The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-09-16
THIRD PARTY TALK.

The DiflcuIty in the Way of LocalIzing
the Prohibition Questionable. Frye and
MIR. Blaine Do Not Agree.
Mr. Blaine's remarks in his speech on the
Prohibitionists, be 1t observed, are directed
exclusively to the people of the State of
Maine.-Ddyton Journal.
The same fact has been remarked by
some of the best of our Democratic
commentators. The rest of his speech
was especially shaped as "key-note"
to the Republicans of the whole coun-
try, but he dared not thus to treat the
question of prohibition. He preferred
to consider it as local issue.
Even in thus treating it he has raised
a storm of discomfort. The Prohibi-
tionists of his own party are after him
with sharp stick; and St. John, who
lost him New York and the Presidency
in 1884, is coming to Maine to help
them. He joins in the charge of the
Maine Prohibitionists that Mr. Blaine is
trying to serve both God and Mammon
that she breaches Prohibition and
works for free rum"
His old lieutenant, Senator Frye, Is
working him great mischief by vio-
lent preaching of that which he does
not practice. That he is not himself
adverse to the wine which is red in the
cup, and to the champagne which
bubbles lusciously in the long-necked
glass, is well known; but he had the
hardihood in his Houlton speech to ut
terly disregard Mr. Blaine's advice,
and to exhibit himself IS Prohibi-
tionist of the most ultra type. Il am
a Prohibitionist, said he, ''and be.
lieve in its enforcement to the bitter
end. am in favor of the Republican
party shouldering Prohibition, and |
know that in time the party would
conquer under that banner. ."
This is not the first nor the last evil
dence that Senator Frye has given in
late years of his willingness to stick a
little knife into Mr.. Blaine's cause.
Here is another passage from his same
Houlton speech, which has set the
country to wondering and has fairly
startled Mr.. Blaine's friends.
''If you see q man marching through tbs
streets marked Il am an honest man, dtstrust
him at once. You take a magnificent bridal
dress, with its ribbons and splendid laces, and
put it on exhibito on with a little ink spot on
its skirt, and you will find plenty Of men and
women who will see nothing but that spot.
Now, the people of this country, with an ex-
quisite fidelity to the best interest of the Ma
ton, saw the little bit of a smlrch on the skirt
Of Mr.. Blaine's coat, and, therefore, voted
that Mr. Cleveland, man who was smirched
from head to foot should be President"
Here is an open confession of one of
Maine's Republican Senators, before
great public meeting, that there was ga
smirch on Mr.. Blaine's coat" 1t is
singular, is it notP
But, returning to the Prohibition
question, Mr.. Blaine will speedily find
that, as professed national leader of
his party, he can not confne his pub
lie declarations upon this question to
the State of Maine. We wholly mis-
take the signs of the times if, in the
next two years, Prohibition does not
play greater part in the politics of
this country than ever before. In
Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Michigan Prohibition 'third
parties" promise this year to control
the balance of power, and to deter
mine the result of the State elections
If this shall prove true, then in the ma
tional contest of 1883 we shall witness
a vote for the Prohibition National
ticket such as never before has been
dreamed Of. The Plumed Knight will
not be able to maintain his position in
the dark. He will be forced to come
out from behind his concealing plati-
tudes and to declare whether he is ''for
or against. y Cincinnati Enquirer.