Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-10
The Democratic Annex.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE THIRD PARTY
ANOTHER CLERGYMAN SPEAKS.

The following. says the Biddeford Journal,
is copy of a pointed letter addressed to the
Portland Herald the special organ of Neal
Dow and third party prohibition. but 1t Is
doubtful if it will ever see the light through
the columns of that sheet. Its writer, Rev
A. Morton. is pastor of the LIST Congrega-
tional church in Wells, and is we'll known
among the churches in York county He is
devoted and outspoken friend of temper
ance, and never loses an opportunity to
strike blow in its defense. When the devil
seeks to beguile the very elect through the
medium of third party prohibition it is time
for ministers as well as laymen to speak out
with certain sound:
Letter of Rev. a. Morton.
WELLS Sept. q, 1886.
Mr.. EDITOR: Dear Sir-Your paper and supple
ment of the 18th ult before me- have exam
ined them pretty carefully. and the examination in
its effect on me has not been at all favorable to your
little third party and its movements. shall stand
back from any political organization protesting to be
based on moral principle and to have for its end
great moral reform, that begins its existence and
prosecutes its work with the most shameful misrep-
reservations and in the spirit of magn pugnacity.
and which at the same time arrogates to Itself all the
honesty and virtue there is among the people.
do not shut my eyes the fact that the party you
fight the most persistenty includes the great mass
Of our church members Of every different denomina
ton. still think that they have some virtue and
that they not entirely destitute Of common sense
or of interest in the well beng of humanity. They
are not all "dolts" or "hyp0crites." The Hon Neal
Dow and others beside him have sounded FORTH far
and near, the wonderful results Of the Maine law
and the Prohbitory statute seen In the progress
of temperance in good State, and yet this great
and glorious reform has been secured mostly under
republic administration and by the enactments of
a republican legislature and the labors of those who
throw republican votes And strange to say we now
have the announcement oft reiterated that whatever
this party says does the line of temperance is
"sham" and "hypocrisy"-it is all 10 catch votes "
And SO the party must be killed oil and the cause
of temperance be turned TO the dram shops and
their allies tor time at least do not propose TO
exert my influence in that dire ion. love the tenn
perance cause too well and have worked too m ny
years to promote 1t to be guilty, it seems to me,
Of such madness and folly. How is it that from the
showing OF your paper the saoOnists of our good
city have to exercise all their wits to secrete their
liquors from the grasp of tine law aud then fail Of
success, and yet the law in this city ia not
cuted? Such contradictions and others might name
are not commendatory to your paper or party.
Why don't the members of your party club to.
gether in every section of the Stae to put the tenn
perance law universally in force. if they any lack
In this direction, instead of fighting life long temper
ance men and the great temperance party because 1t
is not disposed to break up and follow the lead of
your disappointed political partisans? They would
do something noble then! and they would have all
needed help from those who now saddened by
their course of action.
Yours truly, A. MORTON.