The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-06-20
FROM THE TEMPERANCE GAZETTE.
ADVICE TO TEMPERANCE MEN

FROM THE TEMPERANCE GAZETTE
ADVICE TO TEMPERANCE MEN.
Mr.. EDITOR Having had slight legisla-
tive experience, without any great probability
of having it continued, it may not be amss to
present some thoughts suggested by legisla-
tive life and called forth by the action of
temperance men and temperance papers.
Temperance people should not forget that
the members of the legislature, being on the
ground understand the situation very much
better than any one can who is not mem
Der. If one enjoys the confidence of the dis
trict sufficiently to be sent as the representa-
tive of the people on the temperance question
he should have enough of their confidence to
be allowed to conduct his campaign in his
own way. Temperance people should not
look upon Il temperance legislator as the me-
dunn through which to hurl all utopian and
impracticabe temperance bills upon the leg
islature. If this body was composed of tenn
perance men solely it would perhaps accom-
plish more, but until such is the case he only
hedges up his way by not having one princi-
pie and seeking to accomplish that alone.
One of the great hindrances to temperance
legislation is that temperance men do not
unite on any one thing They should all ia
vor constitutional prohibition or local option,
or some one principle, but nothing will ever
be accomplished while one follows Paul, an
other Apollos and another Cephas.
When man has supported temperance
measure by his vote, or his influence, or his
legislature, he should be supported by temper
ance men when running in political campaign
although he may not be an avowed and radi-
cal temperance man. What we are seeking
10 LOTT CHI
support the men who will vote to give it to
us. Unfortunately last fall several men of
temperance proclivities were opposed because
they would not consent to take the nomina-
ton on the Prohibition ticket in preference
to the nomination on the regular ticket. Had
it not been for this, constitutional prohibit
ton would have passed the legislature at its
late session. But no one can wonder at its
not passing when local preachers, sanctifca-
tionists and leading church members unite
with the liquor faction to defeat prohibition
nominees merely because they had also been
placed on the regular tickets.
Our Temperance papers should sustain and
encourage temperance members and not crit
ieise their methods of conducting temperance
campaigns 1t may be all very well to say
THAT temperance legislation runs slow" as
the GAZETTE did during the late session, and
fire shot at temperance members from the ed
torial sanctum. Paddy had no difficulty in
fighting the bear from the loft, out of danger,
while his wife was killing the beast down
stairs. but it is probable that his wife knew
just where when and how to strike quite as
we'll as he did, so l presume the temperance
members of the house knew quite as we'll as
the GAZETTE how fast or how slow to move.
After temperance man is elected, temper
ance people should not make up their minds
that the chief end of life is accomplished,
and leave the member to stand alone, as a by
word unnoticed by friends and without SYM
pathy on the floor of the house When the
fight came off in the session of 'S3. there
were two hundred liquor men thronglng the
assembly chamber. During the late session,
there was not so many, but in both cases,
where were the temperance men? All attend
ing to anything else than aiding and encourag
ing their members by their presence. Even
of a committee appointed especially to come,
two of the members could not remain after
coming, and the third didn't come at all but
the sympathizers on the other side came and
stayed until the fight was over.
1t is the belief of the writer that if New
Jersey is not reclaimed until it is done by the
growth of third party, it will not be inside
of a generation; but if temperance people
Will StrlNG 10 udfe temperance HcA HoihAHo-
ted at the regular primaries and support the
temperance nominee of either party, ire
spective of partisan feelings, five years will
give New Jersey temperance legislature.
These desultory thoughts have been hurriedly
thrown together, hoping that the temperance
people may see something in the suggestions
to profit them in the coming fall campaign.
I would not close this extended article,
without referring to the valuable aid received
from the Camden members, among others in
the house last winter, and for the sake of
temperance it is to be ardently hoped, that
the ''noblest Roman of them all, Hon. E.
A. Armstrong, will be returned to fight as
valianty as he did last winter, and in the
next session push the battle to the enemy's
gates. L. G. CHATTLE.
Long Branch, June 17th.
THROWING THE BOOMERANG.