West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1885-09-23
The Third Party Once More.

LII mohlAS tulS SoCOuu Ioply W
&c. A. r." I shall not attempt to
follow him in all his wandering,
as this would be monotoneus.
Divest his article of sarcasm and
Misrepresentation and there is but
little left. He uses labored effort
to try to show that to "perplex" is
not to "perplex."
The temperance question was in
all the conventions he quotes; and
as said might have been felt with
more force if the temperance organ
ization had been more solid instead
of being broken into factions. If
you think five or ten minutes
talk" was all of it you know moth
ing of the facts.
The idea of the enforcement of
prohibition in Maine closing Ohio
and other doubtful states to the
Republicans" is long stretch of
the brothers imagination. Prohi-
bition has been in force in Maine
for many years, and has neither
lost nor gained any doubtful state
to either party.
In Kansas and Iowa, the third
party was organized in opposition
to the administration party that
was carrying prohibition and, had
it not been for the smallness of the
party as to mum beers, would have
greatly hindered the administra-
ton party if it did not turn the
state government over to the whis-
ky elements. No difference what
our State Conventions do now, the
third party is organized to antago-
nize them.
When you say l 'boast of the
Republican party because it saved
the Union" you utter that which
| never said.
That the Republican party was
a chief factor in saving the Union,
and thereby gained great National
prestige none will deny. 1t is but
fair to say the Union was saved by
the Union people, regardless of
party. So this war against rum,
if ever won, will be by the prohibi-
tionists of all parties.
/ have endeavored to discuss this
subject from a nonpartisan stand
point, yet again and again my an
tagonist insinuates that I am a
partisan. That I have political
convictions l do not deny. What
is man that has none2
The gravest charge is that the
two dominant parties are rotten
to the core on the whisky ques-
ton" Heroes, Statesmen, and Di-
vines fall alike under this charge,
yet their patriotism, religion, and
in some instances, their blood have
helped to make this Nation what
it justly is, the glory Of the whole
world. 1t may be said that these
parties would never take up the
Temperance question. Why not :?
They have taken up other great
questions. Compare the party plat
forms Of twenty years ago with
those of to-day. Has there been no
advance? Whenever sentiment
was sufficiently strong, this ques-
ton would not have been an ex-
ception.
We were rapidly forming senti-
ment in this State, and were con-
tending with the enemy near the
last ditch, when volley is opened
upon our own men, and many are
wounded and retreating from the
fray; and if they again return to
the front will have to be marshall
ed under broader leadership than
the third party commander.
Why, instead of sarcasm, don't
you give US your party platform
Why don't you tell US where the
third party has helped the cause of
prohibition?
If we cannot elect a Legislature
favorable to submission by using a
balance of power vote, how many
third party men can we elect?
This matter should 60 before the
people free from party cast; Then,