The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-10-13
AGAINST 4 THIRD PARTY
AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE REV.
DANIEL DORCHESTER.
Why He Is "A Republican and supports
Harrison and Morton-EIe Has No Conf
dence in the Efficacy Of Merely Partisan
tct:on in Settling the saloon PrubIc,n

Htt.oH III Settiing the saloon Problem.
The Rev. DIR. Daniel Dorchester, OF Boston
has addressed another open letter TO the public
In answering the question, Would it not be
better to have political party distinctly COM
nlstei 70 radical temperance policy and to its
enforcement? ' he saws:
BY no means. 1 have already said that I
have not so much confidence in the efficacy Of
merely partisan action, IN settling the saloon
problem, as many seem TO have. This idea is q
KIM Of virus with which many are too easily
iuOculateG.
l. They do not duly consider that this ,roh-
lem has many elements entering into il which
political action can not solve. 1t has, indeed
political and economic bearings, but it more
fundamentally pertains 10 social and moral
lie to appetites and drinking customs which
political partisan action can only incidentally
touch.
would champion specific Temperance measures
l would have party conventions strike the
saloons sharply, and stimulate to action against
them as a means of making strong and infiuen-
tlaI sentiment, but no party shibboleth of spe-
clhc legislative measures should divide the re-
form forces. Strong sentiment viii inevitably
crystalline itself into enactments fast as II
develops and inten5iies ana laws thus brought
about Gun be and viii be enforced. Bat to eN-
tfaleousIy force measures, by political party
= atiorus, divides and alienates true friends OF
reform, and postpOnes desired results. In re-
public, laws which do not grow out of the COM
mon sentiment and life OF the people are worm
but little. But Republican conventions have
recommended Legislatures to submit constitu-
tioual prohibition TO the people. a sure basis
g
prohibition.
8 Matters so vital to the best welfare Of our
common life ought not to depend upon the acct
dental fortunes and fluctuations OF political
parties with the iealousieS, chickering's. ana
re tkless ambitions incidental thereto. These
interests are too great and too sacred 10 be
peril as the footballs OF politicians.
4. Thus far in its history the actual influence
OF the third party has been to handicap temper
guCe legislation.
> In d republic no party can long retain the
"a and pb Y al he
te-ests identified with it suffer Il decline and
possibly collapse. SO must 1t be with polit-
zeal Temperance party.
g. Moreover il Is a mistake to presume that
only those questions which sre made issues IN
parry platforms are settled NJ the polls. The
yrChil irOr. legislation in ensas Iowa and
Maine was not enacted By any party organized
on that Issue, but through parties organized on
other issues, aud having IN tEe1n Il common sub
stratum Of temperance sentiment, di1used like
the sentiment egiinst larceny. Local option has
been extensively adopted, favor 10 and e.
fective method Of treating the liquor question,
but IN only lie" instances has II been party
measure. From the nature Of the local
option must sustain an bipartisan relation if it
is 10 succeed.
: Besides it is q matt e.. Of common observa-
ton that strictly partisan legislation can be
forced only in limited localities. The best
forced laws are those fICest from party faint
like the laws az 3lnst larceny, etc,
: The lea o. n prohibition pEr,y 10 enforce q
prohibition policy which thifi-party leaders re-
iterate sounds well, and is very misleading to
those VINO nave not thought the matter through.
Professor Basconb, the ablest eNpoundeT OF this
theory says; The State must be differed from
TOP to bottom this basis. "electing the
officers from judge TO Justices of the Peece,
Governors, Mayors, Aldermen. and policemen,
and must hold the power for a dozen years or
so then 1T can enforce prohibition.
This is the ideal scheme the third party is en-
rartaiuiuE And some such mac hineEy, through
an The towns ana cities Of u state viii indeed
e peces ssrv to Justify their theory of prohibit
ticu party behind prohibition policy TO en-
force Ii.
Bat what a vain delusion Where is the State.
especially if il has any large cities. which Is
.aAicered from top To bottom, and III all its
municipalities by the party that hold toe State
o9fee-% Not one can be mentioned. TIE Dem
o.gat- are ow in the asceLdeucy in the state
of New York bat large areas OF The State a"e
t{.r,I,IIgan- Hul when TIE Republicans have
,. II he state Offices in New ork the Demo
~,sts have held New ok Cily and many other
towns and cities. lie same is true Of al other
sJ vet these ideal party builders would
=. fF one the eat interests Of the temperance
-..rfa would hedge up anu obstruet he ef-
5.st- of those who by bipartisan methods
* 3. protect the hoIue against the saloon. Gi-
mi this impossible politIesl conception can be
~, ms visionary Lasis tIey make eNtrusReant
PROMISES aud predictions ther pflEcifsi STOCK
=, ,r.1e II is an cid Lrlth O. Eansrupts thai
IL III. lavish with promises 70 pas 50 Pc
lit icnl tsrry that IS built upon hhiiue hHtloA
a., never lie -olYeut eitl Il Ia present q pos
,.s-ffy results. II costs one nothing g OF
IAN he kingdoms ~ the world wren ne d'se
not own rood of iGnd "a
Ta, these zee sons 1 stu tet 4tI -Al. as,
saI-q8l Rsrlison ana Morton ~ ne ttsSTH'
campaign. 'HHif-i-