Great Republican Journal

The Cortland News, Friday, November 30, 1883.

Great Republican Journal.

   The annual propectus of the New York Tribune is printed in another column. "Heartily Republican in Politics" has the right ring to it. The times demand that every Republican shall be hearty in politics, and we are glad to see the Tribune hoist the banner for 1884 thus early. Now, as through all its history, it is a great paper, many say the leading paper of the country, and it can do much good in the political work of the year.

   The weekly Tribune is the paper for the country, and we recommend it to those who do not yet know how good a journal it is. Some new features are promised this winter, including a series of articles for the benefit of young men, which look as if they might be practical and interesting. The Tribune appears in new and large type, and announces a reduction of the subscription price. Among the premium books for 1884 are Rand, McNally & Co.'s great Atlas of the World, and a book for musicians. Other books are "Wood's Household Practice of Medicine," and the large "Unabridged Dictionaries."

   The Tribune announces a plan for starting town libraries that seems too good an opportunity in its way to be lost. People who want more than a weekly from New York, cannot do better than take the semi-weekly Tribune. Address, "The Tribune" Publication Office, New York City.

Words of Wisdom.

   The following article appeared in the Cortland Standard of last week, and it contains so much truth and good common sense, that we transfer it to the columns of THE NEWS. It should bring a blush to the cheeks of Rev. J. W. Putnam and others who have dragged down the Prohibition party in this county until it has become, as the writer says, simply a "tail to the Democratic kite."

A PROHIBITIONIST SPEAKS.

THE TEMPERANCE PARTY RUN IN THE INTEREST OF DEMOCRATS.

To the Editor of the Standard:

   Sir: Now that the fire and smoke of election are over, will you give space in your paper for a few words to the Prohibitionists who read the Standard?

   We do not wish to discuss the need of a distinctive temperance party, although we ourselves believe it is needed, but if it is needed, it is certainly all-important that the Prohibition party pursue a consistent course, and unless they do they must at last become an instrument of defeat to the very object which they are organized to promote. In what I shall say I know I voice the minds of many who have looked to this new organization with hope, but lament the course of some of its leaders in bringing about nominations that have brought a just censure on the party.

   In the fall of 1882, as is well known, the Prohibition ticket was made up of nearly all of the regular nominees of the Democratic party—men who had never come out from their party in any way or publicly taken the side of temperance. Was it strange that the temperance party began to be designated "a tail to the Democratic party?" In none of these were the nominees held up as regular Prohibitionists, but as a fair sort of men who would "run well," and they were nominated, or indorsed, evidently for expediency's sake.

   Last spring the Prohibitionists of Cortland made but a slight effort for either their town ticket or the election of no-license commissioners and over against the temperance work was written in large letters, "Defeat." Why was it? Surely if there is any time when the Prohibitionists can show their real strength it is at the town election, and when comes the direct issue, license or no-license.

   As is well known, the Prohibition convention was advertised to be held before either of the other party conventions, and it was a surprise generally to the temperance people when it was changed. Was there no significance in its being next placed "on the heels of the Democratic convention" and before the Republican?

   The facts relating to that convention are still fresh. The inconsistency of its action is shown in the fact that after having given the chief nomination to a man who headed the Democratic ticket of the county they went on and adopted the platform of the State Prohibition party, in which are the following planks:

   Resolved, That consistency, the welfare and growth of our party as an independent factor of political power, and the best interest of the prohibition cause, forbid the temporizing expediency of indorsing nominees of any party not unreservedly pledged to the prohibition of the liquor traffic.

   Resolved, That it is our conviction that fidelity to the policy of independent political action enjoins independent nominations to offices, from the highest to the lowest.

   With a platform made of such planks, the convention held up at the same time, high over all, the regular nominee of a whisky party [reference to Democratic Party—CC editor] for their most prominent candidate [S. S. Knox]—a man who may be better than his party, yet who has always stood with that party. There were those in the convention who gave their support to him because they had been led to believe that he would come into the convention and accept the nomination in a way so pronounced that they would know where to find him. There were honest, true men in that convention who sorely felt the position in which they were afterward placed. It is hoped that all will turn out for the best, and that the whisky men will be more disappointed in their candidate than will the temperance men who have worked with more or less hope, but not with assurance.

   Two opposite factions are waiting with bated breath to see how the new judge will hold the scales of justice. Through an exciting election whisky men and Prohibitionists have worked side by side at the polls for the same candidate. They have both helped their best to elect him. Both parties think they know their man. Whatever shall be the result in the courts of our county, it is certain that never again can a Prohibition convention in this county put up a man so uncertain, without the party being branded as one of the greatest farces in Cortland.

   There are too many honest temperance men who with deep chagrin have passed through the trial of this campaign, and have tried to make the best of it, who will never consent to another such campaign.

   If the Prohibition party would survive, let its members redeem themselves immediately; let them demand of their candidates that they stand on the same platform with themselves and face the whisky element with them, or else let them take in their flag and disband. We hope for a change for the better. 
PROHIBITIONIST, Blodgett Mills, Nov. 12, 1883.

Democratic Conundrums.

   The Cortland Democrat would like to know:

   (1st.) If there is any law in this State prohibiting clergymen from voting as their consciences dictate?

   (2d.) What motive prompted three of the Democratic members of the Board of Supervisors to vote for a Republican for Clerk of the Board?

   There is no law in this or any other State “prohibiting clergymen from voting as their consciences dictate," or, as for that matter, as their consciences don't dictate. We are of the opinion that it some of the clergymen voted at the late election as they preached before it, conscience had nothing to do with dictating— twas ungodly hate that dictated both their preaching and voting.

   Neither is there a law prohibiting supervisors from voting as they please. The three Democratic members voted for a Republican for Clerk because they knew that, as he is a gentleman of ability and experience, his services would not only facilitate business but render their own tasks much easier to perform. It shows that there are at least three sensible Democrats in the Board. But how they dared to vote at all without consulting with the editor of the Democrat is what beats us. What naughty, reckless dare-devils those three Supervisors must be! They certainly ought to apologize to John Kelly's tool and they can't—do—it—any—too—soon!

   The editor of the Democrat would also like to know:

   How many million blanks the Ring printing offices are turning out to be used by the "Little judge" from this time to the first of January next, and if the next Board of Supervisors will audit the bills for printing the same?

   Well, we have made inquiry and are "credibly informed" that thus far the orders amount to only 999,999, but it is expected that these figures will at least be doubled, and perhaps trebled, before December passes. The question shows neighbor Jones to be in a deeply anxious mental condition. Evidently he is worrying from fear that he will not be able to clutch Surrogate's pap as early after the new Judge takes the oath of office as he expected to. Still, we haven't the least doubt that the next Board of Supervisors will find the first item of Jones' bill dated Jan. 1, 1884.

People in Glass Houses, etc.

   Kelly's organ [reference to the Cortland Democrat--CC editor] last week published an item of a discreditable nature about an employee of THE NEWS office, and only because he was such. We are charitable enough to believe that the item would not have appeared in the shape it did had not the editor of said organ at the time he wrote it been more drunk than usual. It seems to us that the editor [Benton Jones] would have his time fully occupied in taking care of himself without spending his breath in trying to reflect upon this office, as it is a well-known fact that the reason why he has not been frequently arrested for the same offense is because officers treat him with more consideration.

Editor’s note:

   The fire which destroyed the Cortland House was reported in the November 30, 1883, issue of the Cortland News: http://www.jeffpaine.blogspot.com/2013/09/1883-fire-destroys-cortland-house.html