The midland journal., 1888-10-26
Friday, Oct. 26, 1883.
He SHES at the Third Party.
RISING Sun, MD, Oct. 22nd, 1888.
EDITOR CT THE MIDLAND JOURNAL.

EDITOR CT lHE MIDLAND JOURNAL.
Dear Si:-You have from time to
time published in your paper articles
assuming to show why persons should vote
the National Prohibition Ticket. l here
with hand you some arguments Why temper
ance workers should not vote that ticket.
1st. The whiskey party do not form sep
crate party, but by the organization and
combination of the manufacturers, whole
sale and retail dealers tn row their strength
where il will do the most toward accomplish
ing their purposes. End. See the vast mum.
ber of persons that are taught from the
cradle up to manhood and womanbood to
swear eternal enmity to intoxicants. How
was it at the beginning of this century or
even within the recolections of the oldest
of the generations now living? We hear
them tell ofthe wood choppings, corn husk-
ings. harvestings, &C., &c., al all Of which
whiskey, whiskey flowed freely and was
drank instead of water. Farmers who
would not give whiskey had great difficulty
in getting, and oft-tines could not get, hands
to do the farm work Now if whiskey is
drank the devotee must take it in some Sc
cluded place, he is ashamed to let the world
see him drink it. How has this great change
been accomplished? Did the Prohibition
party do ii? No sir. 1t was done by Non
Partisan methods. Commencing with the
Washingtonians followed by many other
temperance societies and largely aided by the
churches, until the present time the Church
and the I. y. OF G. T. stand at.the head ofthe
temperance reform. The w. G. T.U. gave
great promise of being an effective help In
this work at the time Of its organization but
unfortunately its usefulness is being i'm
paired by being led into partisan work
What would have been the success of tenn
perance work had the Washingtonians or
even the foudners Of Good Temr lars started
as partisan workers? We reply without
fear of successful contradiction that at this
time they would only be known to the his
torian, all traces of their work would have
been obliterated. But they started with a
high and holy desire 'to reclaim the fallen
and save others from falling" Their lead
ers did not seek political notoriety, but to
do the most good in the quickest way
Hence we to-day are reaping the benefit OF
their wisdom, and were il not for the influx
Of foreign immigrants, the majority who
bring their home customs with them the
United States to-day would be nation
without place 10 sell intoxicants as bev-
erage. AS il is we must legislate and en-
act laws compelling this element to do as
we wish them in return for the many bene-
fits they enjoy in this free land. Now is it
best as temperance people to parcel our
selves out in little company by ourselves
and wait twenty five or even len years for
the love of party to fall as scales from the
eyes of the masses SO they can come and vote
with us? Or is it not the best policy to
work with whichever of the two great parties
that will give us the laws we desire? "Vote
as you pray" is great maxim with some;
while we believe in the power Of prayer We
will say to those that wish to exercise their
faith let them pray that the leaders Of one
or both the great parties may have the wis
dom or be over.ruled by just Providence
to reccomend and enact temperance laws.
Take our own county of Cecil; wher would
our Prohibitory law have been enacted had
it been left until the "third'' party was
strong enough to accomplish it? Or the
Prohibitory law of Maine that was placed
on the statutes of that State long before the
partisan Prohibition party was known. Time
and space only permits of causual mention
of the constitutional amendments adopted in
Iowa, Kansas and Rhode Island, and the
Local Option laws in many sections
of the country. Hoping men will not
throw their votes away but in this cause,
which we deem of the greatest importance,
but W which can be more efiectually handled
in non-partisan manner, will be ready to
cast their ballot with the party that will
give the best laws.
Truly Yours, Z.
TOWHICH WE REPLY
Our correspondent starts out with mis-
conception of the subject he attempts 10 dis
cuss and bravely sticks to it TO the end. We
have not published articles assuming to
show why persons should vote the National
Prohibition ticket" but articles designed 10
show the part the liquor question is playing
in relation to our politics and when people
have been placed in possession of those facts
they can vote as they please!
Why should the whiskey party form
separate party? They have everything they
desire, and to hold fast to what they have
they divide their forces between the strong
parties, A distinct political party ispeyer