Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-10-27

SOiAhitt ItONll W bhS HiOhipitioh VI |
any other political party. Let its |
individual members utter their per-
sonal convictions and preferences,
but keep the organization free from
any political party. You cannot af-
ford TO compromise your high relig-
ious and moral vantage ground.
There is danger that the W. G. t.
q. will come to be4regarded as par
ty organization. When it does it
will be cut off from some churches
and pulpits, and then its disap-
pointed leaders will complain that
the churches are opposed to temper
ance, when they are only opposed,
as churches, 10 partisan politics" :"
have the kindest regards, howev-
er, for the good men who have felt
it to be their duty to identify them
selves with the prohibition party, and
shall continue to maintain friendly
relations with them, if they will allow
me to do so. Reformers ought to be
large-hearted enough to kindly re-
gard each other, however much they
may differ. For st. John | have a
high personal esteem, and / honor
his course in Kansas. For a time
last summer | seriously considered
the matter of giving him my sup
port; but could not see the wisdom
of a political temperance party. In
this view am decided, though have
no quarrel with those who differ from
me. I have no time to quarrel.
AS to the candidates, Blaine, Cleve-
land and Butler, 1 do not like any of
them. | cannot see anything in the
men themselves to influence me to
vote for them. This was one thing
that inclined me for little time, to
think of voting for ST. John. But
in such contest as tie present it
will not do to overlook deeper ele-
ments than merely the candidates.
AS to the party platforms, espec-
tally those of the two great parties,
there is choice, but the differences
are not heavily overbalancing and
fail to embody the most vital issues
of the pending contest. Every pres
idential campaign involves issues not
stated in platforms, but which inhere
in the situation and may be sufficient
ly urgent and important to outweig b
both nominees and platforms. Such,
to my mind, is the present contest,
and these things more than other
considerations have determined my
course.
What are these deeper issues ir
this pending contest? There are sew
eral which are of such immediate ur
gency as to determine ones politica
action.
One of the two great parties mus
inevitably have the control of thu
government during the next quadre
mum. 1t is impossible for the pro
hipitory party to gain it, nor doe
any one expect it. The two grea
parties have many faults and short
comings to answer for. Both hav
some first class political saints ant
many poor miserable sinners. Blu
each has its stock character, its fam
lily make up, and | trust it is not a
indication of blind partisanship fo
me or for any one to say that tn
character of the republican party
such as to afford the most hope fo
the republic, for the present at least
if its destinies are in their hands.
have endeavored to look charitabl
at the democratic party and to thin
that patriotic instincts would eNel
E such conserving influence upo
| them, if they should come into pow
+ er, as to promote the best good of th
4: nation; but [ cannot bring myse
2 to think so. Perhaps / have not fait
! enough in humanity; but SO it il
: That party has living record reacl
: ing to our day, which does not flu
nish grounds for faith. Does SON
: one say, ''Do right vote for 5
John, and trust in Providence.
: That is not the way our bibles teac
Y the doctrine of trusting in God. Go
+ has given US eyes, hands and respol
i sibilities, and has bid us swatch
d and act, as well as pray and trus
e 1t is said the republican party hf
e many corrupt members, has dodge
f the temperance question and som
) times opposed prohibitory Legislation
II Grant that these charges are tru
J. nevertheless the great mass of Il
a best citizens. and the best and mo
n reliable temperance men and prohit
t, tionists are in that party, even thous
1t they are not quite strong enough
le control its actions at all times; al
1t with all these faults / think the i
N terests of the republic are safer wi
N this party than with the other. MAJ
7e times in the last few years the que
t? ton of prohibition has been befo
D. our northern legislatures, and b
D. come very near passing, when t
ne votes for the measure were alm6
i'll wholly republican. When the pl
re hibitory bill was before the Mass
a. chusetts legislature in 1882, the VI
i'll stood 110 to 10; and of the
IN yeas, 106 were republicans. Sir
o. then the constitutional amendme
question has been supported by