The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-15

q COnIeSS6O
to voting and making speeches to de-
feat constitutional prohibition in his
own state, from the fact that in his
campaign speeches in Oklahoma he
spoke for all Of their constitution, but
the prohibition part. from the fact that
he has recently in an interview tried
to make this appear as a mere local
issue and not a national one, what hope
have We that he and the Democratic
party will give any aid to the cause?
place alongside the attitude of the
Republican party since 1872. the well
established views of Abraham Lincoln
on this question. I hold in my hands
absolute proof that Lincoln was in ia
vor of the prohibition of the liquor
traffic. On January 20, 1853, Mr.. Lin
coin in the company OF three other cit
liens of Springfield. listened to a radi-
cal prohibition sermon and afterwards
in writing requested it's publication.
This document / hold in my hand Is
one of the original copies of that pub
LEGATION including the sermon and let
tiers signed by Lincoln and others. This
copy was found by myself in our law
office in Springfield. among some old
papers of the old law firm of Lincoln
and Herndon. I quote from it the fol-
lowing:
Lincoln q Prohibitionist.
1.-The liquor traffic is a cancer in
society," eating out it's vitals and
threatening destruction and all at
tempts to regulate it will not only prove
abortive, but aggravate the evil. No,
there must be no more effort to regu-
late the cancer; it must be eradicated,
not a root must be left behind; for I'M
til this be done. all classes must con-
tinue exposed to become the victims OF
strong drink; and the woe in the text
must abide upon us-'woe unto him
that giveth his neighbor drink, that
putteth thy bottle to him. The remedy,
the most effectual, would be the pass
age of a law altogether abolishing the
LIQUOR traffic except for mechanical,
chemical, medicinal and sacramental
purposes and SO framed that no prin-
ciple of the constitution of the state
or of the United States be violated. If,
however, the enaction of such law
can not now be obtained still let every
friend of temperance frown on all eff
forts at regulating the cancer. Any Ii
cense law however stringent, must
eventually increase the evil
"These words 1 have quoted were ut
tered by Rev. James Smith and the let
ter written him requesting their pub
LEGATION by Lincoln and others was as
follows:
Springfield. Ill, January 90, 1853
REV. James Smith D. D.
Sir: The undersigned have listen
ed with great satisfaction to the dls-
course on the subject of temperance
delivered by you last evening and be-
ieving that if published and circulat-
ed among the people it would be pro-
ductive Of good, would respectfully re-
quest a copy thereof for publication.
Very sincerely your friends, lSlsneo)'
sBy A. LINCOLN and 3S Others
I'VE may well congratulate ourselves
that our party is the only party today
that stands for these principles which
Lincoln himself approved and PUBLISH
ed in 1852
Roll Call of States.
Following the address of Mr.. Patton
the roll of the states was called Ior
the announcement Of the various COM
mittees.
gates was delivered by Prof. A. s. Wat
kins of Ada, O., to which response
was made by W. p F. Ferguson of
Chicago A session was scheduled for
tonight and 1t was believed that the
entire work of the convention with
the exception of the nomination of
presidential ticket would be completed
by tomorrow morning.
The galleries were we'll filled long
before the official representatives OF
the various states had assembled AS
the delegations entered they cheered
for their choice for president and some
had songs to awaken enthusiasm. A 80
foot banner was carried In, hailing
Joseph P. Tracy of Detroit as the salt
of the earth
The first demonstration was aroused
by the arrival of the Massachusetts
delegation carrying a standard sur
mounted by a water wagon and bear
ing a water bucket as pendant. The
delegation sang 1.-THE Old Oaken
Bucket"
The Indiana delegation executed
deafening yell proclaiming themselves
as Hoosiers and against license high
and license low and equally opposed to
local option, but declaring themselves
to be squarely for national prohibition.
The yell ended: That's us, Indiana"
Patton Boom Started.
National Chairman Jones in calling
the convention to order said that since
the Prohibition party was organized
the movement had spread until now
fourteen million people live in territory
which outlaws the saloons. He predict
ed an extensive increase in the Pro-
hibition vote this year and the cam
paign to be conducted will ring through
the country and ''reverberate like a
batetring ram"
Rev. Mr. Eaton in his invocation
prayed for the Fastening of the time
when there shall be no drunkards and
no drunkard Makers" and there was
a chorus of amens from delegates and
audience.
Mr.. Patton held the attention Of the
audience throughout his speech and at
times moved his hearers to great en-
enthusiasm AS he proceeded driving
shaft after shaft at the other national
parties he was cheered again and
again.
Take off your coat and "hit him
again." cried voices from the dele
gates and these were interspersed with
"amens."
The speaker took off his coat and
then paid his compliments to the late
Herman Raster of Illinois, author of
the personal liberty plank of the 1872
Republican platform.