The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1902-03-25
LEGALIZED EVlLS--NO. 5S.
BY JOHN DANNER.

BY JOHN DANNER.
(written for the News-Democrat)
Step by step the liquor power in this
nation has SO completely got the
dominant political parties by the
throat that neither of them dare do
| anything to offend it.
1t is quite common thing to hear
many Republican preachers in the
north speak of the Democratic party as
the whisky Democrats" when the
recorded facts are that the Republican
party has gone further and done more
for the legalization of the liquor power
than ever was done by the Democratic
party.
The first grand stroke in this direc-
ton was the enactment of our United
| States revenue law of July !, 1861,
when the whole traffic, instead of be-
ing suppressed, was made a partner
with the government by the payment
of tax, whereby the traffic not only
obtained the right to exist throughout
the nation, but obtained the protection
of the American flag to be exported to
| foreign nations, and thereby all our
missionaries have found greater OBJ
stacles than heathenism itself present
ed.
| The Republican party alone is re-
| sponsible for this outrage. Again a
very great outrage was committed by
the same party when saloons were
legally allowed to be placed in our
soldiers homes. SO that many of our
brave soldiers who should have been
protected from this evil have been re-
ruined by it. In both instances the
Republicans were largely in the ma
jority and could have prevented these
Outrages.
The canteen curse was a Republican
| scheme and now that the voice Of the
people has crushed it, we hope that no
political party will again attempt to
impose it upon the people! Some Of
the political newspapers are yet
breathing threatenings to re-establish
the canteen, and it is a question
whether it is really dead, or only sleep
ing.
Coming closer home, in the state Of
Ohio the Republican party, and that
party alone, is responsible TOR the en-
actment of the Dow tax law, whereby
saloons are legally opened in Ohio,
whereas our state constitution is
clearly a prohibitory constitution.
These things cannot be denied, and
while it Is true that the Republican
party is responsible for these out
RACES, the Democratic party is by no
means guiltless, as II has never pro-
tested against these things done by the
opposite party. Therefore, both are
guilty of trucking to the liquor
power.
There are as good and truly pa
triotic men in both these once grand
national parties as ever trod upon
American soil, but they cannot ignore
the fact that both parties are today
catering to the liquor vote. and
trampling with impunity upon the de-
mands made by the temperance ele-
ment in these parties, and therefore 1t
is high time for these good men to
step down and out of their rum-ruled
parties until one or the other will
champion the defense of the home
against the saloon. Now both parties
are trying to take the lead in catering
to the vicious liquor element and
trampling upon the Christian element
that demands the SUPPRESSION of the
liquor traffic.
| In the southern states the preachers
and most influential people are largely
| in the Democratic party; in the north
ern states the reverse is true, but yet,
as great national parties, neither of
them can be trusted in dealing with
| the liquor traffic. Therefore there Is
no merit in either party calling the
other hard names on the saloon pro-
lection question, as one party is as
deep in the mud as the other is in
| the NINE"
But / am glad to know that both
north and south, the most intelligent
people and the, best citizens begin to
look upon Christians now of every
name with suspicion when they talk
and preach and pray against the saloon
1854 days in the year, but on election
day step forward and vote with brew
cry and saloon men for tax and license
parties.
The time is not far distant when
one or the other of these great politi-
cal parties will stop protecting the sa-
loon and champion the best interests
OF our homes, which means mo sa-
looms" When that day comes there
will be many changes made in the
political "bedfellows" that now are
dwelling together in unity" Just
now many preachers and Christian
voters are looking In all directions and
! inquiring. Where are we at?"
Keep up the agitation. Truth event
nally must triumph and the Kingdom
of this world will yet become the
kingdom OF our Lord and His Christ I"
1