Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-10-28
New York Tribune
Opinions of the Rev. DIR. James X.
Day.


Among those who were accounted soma
what lukewarm in the early stages of the
Presidential canvass was the Rev. DR.. James
X Day, pastor of ST. PAul's Methodist Epis-
cnpal church, one of the largest and most in
tluential of the denomination in this city Dr.
Dav gained "A well-earned reputation as an
earnest and eloquent minister in Boston. He
is a native of Maine, and still passes his sum.
mers with his family on the old family farm
in MIR Blaine own district. His failure to
declare himself has been commented on by
those unfayOrahle to TIE republican candi.
date, but in conversation with a Tribune re-
porter DR.. Day gave no indication of I'M
certainty or lack of interest in the political
issues OF the day.
81 have never met Mr.. Blaine, though
have been his near neighbor." he said 'Some
years ago | entertained an unsatisfactory
feeling toward him, but afterward became
convinced that the cause for this feeling was
not well grounded. am not a politician in
any sense, and never participated in politi-
cal canvass | vote, as every citizen should
But the present campaign enters largely into
the discussion of moral questions and it is
natural that teachers of morals should take
more than usual interest in it. For this rea-
son YOU will probably find ministers ready to
talk on the subject who have never done so
before | am a Prohibitionist when it is
practicable. All temperance reform requires
law to secure permanent results, and be
lieve it will be good time when the manu-
facture. sale, and public drinking of intoxi,
cants are successfully prohibited in every
part of our country"
What do YOU think of the wisdom of tenn
peranre people in nominating st john?'
IN n in ftfln nt % Z.
date at this time appears to be a mistake.
The time has not come. 1t is not possible
for that candidate to be elected. and his tail
ure will remove that possibility further than
ever. II he could be elected. ne could &C
complsh nothing. The temperance cause
has a vast preliminary work to do in the
States before it can be successfully made a
national issue. lntemperance is not like
slavery, the institution and evil of a section.
Ii cannot be removed hv Presidential pro-
clamatlon or the success of a national party.
IL is in every STAT, city and town, and for
many years the methods of dealing with il
must be State and town methods. If we
temperance people make our cause national
political issue, we begin at the wrong end.
We try to work our ship out 10 sea with the
tigure-head instead of the rudder. We are
wild to push of for President before we
have the possibility of success in the race,
or backing of party and sentiment in the
different States that will enable the candidate
to be- more than useless ornament. In the
present state of the temperance cause in the
different parts of the country, if the national
temperance party should Unexpectedly elect
its candidate it would not know what to do
with him. When the friends of temperance
have shadow of chance of electing the
majority of the houses of Congress, or even
a respectable minority, then its Presidential
ticket will be practicable; but a President
and nothing else is worse than nothing.
THE result of voting for ST. John, if il ac-
composites anything, will be the success of
Cleveland. 1t is plain that only one of two
men can be elected. So the question is,
which of those two men do you want? You
cannot eject ST. John if YOU want him You
must aid the cause of Cleveland or Blaine.
Which shall it be? If you are a Cleveland
man you will vote tor him and help in that
way If you prefer Cleveland to Blaine and
do not like to say so, you can vote for ST.
John and help Cleveland that way. That
will not help him so much, but 1t will help
him. If the temperance man believes that
Cleveland aud the democratic party will ben
eff, his cause. he is consistent in voting tor
ST John. If he believes ar 81 line and the
republican party viii 10 - he cannot SO vote.
II temperance man 5 so blinded BY prriu-
dice and passion that he cannot see any diff
ference between the two parties, he will
doubtless vote for st John "
''What is your opinion of Mr. Blaine?"
Il preferred the nomination of President