Year: 1867

ter futility will soon become so evident to
every sane man, that after little while
they will most certainly be superseded by
more rational method of promoting vir-
tue and morality among the people.
Temperance men commit most slngu
lar mistake when they speak of the OPP
ponents of the prohibitory law as set OF
tipplers and liquor dealers. | am earn
estly opposed to prohibition, and yet
| pretend to belong to neither one or the
other Of those two classes. You are long
enough acquainted with me to know that
the entire absence OF alcoholic liquors
from this globe would cause no personal
Inconvenience to me- | am also one OF
those who sincerely abhor drunkenness
and intemperance of any description.
But l am just as earnestly opposed to
that class of legislation which, in an ar
bitrary way, encroaches upon the rights
of the individual, which, for this reason.
will never be sustained by public senti-
ment, and which will only serve to famil-
iarize the masses with the practice of law
breaking. thus demoralizing them, and
undermining the popular respect for the
laws in general | may have occasion,
some time Or other to setf forth the reasons
for my opposition at length. These rea
sons dc, not spring from my individual
tastes, but are based upon principle and
experience, and I ain persuaded very
large portion Of the opponents of the
prohlbltory law, among the Germans, are
lmpelled by just the same class CT motives.
10 these men Of sincere CONVICTIONS the
question OF prohibition, &c IS something
more tnau mere question OF beer and
whiskey.


| have heard the question asked why
these men will not tenn porarily sacrifice
their opinions On individual rights while
the country is in danger and the national
cause needs their aid 1t may be asked
with equal, and even more, rropriely,
why the temperance men, who form only
a minority in the Republican party, do
not give up their ohnGxious hobby. while
the cause Of the country demand unity of
action The opinions and claims of those
who oppose prohibition on principle, are
certainly entitled TO at least As much con
sideratio and respect as the opinions OF
those who advocate it.


TO eoncludc-1 earnestly hope the
German Republicans, while resolutely de-
Tending the cause Of Individual liberty
where the issue actually comes up, will
not permit themselves to be frightened
by the cry Of Wolf! whore there is no
danger near The excitement about the
matter Is IN great many places mere
trap set for them by the coppcrheads,
which intelligent and conscientious men
will know how to ayoid [ trust
they will keep in view the main problen
OF our days aud attach no more impor
tahce to side-issues then is due to them.
At the same time It is to be hoped that
all Union men, who have our common
cause more earnestly at heart then their
individual notions will cooperate ln stop
ping the efforts of the temperance leaders
III the Republican party, efforts calculat
II to keep the Democracy alive, to drive
unwilling recruits into the johnson camp,
ana break up the harmony and endanger
he efficiency of cur organization at SO
'nomentous period. The Maine cleo
ton ought to have convinced them that
this applies to Americans just as well az
30 tieriHaifs.


| congratulate you my dear sir, upon
tilc capital resolution beariny mon thi.
subject which, iyIil4s part OF the Repub-
iican platform Of Wisconsin. 1t Is excel
lent in language a. well as i'll spirit, and
If it were adnpsed and practically adhered
u ay The Republicans in every State of
the Union there would be no danger Of
a division between the liberal American
and German clements Far from advis


ing the Germans 10 bid farewell to the
Republican party under such circum
etances, | would most earnestly urge my
Gertnan friends in Wisconsin to support
the platform and the candidates nouilnat-
ed upon it with frnlness which has always
distinguished them.


Yours, very truly. CARL SCHURZ.


Horace Rublee. Chairman Republican


State Central Committee Of Wisconsin.