Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1884 — John B. Gough Speaks for St. John. [ARTICLE]

John B. Gough Speaks for St. John.

[Bouton dispatch. I Fellow citizens, lam no politician, and I am, not going to make a political speech. For fortytwo years I have been fighting this liquor trade —against the trade that robbed me of seven of the best years of my life. I have long voted the Republican ticket, hoping always for help in my contest in the Republican party. But we have been expecting something from that party in vain, and now, when they have treated the most respecftul appeal from the mostjrespectable men in this country with silent contempt, I say it is time to leave off trusting amt to express our opinion of the party. [Applause.] I do not believe in compromises of any sort, nor .have I believed in them at any time in my/ career. I have fought the drink traffic right straight through, and I want Prohibitionists to show an uncompromising front to that traffic. [“Hear! ” “Hear!’’] We are fighting a tremendous evfi, and we must make sacrifices if they become necessary. But there must be no compromise with the enemy. You must stand to your principles. T hey talk about protection, but we temperance people have no protection whatever. [Cheers.] We want protection from the liquor traffic for the widow and the orphan and the children, [Applause. 1 That is why I changed my politics, and if I live until the first Tuesday in November I shall give my vote for the Prohibitory candidate, [Cheers.] With political parties and with demagogic methods of argument and abuse we have nothing to do. 1 believe that free whisky in the United States and Benjamin Butler’s teachings would bring about a bloody revolution in this country in less than five years, and I pray God to give us good men to rule over us. I have defined my position, and with God’s help I will stick to it the remainder of my life. [Loud cheers.]