Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-07-29
TIE Third Party.

Hon. I. i. Smonton, one Of the strong
- temperance men and prohhi,ionists in
Name. in recent ed!toria! in Bis paper, the
tamden Herald. writes relative 10 The third
party movement. The following which is
the -n,re editorial are words Of wisdom
and We commend them 10 all friends Of tenn
perauce
The convention Of the prohibition party,
a. i, j. called, was held in Portland last
week. and was attended by some 200 dele
gates. 1t was composed Of nesrly the same
men a. heretofore This town vas repre-
scented BY ". ". Perry, Esq, Kock!and by
J b. lornE and Appleton BY J. ). Gushee
Ex-Gov y. John made bitter speech N
which he denounced the Republican party
thrice where be denounced the Democratic
parry once, as Rum party. Nothing in
the entire proceedings showed the necessity
for third party IN the State OF Name
Iaere was more Of deuuncation than argu-
meut. Gen. Dow gave no good reason why
he could warmly and cordially support the
Republican party and vote for Mr.. Blaine in
1871 bat couldn't do so in 1856 The best
proc: O; the true inwardness Of the move
ment was shown when the question was
squarely presented to the delegates OF the
%. Cong. District whether they would take
Mr.. Dingley or Co.. Eustis for candidate
ior Congress II Mr. Duugley. who has so
long been the champion Of the temperance
cause in Maine and IN Washington. Is not a
good and strong temperance men enough
for the party. they must want something
besides efficient temperance work.
We have no denunciation for the St Johns
men, or third party men. We think most
Of them are honest men who seek the pro-
motion Of the cause of temperance. All
the IA X made about voting as YOU pray" is
mere cant and comes, as a rule, from class
Of ministers and church members. who are
not the most deyout men in the world. but
such as think all wisdom was born and will
die with them. Nine tenths of the Netho-
dist clergymen and the clergymen of the
other denominations voted for the Republi-
can ticket two wears ago. Why did they do
SO Are they less plous or wise than Others
who have gone into the third party move
ment. or do they neglect to vote as they
pray
There Is but one practical question for the
temperance men of this state and that is
how shall We vote to best promote the cause
of temperance , What laws then has the
Republican party refused TO vote for in the
Legislature This party gave the people Of
the state the opportunity to adopt the con-
stltullonal amendment calling for all neces-
sary legislation TO carry it's provisions into
effect, the last Legislature, strongly Repab-
lean. adopted amendments as stringent as
can possibly be backed up BY the people or
efficiently enforced. The Republican party
has done all that any reasonable prohibition
ISIS could ask il to do. Such temperance
men as campmeeting John Allen, d. w La
Lacheur. Gov. Perham, Major IL. A. Shorey.
temperance men who dare express their
opinions anywhere and whose devotion TO
the cause Of temperance for the past quar-
ter of a century will not be questioned. are
firm in the belief that the Republican party
with Joseph X. Bodwell at its head will be
found IN the future as in the past the staunch
friend of prohibition and the enforcement
Of our prohibitory legislation.
Republican temperance men can keep the
Republican party up to its present high
ground on prohibition IN this state by re-
naming and working within the party but
the third party will accomplish no more here
than in Massachusetts, where year after year
it dominates DIR. Miner and passes temper
ance resolutions but neither of the great
parties of that State are troubled by its ex-
istence or work. Whenever we shall be-
come convinced that the Republican party
fails to stand by prohibition, one of its fun
damental principles at its origin, then We shall
deem it party to be deserted and trampled
under foot
No charge has been made from any source
that Joseph K. Bodwell is not practical
temperance man and cordial supporter of
our prohibitory law. As chairman of the
senate temperance committee in the last
Legislature we had an opportunity of testing
the sincerity of some of our leading Repub-
licans and we found our present nominee for
Governor fully sustaining all level headed
measures to carry into successful operation
the prohibitory amendment. The Demo-
Gratis while in their conventions they say not
word in favor of temperance legislation or
enforcement of the law, are always anxious
that every temperance Republican should
vote the third party ticket. One would
think from their talk that tine modern St.
John was their patron saint. 1t is not that
they love st. John more but the Republi-
can party less. We see no indications of
any of our Republican voters throwing their
votes away on the third party movement.