Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1884-03-06
A CARD.

WASHINGTON, ID. o., Feb. IA, 1884.
Messrs. Editors From a new (O
and unexpected (?) source we find our
self called upon to again trespass upon
your already crowded space; and this
being "St. Valentines Day." we beg
to submit the following to our "unhel
aided" and interesting inquisitor as
slight tribute to his superlative great
ness and moral and intellectual worth
In tie first place, then, taking him
ser1atln,, we remark, that notwith-
standing we have failed hitherto to
recognize that whether or not we are
in favor of local option has been an
issue or disputed question between US
and our Uery concise and dadactac inter-
lOcutors (including himself under an
other alias yet the seemingly anxious
and closing remark of your more vo-
luminous and "verboser' correspon-
dent, "Junius," (save the mark that
he fails to discover in our prolix "es-
says" any revelation of our position
or views on that point, forcibly illus
trates the truth of another adage, that
"none are 30 blind as those who refuse
to see." Why, even our Dear Bro.
Co." with less fortunate and acute
powers of comprehension, has been
more successful in his anxious, though
tardy, discoveries on this point, for he
forgetting, also, for the while, that
that point was not at issue between
us--is, at last, however, pleased to
confess us in favor of the enactment
and reinforcement of such laws"
We had thought, all along. tho ig-
norantly, it seems, that the de1eterlOetS
admixture of temperance and common
politics; or its injurious injection into
purely political campaigns, was the
theme of our absta'uSe "discourses -
not even local, State or national pro-
hibition, per Sc, being disputed there
in, but rather the manner or question
able mcde in which their accomplish
lnent was sought by some-and if we
have failed to demonstrate to his OF
any other unutIttng comprehension
the existence of the former by holding
up the incontrovertible facts and fig.
ures' resulting from the latter, the
fault rests not with us, but, we fear
in the lamentable veriication of the
"adags" to which we have already re.
ferred, and for which we are not re-
sponsibe.
As to the "pledging," in advance
of any political or legislative candi
date on this much abused question
or any other subiect--at the dietatior
of any irresponsible committee of "ir
repressible" and intermedding hob
byists, we would remark, that "wert
reasons as plenty as blackberries, give
no man one on (S@ch) compulsion.
1t were wise also, we think, for the
better interests of prohibition, AS d
general thing, to leave such candi.
dates untrammeled, and thus allow
them to retain their independent
manhood--in contradistinction to INA
chinism by which to treat this CUES
ton in their legislative capacity, il
elected, as they would any other i'm
portant matter coming before them
and then stand or fall upon their &C
ton thereon before their appreciatlve
constituents. But let us not drag OF
force this social, moral and religious
question into the campaigns as par
ty issue by which many Of its friends
in both political parties are thereby
politically "bound to follow their par
ty' against it,
TO Junins gentlemanly insinuatlor
as to our knowledge Of 1.-The temper.
ance contest in Ohio" we reply by re.
ferring him to his rural colleague o
"huggiug and hollering' fame-who
we are severally informed, has beer
so completely hors de combat in a con
test of his own selection and TO whose
anxious rescue be evinces such fra
ternal desire to rush "unheraIded
He, doubtless, knows all we do and
do not know, and much more besides
and will be more than pleased to tel
him all and, perhaps, a great det
more on that subject. (Of course, w
assume he asks for information,) H'
will find him urbane and accommoda
ting in the fraternal extreme, anC
thoroughly in earnest in true temper
ance reform, as well as local option
We will suggest in this connection
kind O. confidentially, as it were, tina
from some cause or other his allegianc,
to the "grand old party appear
somewhat shaken Of late, but "Juni
us, as the fearless defender of the re
publican faith (though an occasional
reviler Of the faithful--some Of whom
even the grave denies an honorabl
defense were it needed) may be abb
to strengthen him therein--should b
choose ito labor" thus with his wa
yering brother"
This "Junius," Messrs Editors, fol
lowing his strongly developed and US
ual course-under whatever nam d
pI,me-chooses to ridicule and mis-
represent us, or endeavors to place u
in false and "straddling" position
in order, we presume, to better sui
his apparently Per0erse prociivitles @
hidden Interior purposes, and ther
with the most perfect sangfroid, asl
VS. to define our position---as matte
of anxious Information, of course. 1
reading over his more concise reptile
to "Senex" and his amusing coteInpc