Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-07-30

We copy below thoughtful editorial
article from the Lewiston (Maine) jour-
nal, whose editor, Congressman DlngleY
i. one Of the best known temperance men
in the country. With few slight changes,
what the JOuruul says of Maine is true of
Vermont
However it may be with some of the
leaders in the independent prOhbltOry
party movement, we do not by any meals
question the sincerity of the most OF those
who are inclined to favor it, TO these sin
cere men it ought to he very suggestive
that while all the supporters OF license
encourage this "third party movement
in Maine, while % out of 100 OF the
friends of prohibition believe that far
more can he done for the cause of temper
ance and prohibition by non-partlSan APP
, peal to all citizens, and by making TINS
political influence of temperance men felt
through existing parties, then by attempt
ing to organize separate political party.
The path of temperance progress lies in
elevating the temperance cause above pol
itlcal parties, and making friendship Tor
the fundamental principles of the temper
/ ance movement, rather than mere mem
| bership of an independent political party,
! the test of fealty to the cause. The for
mer course will win support from right
| minded men of all parties. The latter
! course will divide and weaken the friends
to temperance and prohibitlon-a result
| for which the five friends of the cause who
/ disregard the judgment of the 30 Will be
clearly responsible, and will repel thou
sands who would be glad to aid the cause
| in practical ways so long rs it can be done
10y supporting is principles in the way
which seems to the great body OF temper
ance men 10 be INC st effective.
The prohibitory party in Maine is or
gauized on the plea that neither the re-
publican nor democratic party will enact
s.fi tus. tf.N- hill Al lltN
them and hence that it is necessary to or
ganize new party that will do these
things. 80 far as laws are concerned, 1t
is clear that the friends of prohibition
have been granted whatever legislation in
this state the great body of them thought
wise, by 1.-THE republican party, There is
no ground for complaint i'll this direction.
The complaint can have no bearing except
on the question of the enforcement of
these laws. Now the problem is to secure
the election of such municipal and county
officers, by the various localities as Will
enforce these laws faithfully, and such a
state executive as will appoint cOnstables
in the exceptional cases where local Oili-
GERS Of the right sort cannot be elected,
having in mind always that the most essen
tlal thing is to secure the local and coun-
ty officers, for ii these fail it is difficult
for outside officers to make up the def
cheney. The friends of TEN perance can
usually control the nomination of reliable
candidates by one of the existing parties
far more easily than they can form "a new
party and place that in the majority. As
IA rule the friends of temperance can con
troll the nominations Of the republican
party in Maine.
Now instead of organizing 50 as to in.
g. sure the nomination and election of faith
full officers TO enforce the law the praCti
cal effect of the independent prohibitory
party Is directly the reverse. Ii it was or.
gained on the basis of securing the cleo
tion OF reliable temperance men, it would
support such men when nominated by
: either Of the two leading parties and thus
bring a powerful lever to bear to induce
them To nominate only such men. But in
stead of that the policy of the third is tC
nominate members of their own orgauiza
ton as Independent candidates, and to dc
this Just as certainly when the other party
dominates reliable temperance man anC
prohiOtionist, as when it dominates 4
, man satisfactory to the liquor element
! such a course not only most effectuallN
| destroys the political influence of the THIRD
party, so far as the election of reliable
temperance men is concerned, but actual
ly tends to defeat true men and t
strengthen the power Of the liquor ele
ment which always combines its strength
! on the candidates of the old parties mos
! favorable to them.
1t is for these and other reasons that o.
I ont of 100 friends Of temperance anC
{ prohibition regard the Independent pro
; hibitory party, under the policy which ha!
thus tar controlled its operations, 3 an in
,, jury rather than benefit to the cause o
temperance and prohibition.