PRONG HORN. 



259 



thorized to call future conventions. Illinois followed 

 by a much larger assemblage, of some '200 delegates, 

 at Bloomington, Dec. 9, 1868. And to Ohio belongs 

 the honor of placing the first State ticket in nomina- 

 tion by a convention held at Mansfield, July 14, 1869. 

 For this ticket 679 votes were cast in that State. 



The following is the opening sentence of a call for 

 the first national nominating convention, issued Dec. 

 9, 1871, and signed by John Russell, chairman, and 

 Gideon T. Stewart, secretary: "The friends of the 

 National Prohibition party are hereby requested to 

 assemble in national convention at the city of Colum- 

 bus, 0., on the 22d day of February, 1872, at 11 A. 

 M., for the purpose of putting in nomination candi- 

 dates for the offices of President and Vice-President 

 of the United States, to be supported at the next en- 

 suing national election ; and of transacting such other 

 business as the convention, when assembled shall 

 deem advisable." At the convention, assembled pur- 

 suant to the above call, Hon. Henry Fish, of Michi- 

 gan, was chosen temporary chairman, and subsequently 

 Hon. S. B. Chase, of Pennsylvania, was elected to 

 preside permanently over the deliberations. Prof. 

 Klroy M. Aver}' of Ohio, was elected secretary, with 

 Cant. Chas. P. Russell, and several other assistants. 



This convention adopted a broad platform consist- 

 ing of a preamble and 17 resolutions on various sub- 

 jects the two subjects of chief importance which re- 

 ceived unequivocal endorsement were the complete 

 legal outlawry of the liquor traffic, and impartial, yet 

 properly qualified, suffrage, without distinction of 

 "sex or race." Hon. James Black, of Pennsylvania, 

 received the nomination for the Presidency, and Rev. 

 John Russell, of Michigan, for the Vice-Presidency, 

 at the hands of this convention. For this ticket there 

 were cast a total of 5508 votes, in six States Con- 

 necticut, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, 

 and Pennsylvania. 



The second national nominating convention met in 

 the city of Cleveland. O., May 17, 1876. Rev. II. A. 

 Thompson, 1). D., of Ohio, presided, and Charles P. 

 :l. ot Michigan, was secretary. Hon. Green 

 Clay Smith, of Kentucky, was made the nominee for 

 the Presidency, and Hon. G. T. Stewart, of Ohio, for 

 the Vice-Presidency. The platform of 1872 was re- 

 affirmed, and 15 new resolutions were adopted. This 

 year there were cast ( J757 votes for the Presidential 

 ticket by 17 Slates. 



On June 17, 1880, the party held its third nominat- 

 ing convention, again at Cleveland, O., and Rev. A. A. 

 Winer, D. D., of l!o.-ton, Mass., presided. Gen. > at 

 Dow, of Maine, was unanimously chosen as Presiden- 

 tial candidate, and for Vice-Presidential nominee 

 Rev. II. A. Thompson, of Ohio, was selected. The 

 ticket received 1 1.610 votes. 



The great social and semi-religions temperance re- 

 vival which spread over the country during the pre- 

 vious decade had by 1881 fairly crystallized into its 

 logical sequence of prohibition sentiment. But many 

 of the inure active new workers now in the field were 

 but imperfectly informed regarding the real status of 

 the Prohibition party. Hence, at a convocation com- 

 posed chiefly of ttueh new recruits, held at Lake Bluff, 

 III., in August. I.S.H], an organization known as the 

 ''Home Protection Party" was effected. However, 

 at a subsequent conference, convened at Chicago Aug. 

 li.'l. -1. I^j. composed of 341 delegates, there was lit- 

 tie trouble in effecting a union of the two organiza- 

 tions under the name of "Prohibition Home Protec- 

 tion Party." Kveti this change of title lasted only 

 two years, when the original name of " Prohibition 

 Party " was restored by a vote of the next national 

 Dominating convention, which was held in Pittsburg, 

 IV. .Inly 2.1, 1^1. 



This convention marked a bright era in the history 

 Bf the party. Tin-re were 002 delegates present. The 

 platform, although newly constructed in form, was 

 not essentially changed in sentiment. Prof. Samuel 



Dickie, of Michigan, was selected to preside over the 

 deliberations. Ex-Gov. John P. St. John, of Kansas, 

 received the nomination for the Presidency, and Hon. 

 William Daniel, of Maryland, for the Vice-Presidency. 

 More than 1 50.000 votes were cast for this ticket in the 

 nation. The late Hon. John B. Finch was made 

 chairman of the national committee, and infused new 

 life and force into the operations of the party. 



After the death of Mr. Finch, which occurred Oct. 

 3, 1887, the present incumbent, Prof. Samuel Dickie, 

 of Michigan, was called to that position. 



The fifth national convention, held at the city of 

 Indianapolis, Ind., on May 30, 31, 1888, composed of 

 1046 delegates, nominated Gen. Clinton B. risk, of 

 New Jersey, as its candidate for the Presidency, and 

 Rev.Dr.John A.Brooks,of Missouri. for the Vice-Presi- 

 dency. It is reckoned that 242,984 votes were polled 

 for the ticket, being about 100,000 more than were cast 

 for the party in 1SS4. 



The comparatively slow progress of the movement 

 is a source of dis"ouragernent to persons of sanguine 

 temperament. But patience is an essential virtue in a 

 reformer. Drunkenness and its adjunct, the liquor 

 traffic, constitute a chronic disease of the body-politic. 

 Such difficulties yield but slowly even to the best of 

 treatment. Prohibitionists regard the temperance re- 

 form as a complex question, both social and political. 

 In its legal relations it is strictly a political measure, 

 demanded by strong moral considerations. The legal- 

 ized liquor traffic is a counter-educating and counter- 

 acting force, standing directly in the way of all moral 

 efforts to save society from the direful consequences of 

 using alcoholic intoxicants. 



License or taxation provides for the regulation and 

 continuance of the business, but not for its suppres- 

 sion. Prohibition is the only lineof policy which aims 

 logically at, and seriously contemplates the utter over- 

 throw of, the dram-shop system. Therefore the par- 

 amount issue which the Prohibition party presents is, 

 " Prohibition versus legalization of the Liquor Traf- 

 fic." They indict the business of making and vending in- 

 toxicating beverages as grossly immoral in its nature and 

 tendencies, in violation of the sound principles of po- 

 litical economy, and at variance with every object of 

 good government, constituting a political wrong of un- 

 equalled enormity. For this "gigantic crime of 

 crimes " absolute prohibition is the only adequate rem- 

 edy, to secure which involves the responsible agency 

 of a political party. 



They regard the nation as being again confronted 

 with the solution of a great public question, which ia 

 of so radical a nature as to be utterly incapable of any 

 just compromise. The question is not whether we 

 shall have a few saloons or many, but whether we 

 shall have any or none at all. Only such a condition 

 can justify the formation of a new political party in 

 this country, but when such a political question does 

 present itself for settlement, there is no other way out 

 of the difficulty. 



Postulating, as somewhat axiomatic, that "Gov- 

 ernment by the people involves government through 

 parties," and that "political parties are either strong 

 or weak to handle public questions in proportion as 

 the members are united or divided on the particular 

 question to be adjusted," the main argument against 

 the older parties and in favor of the new may be placed 

 in syllogistic form thus : Where the members of a 

 political party are radically and irreconcilably divided 

 on any question, it thereby becomes impossible for the 

 party to give positive and effective legislation on that 

 question. But members of the two leading parties are 

 radically and irreconcilably divided on the question of 

 prohibiting the liquor traffic. Therefore, it is impos- 

 sible for cither of them to give positive and effective 

 prohibition of the liquor traffic. Hence the need and 

 existence of the radical Prohibition Party. (j. R.) 



PRONG HORN, or PRONOBUCK. See ANTELOPE, 

 AMERICAN. 



