NATIONAL PROHIBITION CONFERENCE
NATIONAL PROHIBITION CONFERENCE
THE National Reform Conference of Prohibitionists was held October 18, 19, in the Central Methodist Episcopal church of the city of New York, holding six sessions. One hundred and seventeen delegates were present, from thirteen States of the Union. DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND PURPOSES. Believing that the time has arrived for united action on the part of the several independent and progressive organizations of the country, we earnestly urge all advocates of the abolition of the liquor traffic and of the enfranchisement of woman, to concentrate in determined effort to carry into effect the following declaration of principles and purposes. I. Governments are instituted for the protection of the governed, and it is the imperative duty of all governments to protect every citizen in the full, free, and uninterrupted enjoyment of all the rights with which God has endowed him. II. The government whose administration does not secure this equal protection to all its citizens, neglects an imperative duty, and fails to fulfill the end of its creation. III. The liquor traffic is a gigantic monopoly as well as a gigantic crime. It robs large classes of citizens of their dearest and most sacred rights, lessens the personal security of all classes, interferes with their personal liberty and their pursuit of happiness, deprives untold numbers of families of the comforts and necessaries of life, and compels them to drag out a miserable existence in destitution, dishonor, and woe; causes pauperism, insanity, strife, riot, bloodshed and death, wastes resources, destroys capital, robs labor of its just reward, impedes civilization, and threatens the overthrow of our free institutions. IV. The withholding of the elective franchise on account of sex, in direct violation of the fundamental principles of our government, is disastrous to moral, social, educational, industrial, civil, and political interests; therefore we demand the ballot for woman as an inherent right, and as a potent weapon for securing prohibition. V. We arraign the administration of the governments of this country, State, and nation, for their flagrant violations of the purposes for which governments were ordained:— 1. In neglecting to protect by law, life and property against the liquor traffic crime. 2. By conspiring with the liquor traffic against the citizen, to deprive him of the rights given him by his Creator. 3. By making Statute league with the liquor traffic, the purpose of which on the part of the government is revenue, on the part of the traffickers money making and immunity in crime. VI. That relief from this condition of things can come only through a change of the politics that rule, as these politics do not afford protection to life and property, but do grant immunity to crime. VII. That the greatest obstacle to the suppression of the liquor traffic crime is the political friendship existing between ruling politics and such crime. VIII. We shall affirm from time to time our convictions, utter our protest, and formulate our purposes on all questions, local, State, and national, which demand the consideration of intelligent voters and citizens of a free government—ever holding that a vote cast for principle is never lost. IX. That the prohibition of the importation, manufacture, and sale of intoxicating drinks can be accomplished only by an independent political party. X. That it is the duty of every prohibitionist to give full support to the National Prohibition Party, which has been in existence twelve years, and has on three successive occasions given voice to the many statements expressed in this declaration of principles and purposes. Letters were read from eminent leaders of thought throughout the country, expressive of interest and co-operation in the objects of the Conference. Among these were Dr. L. W. Samson of the Bible Workers' College, A. Bronson Alcott, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Wendell Phillips, Frances E. Willard, Hon. G. T. Stewart, and Governor St. John.