New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-11-03
A Word 10 Temperance Men.

A WORD 10 EeHpeEahCc iteN'
Whether we are for thorough Temper
ance or not, every one will Judge for him
self but that We are IN favor Of the en-
forcement of all existing laws tending to
repress Intemperance and the enactment of
new ones whenever practicable, the readers
of The Tribune must know. II we could so
vote as to secure the enactment and en-
forcement of the Maine Temperance Law,
or one essentially like it. we should regard
that result as more important and beneicent
than the elevation of any man or the triumph
of aay party whatever.
But it does not follow from the fact that
we concur in all the ends avowedly arrived
at by the - Temperance Alliance" that we
should exto or approve the maneuyers
which that Alliance is used to cover. On
the contrary, We expect all Temperance
men. as we expect all other men, to keep
their ewes wide open, examine and judge,
and not allow themselves to be deluded by
names. Half the men most active In the
Temperance Alliance movement are mere
selfish intrieuers, intent merely on Subsery-
ing their own personal and party ends. We
have had what is called " Temperance
Judicial Convention in the lower District,
got up and managed by rum-drinking Tam
many hacks expressly to defeat James ii.
Welsh. the Wing candidate for Police JUS
tice. We have not cared to waste space on
the exposure of this contemplate intrigue,
and will not now. The men who contrived
it had no idea of voting for their own nomi-
nees, but expected to draw off and throw
away two or three hundred Wing votes,
thus securing the election OF their own
party candidate. In this they will be disap-
pointed, and we only allude to the matter
here to illustrate a general principle, and
exhort every voter, no matter of what poll
tics. not TO suffer himself to be deluded by
BOUNDING names or specious professions.
The Temperance Alliance meeting at
Tripler Hall has selected Ticket for City
Officers from the Tickets of the two great
parties, and recommended it to Temperance
men for their suffrages. But Rot a particle
of evidence is offered tending to prove that
these candidates (some Of whom we know
to be liberal vince rinkers) will do any
more for Temperance than their competi-
tors would-or, in short, that they will do
any thiag at all. 1t is all an open your
mouth and shut your eyes business. We
have men presented as Temperance candi-
dates without the least guarantee of their
fitness to be so preferred, but with an ex-
pectation that they will be swallowed on
trust The calculations of those who think
so viii be disappointed.
We do not say whether the candidates for
City or Ward Offices favored by the Tenn
perance Alliances are or are not generally
fit to be so favored, save one others We
knew are not. What we urge is that every
voter make due inquiry, Tct independently,
certain what is the character, what are the
principles and habits of rival candidates re-
spective!y, if one will but honestly make the
attempt No man would think of buying a
horse on any such evidence othis soundness
As sufces thousands in deciding how 70 cast
their votes Yet the duty of voting Is miser-
ably discharged unless the voter takes pains
TO hnow how to vote right.
One more point Don't be so faStIdloas
a. TO voting for the best men as to let the
worst slip III through the scattering OF good
mems votes. Don't vote for bad men any
how but take good men who are not the
best rather than, by scattering your vote,
let in the worst In short, act IS senslbly
nationally, carefully, in regard to the choice
Of your rulers as in your own private busl-
ness, and YOU viii do your whole duty
shall we have another Stop Law!
The Union SqfetU C0,gt,lytoe ,uided