Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1908-08-26
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
A PROH|B|T|ONIST
so DECLARES {. w. cHAFiN IN
SPEECH ACCEPTING PREsI-
DENTAL NOMINATION.
TEMPERANCE, TARIFF REFORM
AND PoLYGAMY DECLARED
TO BE VITAL ISSUES.

Chicago, Aug. 19.-"On tn, fourth of
March, 1909 our national government
will have completed its one hundred
and twentieth year of constitutional
history. During that time 90 men
have occupied the presidential office
All have been men of high distinc.
tlcn and few of them of eminent
ability. For the first time since the
death of Washington. Dec. IA. 1893.
we are without living ex-president.
When Lincoln took the oath of office
hVe former presidents were living
the greatest number in our history
They did nothing To help him in the
great struggle which resulted in the
passage of the thirteenth amendment
10 the constitution which marked a
higher standard of christian civliza.
ton. They We're the representatives
or two dominant political parties.
whig end democratic, which for about
% years opposed the bringing of any
great new question into the political
arena"
"S'N ~ NPShlnS NoTuS Dy
f, w. Chain in his responsee of ac-
ceptance made to the committee
which came to Chicago to notify him
of his nomination for the presidency
by the prohibition party.
Mr.. Chain declares that twenty.
seven presidential campaigns have
been more or less fercely fought TO
gain control of the government. Most
of them have been battles over hcti.
titious issues which had little or moth
/ ing to do with the administrations
which followed. In not more than
six instances would a line Of American
history nave been changed If the de.
feated candidate had been elected In.
: stead of the successful one. This
party strife over false issues for the
sake OF obtaining office, has made
moral towards of many of our public
men, and transformed some of our
chief executives into mere pawns
upon the party chess-board: for no
man lives In history and in the hearts
of the people who does not stand for
the highest moral sentiment OF his
day
For a long time said Mr.. Chain,
there has been a disposition on the
part of the leading politicians of
these old parties to belittle and ignore
the liquor problem. This has now
reached an acute stage which amounts
TO conspiracy on the part of the
leaders of these parties to coin up the
conscience of the people into liquor H.
lcense revenue and Offices. To show
that these parties are wrong and that
the prohibition party IL right and
that we are justified in pressing this
issue as by far the greatest in Ameri.
can politics, | win call ont one wit
mess. lie was the greatest man who
lived in the nineteenth century-Abra-
ham Lincoln. He made five speeches
lin his lifetime, which constituted his
political creed. Oae of them was
upon the liquor question, for he was
La lifelong total abstainer and a pro-
Ihibitionist. It was delivered at
Springfield ILL.,. February %, 1912.
In that speech he said.
The demon Of intemperance ever
seems 10 have delighted in sucking
the blood Of genius and generosity.
| What one Of us but can call TO mind
sol j" dear relative. more promising in
youths than all his fellows, who has
fallen sacrifice TO his rapacity? He
lever seems to have rome forth, like