The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-11-20
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Some Observations on the "Third" PARTY
Its Relations to Other Political Or.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the
Late Elections, &c.
WASHINGTON, D. c., November 10th. Is

WASHINGTON, d. c., November 10th, 1885,
Messrs. Editors Il have not had the opportu-
nifty of writing THE UNION for some time, and
especially since l returned from the election in
your county, at which neither the Republicans
nor Prohibitionists were able to "catch on" 1t
is true that the Prohibition party has been able
figure up some gains, not only in Maryland but |
nearly everywhere else in the country, amounting,
they say, to three hundred per cent in some places
but still when the sum total of votes is added up
and the number counted that is necessary to carry
an election anywhere, 1 cannot see that the third
party has made much progress. At any rate it is
certain it will not be able carry the Preside tia
election in 1888, and far as l can perceive for
several more quadrennial elections vet to come
1t is undoubtedly the truth that the impulse and
increase that the Prohibition received in the
last eection-an increase computed apparently on
the principle of the Irishman who had one cent
and gained another and thought at tn at high rate
of per cent. (1OO) he would soon grow rich-was
owing to the fact that the strongest and most pop
uar men that could be found of either party who
favored the principle in their respective sections
selected by the Prohibition party as their
candidates. This was the case with Mr.. Peter
Zouck, in the Second Congressional district of
Maryland, and also the Rev. Mr.. Manu. in the
Sixth district. The bulk of Mr.. Zouck's vote was
obtained in the 4th election district of your county,
where he lived, nearly receiving many votes
there the Democratic candidate but the third
party movement didn't exhibit much strength out
side of that spot Yet the actual increase of votes
for that party were but few, the large per cent.
gained being only because of their paucity before,
and not arguing that the movement was formula
ble Therefore it is impossible for me to conceive
why Mr.. Daniel and others should be so elated
reported, the result of the late election
far the Prohibition movement is conco<
On the contrary, think they should feekse[ er
Inundated and depressed when they consider that
with all their strenuous efforts, the ardent and
earnest aid of all the churches the putting of the
very strongest men they could find in the field for
candidates, and the very strong temperance senti
ment that is known to exist among the best citi
of their whole country, their number being
innumerabe, that they were able TO command so
small a vote. 1t does not argue that they have
gained any strength at all as party, and in fact
plainly shows that the movement is not approved
by the thousands of temperance men who in part
make up the other two great parties, but who also
ardently wish temperance and prohibition both to
succeed.
But yet it cannot be denied that prohibition is
a coming question and one that will not down but
must be given attention to. 1t is the grand old
Republican party that has been looked to hereto
fore by the country to accomplish reforms, and it
is this party that must be looked to to acc )mpsh
this great and needed reform. It's the only party
that is or will be able to cope with the Dem
| ocratic party. This latter party acknowledges
and confesses that it is allied with the whisky in
terests of the country, and the Prohibition party
| will never be able to cope with it. Therefore
| when the whisky traffic is put down and drunken
ness made to cease it will have to be by the great
Republican party taking up the issue and cross
| ing swords with the Democratic party thereupon
| But the temperance men who pretend to favor the
| third party movement say will the Republican
party ever take up the issue, and why have they
not done so heretofore? Are they not liquor and
| beer party the same the Democratic party is.
pure whisky party? The answer is plain No
| party can afford to commit suicide. And if, as
alleged the desire of these third party leaders has
been to "defeat and destroy" the Republican party
| their most ardent wish would be accomplished
| thereby But when the time has come, its fulness
| for that movement, the fulness of the time for
| Christ to come arrived at his coming, then, when
| the education of the people on the subject has
been sufficiently advanced, the movement can be
taken up As the Prohibition party, with its one
| ''idea" principle, never accomplish this
| great reform, and the Republican party is the
| only party that has it at all at heart and endued
with the ability to accomplish it, then this party
must be looked to to do it. Many of the lead
ing men of that party are beginning to think that
| the time has about arrived to make the attempt.
Hence the Anti Saloon Republican movement at
| Chicago. But it must be remembered that the
| proposition for taking up the question is one of
the most nicely balanced and difficult problems
| that presented itself to the minds of the lead
ers of great political party. There is little
doubt but that the issue will be taken up by the
| Republican party, but its great leaders and
must be trusted as to the time that it can be done
| safely. -.
| Opinions here various as to the significance
| of the late election. Both the old partes-Re-
publican and Democratic have been figuring to
Ey to ShSE that each gained victory the
majority in the House having both been cut d.ysn.
But it is very evident that Republicans have made
the most advantageous gains in the lower House
so far as bearing upon the next Presidential cleo
| ton is concerned. They made the gains in the
popular branch of Congress, and it is evident that
these gains can never be gotten back by the Dem
ocratic party. Based on the election of Congress
men, if the election had been for President, the
Republicans would have elected him, as they
would have 247-including Virginia's 12-for
their candidate And as the House stands
in the next Congress, if the election of President
should happen to be thrown into the House, the
Republicans will still get their man, as they have
| majority Of the State delegations in it.
This letter is already too long to enter into
| discussion of the causes that brought about the
defeat of the Democratic party at the late election
| among which the tariff and other questions
that will be continued in the next election advan-
tageously to the Republican party-but it is GER
| tain from all the comments of the Democratic
Congressman that have returned to this city since
| the election that there is great storm likely to
burst between the President and his party at the
coming session of Congress on the civil service
question-one that can hardly be STAYED off in the
present condition of mind of the Democratic party.
All these Congressman aver that they lost the cleo
ton on account of the Presidents policy on this
| question, and that if this policy is not changed
they will certainly lose the election in 1888; while
on the other hand the President believes that if
he does change his policy the party will be lost.
The President has shown great backbone so far
in sustaining the civil service law, and that it is
not likely that he will consent to its repeal turn
out all the Republican office holders, and yet the
Democratic Congressman insist that if he does not
| do the latter both he certainly cannot be
nominated in 1888, nor their party win in that
| election.
| A few weeks more and Congress will again as
semble, but very large number will come here
for the last time. But what grieves the Demo-
cratic party most is the loss of such men as Nor
rison and Frank Hurd, both of whom acknowl
edged among the ablest of their leaders, and both
are pronounced free traders. ANON.