The San Francisco call., 1896-07-29
Hard Times in the United States
Charged to the Liquor
Traffic.
SILVER QUESTION DISCUSSED.
Import Duties Compared to the Esti.
mated Amount Spent Yearly
for Stimulants

Lyceum Theater tonight the Prohibition
party, through Rev. 0. w. Stewart. chair
man of the notification committee, ap-
prised Joshua Levering of his nomination
as candidate of the Prohibition party for
President. Mr.. Stewart, in his notifica-
ton speech. said the party should con-
tinue to fight the saloon with its attend
ant distresses. Mr.. lowering in reply
read his letter of acceptance, which was
as follows:
Oliver W. Stewart Esq. and gentlemen of
the committee: 1t is with feelings of deep
emotion that I stand in this presence this
evening to accept the nomination for the
Presidency of the United States which you ten
der me on behalf OF and by the authority of
the National Prohibition Convention, which
recently assembled in the city of Pittsburg.
l beg to express my sincere appreciation of
the honor thus conferred and to assure you
that it is esteemed all the more highly be-
cause of the unanimity of action which
marked the convention. Such an honor is
worthy the ambition of any citizen of this
great Nation, but to my mind it is to be
douoly appreciated 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 childhood of our
country against the terrible ravages and de-
struction of the legalized liquor traffic.
The platform adopted by the convention
meets my hearty approval, and though based
on the single issue is in reality sufficiently
broad to allow all to stand on it who are OPP
posed to the saloon and its consequent evils,
regardless of cir views on any of the other
public questions of the day.
1t is true-andino thinking man, regardless
of his Surroundings or residence, can for a
moment doubt it-that very many of the peo-
pie OF our beloved land, and especially those
engaged in indu strial and farming pursuits
are suffering from the general depression so
widely prevalent at the present, and also that
there has not been a time since the memoir
able days just preceding the breaking out of
the Civil War when these difficulties weighed
so heavily upon the people, or when there YVES
SO much unrest and dire foreboding for the
future as exists to-day.
The products OF the soil, the mainstay of the
Nations prosperity and wealth, are so low in
value in many instances not to pay the cost
OF production, 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 true? Is not the thought
an impious one =? Can any one who believes
in benefcent Creator believe that he be-
slows a bountiful harvest to be curse rather
than a blessing TO mankind? No. no: perish
the thought The reason of all the prevalent
production, but underconsumption. That
being so, where is there cause which pre-
vents the consumption of the necessities TO
say nothing of the luxuries of life comparable
20 the liquor traffic:
We are told by the advocates of one of the
political parties that a high tariff is the PAN
acea of all our ills, and yet the average annual
receipts from customs for the three years end
ing June 80, 1894, when the Mckinley tariff
in ~
less than $3.50 per capita of our population.
Others tell Us that the free and unlimited
coinage of silver viii be the cureall of the
evils affecting our people. 1t is strange such
an idea should be entertained. when the tact
is recalled that the total output of silver in
this country for the last year was only $780,
100000, q sum much less than the annual
product of the familiar barnyard fowl. How
utterly insignificant are either of these figures
compared to the 81 ,200,00O,000 which, it is
reliably estimated, is the direct yearly tribute
the people OF this country pay to the support
of the liquor traffie-a stupendous um and so
large as 10 be difficult of realizing. 1t is
nearly twice as large as the aggregated capital
of all our National banks, or, to state 1t more
plainly, it is equal to about rs per cent of the
entire money. gold, silver and paper currency,
of the United States. Let this vast sum of
money, which is now spent yearly in this way
and for which no value is received, but, on
the contrary, is only adding to the suffering of
the people in varied and manifold FORMS be
turned into the channels of legitimate trade
in the purchase of those things which will
bring comfort and happiness to the home and
family. Then believe the troubles which are
now weighing so heavily upon them will be
largely things of the past, and until it is done
no real relief can be expected.
While thus emphasizing the results of the
liquor traffic as it exists to-day in our midst,
ana the absolute necessity for its suppression
for beverage purposes, If peace and prosperity
and the blessing OF God are to rest upon and
abide with our people, don't underestimate
the fact that there are other questions OF grave
Importance over which the public mind is
seriously agitated, and which are being
pressed for speedy settlement There is The
question of stable and at the same time an
elastic currency, equal to the demands of busi-
ness in every section of the country, and yet
every dollar of which should be of eoual vaine
and the whole based on a standard equal to tho
best in the world. The United States cannot
afford without dishonor to have money hear.
ing its stamp inferior to that of any country
on the globe.
The question OF maintenance of the credit
of the Government, on which itg honor is
based and for which every one worthy of the
name OF an American is or should be pro-
foundly jealous, is one of vast Importance
Again, proper adjustment of the tar;fy co
that labor can have its just protection without
at the same time giving undue protection 10
the manufacturing interest at the expense of
the great consuming portion OF our people. is
worthy of profound consideration and early
solution.
The question OF favoritism in legislation,
whereby trusts, monopolies and corporations
are fostered and protected to the detriment OF
tie interests OF the people at large, is a vital
one and should have earnest and prompt con-
sideration as matter OF common justice to an
oppressed people.
The strained relations existing between vari-
Gus foreign countries as well as between some
OF them and their dependencies require the
exercise of broad craftsmanship in the con-
duct OF our foreign policy, so that while main
tanning the honor of our country and afford
ing the anplest protection to every citizen of
our Republic, there shall be manifested that
fairness and magnanfmlty which & stronger
nation should ever show toward weaker
r.Aw