The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-02-15
THAT Discussion.
CARSKADON VS.. FERGUSON.
Mr.. CarskadOn Passes by Person
aIities and Challenges the
Judge Back to the
Issue.
TO the EditO7 of the Iltelli0encer -

Ferguson's last requiring, or wor.
thy Of, reply, and 1 do not wonder
that the Intelligemcer's fine sense 81
courtesy and honor impels it very
delicately to hint at the Judges
breach Of propriety in his last COM
munication. AS an exhibition OF
ven ON, malice, misrepresentation
sophistry, inuendo, low cunning
and demogogy, l have not seen its
equal. He need not apologize to
me for his brutality 10 'ummeling
a man of straw of his y ~n construc-
ton. Being an expert on that line
he shall have the field to himself;
but I challenge him back to the
discussion of the real issue, which
is in no wise a personal one, nor at
all dependent for solution on the
Judges good nor my bad character,
but is one of principles greater
than party leaders or writer's, viz ::
How best to destroy the liquor
curse in the State and NaJion Will
the formation of the Third party
help or hinder in the good work -?
To the discussion of this question
I shall, in the future, as in the
past, confne myself; but in pass
ing will try it to purge the record
of the Judges false accusations
against the third party, and my
self, so far as my connection with
the party renders any reference
thereto germane to this discussion.
His first charge of egotism against
me, and the second, that having
read smatterlng of history, l mis-
took my mission, having nothing
to do with and being entirely ir-
relevant to the question, needs no
reply.
To charge third, that II join
ed the third party to have my
name and fame as great leader
'go laundering down the ages, link
ed with the names and fame Of the
old Abolition party leaders, Garri-
son, Loyejoy, Giddings, Sumner
and Phillips" l reply, is not peril
nent at all to this issue; yet, if
true, it were a very laudable ambi-
ton, in which [ differ from my
honorable friend, who, not willing
to trust the "ages," does his thun-
dering now. 1 wish that [ could
feel that I was worthy of the dis
tinguished honor he charges me
with aspiring to. But when I re-
member that nearly twenty years
ago, with that Christian states
man, Col. Sam. Young, of Pocahon-
tas county, member of the State
Senate, and others, we urged upon
our fellow Republicans the impera-
tive duty while we had the power,
to take up and adopt temperance
reforms now being urged, and that
at the same time wrote the Intelh-
qencer, (then as now the leading or.
GAM urging this action insisting as
ibid that while the Democratic par
ty inv ways that are dark &c., might
hold it's own, the Republican party
could not live without live NOR
al issue, and that, unless taken up
by the party, it ought to be done
outside, &C., to which the Intella-
oencer courteously replied that the
object was a good one, but would
be best and soonest accomplished
by our remaining in the party.
And now, after having waited
(impatiently, it is true) and sinned
away SO many long years of grace,
I fear my chances to Ego thunder
ing down the ages" are indeed very
slim.
In the language of the immortal
Lincoln at the dedication ri the
soldiers cemetery at Gettysburg in
1863, I will remind the Judge that
"the world will Little note nor long
remember what we say here, but
can never forget what they did
here" So in this great battle the
name and fame of the Haddocks,
Gambrile and others who died, and
others who at great sacrifice fought
in this noble cause amid the jeers
and SCOTS of those who would not
enter themselves, and hindered
those who were entering, will come
''thundering down the ages" while
croakers, Pharisees and others in
collision with the crime, will be