The Portland daily press., 1884-11-03
A Temperance Man Who Will Not
Vote for st. John.

The Rev. W. A. Mckinley, editor of the
Rockingham Sentinel, a temperance ,urpal
published in Portsmouth, N H., in response to
the inquiry why he who is SO earnestly engaged
in the temperance work will not vote for st.
John, sets forth his reasons at length. We
have not space for his full and powerful reply;
but We present in his own words the chief
points he makes, commencing them to the SER
ious consideration of all friends of temperance
who are inclined to vote for St. John:
Dear Sir, Your note is received. Your question
is fair one and will answer 1t. You intimate that
fault is found with me because / do noG say any
thing IN favor Of thu national prohibtory ticket in
this sheet. he reason for that are very simple.
F'rst-ths is not intended for poll ieal SHEET and
secondly, l am opposed TO st. John pre- sdentiai
candidate l regard the entire prohibit move
ment as hostile to he true intent of the temperance
cause in this country from every point view from
which it be considered. 1t pretended that
Mr.. ST. John can be elected, bu 1 asked to vote
him the score of principle am tod to vote
as pray" am exhorted to be 'loyal to God anu
humanity at any cost ;"
propose to vote on principle, as 1 pray, and for
and humanity by doing everything n my power to
destroy the terrible evil of intemperance L propose
to cast my vote to this end cannoO do this and at
the same time vote for st. John.
l. Because, to vote for st. John is to vote for
Cleveland; to vote for Cleveland is to for the
Democratic party; to vte for the Democratic partv
is vote for rum in the broadcast sense It is to
vote to arr The entire power of the governmr mt
against the power If prohibitions for in case of sue
cess that result could not be avoided.
q | cannot vote + st. John because the whole
proceeding is an bsur ity even in he uld be
elect. d. If elect d, wha could he do for temper
ance? There Is 10 national prohibitory law to exc
cute. " hat is worse, there never be one, ex-
cept upon condi, ious equivalent to those required
for an amendment to the constitution. \ y
The only hope of the temperance cause lies in such
determination and reformation Of the masses OF the
people a. will insure the enactment and execution
o. the prohibitory laws in the separate states. in
word, to do as Maine has DONE And when three
fourth OF the states have risen to that niAeuce it
will be time enough to talk about national action in
prohibition.
g. Because the success of the Democratic party
through the aid of The profe>sed friends of temper
ance, will cause reaction disastrous the TEN per
ance cause.
4. cannot vote for st. John, because the cleo
mate, possible Is # the war in the South
which have n t vet been fully secured
Finally. | am con eht TO with Neal Dow
and thu wisest and best of he frie DIS of temper
ance To Vote first of all for the Republican party;
and second with very great pleasure for tn mau it
mas chosen for standard b arer. A of long
experience in stat,sm tnshp,-in intellect, head
ana shoulders above any man III public life of
Ell her party, and hence not likely to bunder
through inexperieDce weakness "a man who
stood true to the Union in its dart est hour and
WHO, in the long, difficult pr IT obstruction
was mag ihcent pc ser,-a man in whom the ne
gro the set Ter, the so der nj the laborer, have
equally found lei "a man who has no motive
play anytni g but h4. pati tic part which wi f.
t1ngiy conclude his brilliant career-James G.
Blame.