Issue Is In
reality sufficiently broad TO allow all 10
stand on IL who are opposed to the
taioon and Its consequent evils, regard
less OF their views on any OF the other
public questions OF the day.
III Is true. and no thinking man, re-
gardless OF his surroundings or resi-
dence, con for moment doubt Il. that
very many OF the people OF our beloved
land. and especially those enFaged i'm
industrial and farming pursuits, are
euffering from the general depression
so widely prevalent at present, and also
that there has not been time since the
memorable days just preceding the
breaking out OF the Civil War, when
these difficulties weighed so heavily
upon the people or when there was so
much unrest and dire foreboding for'ths
future as exists today.
The products of the soil-the main
stay OF the nations prosperity and
wealth-are 80 low i'm value i'm many in
stances as not to pay the cost Of produc.
ton. leaving nothing for the labor OF the
toiler or for the capital invested. MANY
persons hold the opinion that the cause
OF all this trouble is overproduction.
But can such an explanation be truep
is not the thought an impious one? Can
anyone who believes IN a benefcent
Greater believe that -Ae- -hestows bounti-
ful harvest to be a curse, rather than n
blessing Go mankind7 No. no. perish the
thought. The reason Of all the preyalent