Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-17
HON. NELSON DTNGLEY. JR., w
The Third Party and Temperance.

Every voter in Maine knows that either the repub-
lcan party or the democratic party will govern the
state for series Of to come. Every voter
knows that the republican party has steadily ia
vored prohibition and thar the democratic party has
steadily opposed it-and yet a convention called In
the name of prohibition deliberately adopts a course
which, II II have any effect Mt ALL would turn the
Stat over to the control of the democratic party and
to the enemies of prohibition. With those prohibit
tonists who are bent this destructive eourse 1t
may be idle to argue. but without questioning the
sincerity Of their motives must be permitted to say
that their course tends evieutly aud quickly the
destruction of the reform In whose supposed inter
est their movement Is organized. II nothing else
can persuade them, should think the unanimous
Enforcement of their course by the democratic pa
pers aud by the avowed opponents of prohibition
would at least startle them INTO reflection II |.
notorious fact that all the secret yiolaors of the
prohibitory law in Maine who are engaged in the
caDdestine and unlawful sale of liquor regar this
separate movement the beginning Of the destruc'
tion of prohibition In Maine and ready and
THEREFORE to promote II In every way In their power.
Prom Mr. Bod,ceirs Letter Of Acceptance.
The foregoing extract from Mr.. Bod
wells letter of acceptance presents in a
plain candid and forcible manner the eff
feet which the third-party prohibition or
ganizaton would have if it could succeed
in accomplishing its purposes. 1t would
bring the democratic party into power.
and it would also place prohibition under
the feet of its enemies. 1t would damage
the temperance cause immensely. The
leaders of the third-party of course deny
this and claim that they are laboring for
the advancement of temperance. But hon.
est and level-headed temperance men and
women know that the course St. John and
his associates are pursuing is destruction
to temperance, and they are beginning to
speak out in opposition to them. Mrs. j.
Ellen Foster, one of the most earnest and
successful members OF the Women's
Christian Temperance Union. in recent
speech at Lakeside, o., said:
81 am opposed TO the prohibition party because I
consider ii 4 deusiou and snare, and think it a
great hiadrance to temperance work. The third
party would hurt prohibition in Kansas and lows If
there was enough of It, The third party did nothing
to secure prohibition In Georgia. The people down
secure prohibition in lows. The people did II The
third party is doing prohibition more harm than the
adherents of high license
A powerful warning against the third
party is found in a recent communication
to the Boston Traveller, by Edwin Thomp-
son, an old free-soiler. and member of
the anti. saloon conference lately held in
fremont Temple, Boston. His reference
to the course of the abolitionists is especi-
ally noticeable, because the third party
leaders often mention them as examples to
be followed in their political action. In
his letter MIR. Thompson says;
I stated at the convention in the course of my
remarks that this nti-ssloon movement was In the
same line OF that which originated In the formation
Of the Republican party That as one OF the mem
bers of the Liberty Party Convention came to the
meeting which was held In the old Temple which
stood on this spot. unite efforts in favor OF
uujon of all the friends OF freedom In opposition to
the extension of slavery. Our Liberty Party Con.
yention adjourned at noon from the Meiodeon, and
came en- masse to fremont Temple and united with
tine Free Sellers in favor of Martin Van Buren, as
President of the United States, slthongh he had
never been with us In the anti.slaverv cause. But
sasacioas men like Hon. VIM. Jackson saw clearly
that by drawing friends of freedom from other parties
who although they did not believe with US In the
Immediate abolition of slavery, it would ADD greatly
TO our strength by having honest friends OF freedom
from all parties unite with us.
We saw that In the end II would result In accom-
plishng what the Liberty party desired, the abolition