The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1886-11-27
Weiss Replies to Weiss, or the War Of the
Cousins Continued.

to reply, not because you put lt-but for the re-
son that you raised 1t IN the manner you did, is
why did you leave the Prohibition Darty?"
The form OF your question makes 1t logically pos.
sible for me tu give an answer. Raising ques-
tl9n III form. IS not raising a question In reality.
DO not dispute your right to raise the question
you do; for some OF my actions In the past may
have warranted you to put it. Had you put this
propositionIWill you say whether you have ever
been member 1.-THE Prohibition or third party?
would say IN FORM, yes; In reality, nO and
would call on Mr. w. W. Bowman, with whom
was closely and Intimately acquainted in
the temperance work for many years, to bear me
out In my answer For him have high regard
and believe him to be thoroughly honest in his
efforts to "Pglyerize the Rum Power" Mr..
bowman would never have put the question
you do, nor the one | supposed above, for he
knows that never was In the Prohibition party
out. Mr.. Bowman knows that for a short time
was Il Prohibition party man, only in FORM and
not In reality. How then do / explain my con-
lsS2 have only tie following @ 10 q Offer: i Mr. Mr.
Bowman and !, having been earnest workers IN
the sunday school cause; we organized the Car
bon county Sunday school society," associatng
with us numberof earnest workers We began
TO hold meetings throughout the county present.
ing the temperance question in its various
phases, getting many speakers from abroad
among them were Bishop Bowman BAN, Bah,
cock, Gross and many Others besides using our
home talent, which was considerable. ! remem-
meetings speaking In every Evangelical church
IN the county, addressing public schools, dis
tTibuting tracts presenting the pledge, circulat-
lig petitions against the granting OF licenses,
&c. In Is and 1882 ql,.o number of my friends
with whom ! had associated for a number of
years ~ the temperance work, drifled into the
fromDlti0n party. A general dissatisfaction eA.
lStlng at TINS time among Republicans in the
State. a large number became "kickers." heing
one OF them, casting my lot with the Prohibition
party, not because | believed in il, hut for the
reason that | was dissatisfied at that time with
some Of the Republican leaders aud believed in
reproying Item by withholding my vote which
candidacy for sheriff ON the Prohibition ticket
In 1882, scarcely needs AN explanation The Re
publican party In conyentlon assemble'taeknowl-
edged the right of petition at the same time ac-
knOwlcdged great weakness by nominating "A
hotel proprietor for sheriff, against the earnest
protest Of temperance Republicans, thus elrvat-
and the nations curse. My duty was plain be-
lievlng that If this nomination was rebuked it
would save future nominations of this kind
With this object in view accepted the uomlna-
tion for sheriff by the Prohibition party, receiv-
ing the support OF large number of the best and
wealthiest citizens of the county, whom are to-
day AS stalwart in their alegence to the Repub-
llcan party as am The crisis. however came
In 1854. Hating between two opinions was Sc
verely criticised by members OF the Prohibition
party and looked upon with suspicion by Repub-
leans. Believing IN legal Prohibition and that
the public opinion on this question could only be
obtained through its submission TO the people
and thus divide AL the political parties into two
classes Tor and against" NOr do by no means
believe That az Democrats are against legal Pro
lleving that this would never be accomplished
through the third party. Space and time now
VIII not permit my reason for this. What was
To do? Openly to declare my position was tO
sever my connections with friends for whom |
had high regard, whom loved, with whom |
labored fearessly and earnestly in the temper
ance work for many years was 10th 10 do this
hesitating long until The suspense became pain
lNl TO me; The question unpermost in my mind
waS Which VIII you do? "Sacrifce your In
nuence in a measure, sever your associations
with the active temperance workers Ia the cOun-
~, or your honest views on this grave question
presented itself TO me In this light, at once re-
solved. my convictions first: | stated my con
clusions to Mr. Bowman, chairman of the County
dress at LehightOn by Mr.. BabcOck, as we were
standing on the platform at the Lehlgh Valley
stistlonI l.ehighton, His reply was, webster,
know that you are honest In your Views and con
vlctions on this question: we have never looked
at i IN the same light. ! wish you UNDERSTOOD
and looked at the question AS do" Thus we
separated. / at once openly declared my DO
sitiOn on the temperance question: and to this
day no one has had any reason TO doubt my pO-
sitiOn on this question. Deserved or undeserved
| have been treated with contempt by MANY of
the workers In the third party movement. On
one occasion was TO be invited to deliver tenn
ijre4ent said. ''if Weiss wants TO talk temperance
let him vote the Prohibition ticket" he was a
tlnrd party MN ON another occasion gentle
man said 10 me 'lf you eyer talk temperance In
our town again we Will ride you oIIt Of tOwuOn
rail-" think ] would make a pretty lively
rider. He. Of course. WIS third party mar, and
believed IN Straddllng the rall because / did not
helleyefn stiaddling the temperance question
Quite recently gentleman refused TO address a
mettnlg because y was ANNOUNCED that would
meeting, heartily ashamed of his unchrStian
conduct he extended his hand, congrautlating
me upon the success I the meeting. He was a
third party man: Again, agentlrman one day
called my attention Ia the Prohibition question
and said, 81 do not believe man can be a
christian without voting the third party ticket" 4"
He happened to be "a DemSemt LASTLY comes a
blOated, red faced indiyidnal, who ceIsured me
ior beingR kepibllean, "you talk temperance
ms gentleman was the owner and proprietor Of
hotel Thus might continue with my re-
mlnlsieenses and tll few columns of Interest
ing reading for YOU and some Of your friends
who Of late have taken such an interest In me.
The spleen" which you heap upon me in your
FIRST article and your bitter attack and abuse of
the RenuiIIqtIn marty will not swerye ms. frnn
my CONNECTIONS, nor deter me IN my temperance
work: have one happy consolation, To know
that nave many followers Wh0 believe in my
sincerity though some differ radically with me-
this Is proven by the large audiences, and at
times oyertiowing. audiences, that greeted me
ticularly Is this true Of the meetings addressed
ny me IN my former home. You certainly VIII
not accept my explanation as you have already
supposed my reasons for leaving your party
namely, putty head" and political bee"
Putty Is a "dOugh" properly applied becomes
hard and holds firm; NY lack Of stability may he
due TO neglected education for which am not
responsible. Al the age of twelve WAS thrown
ont on my own resources, the hest OF my years
being used in the struggle 10 keep the wolf from
my mothers door. for which ! am not sorry, but
regret that know 81 lti!r; 10y perseverance, |
may however, he able a. Eyt my Equity head"
into a respectable shape 10y getting II filed with
practical knowledge. "TheOry IN good, practice
Is better" i have prO0t Ia SHOW that In 1880 /
was offered the nomination for the legislature,
1872 WAS approached by gentlemen with this
proposition. II YOU withdraw from the PrOhihi
tloh ticket as candidate for sherin we will
promise to give YOU the nomination for any Onice
you name ON the Republican ticket. In 1884 IL
was strongly ntimAted To me by my friends that
II gave my consent they would press my nOmi-
nation for Associate Judge; In the first and lat
ter ease told my frieids that wanted no office.
IN 1872 spurned the proposition made Ia me
aud declared principle FIRST. ONCE iast The pO-
liticai bee has never bIzzed In myear.
w. {. WEISS.
Bethlehem, November Is. 1856