The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-10-03
OUGHT TEMPERANCE MEN TO VOTE
WITH THE THIRD PARTY 2
A reply to a letter of inquiry from Dr.
Deems.
By PROF. JOHN T. DUFF1ELD, D. D
COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY,
PRINCETON, N j., August 9th, 1888.

ABSENCE from town mas prevented
more prompt acknow Judgement or your
fraternal letter of the 25th nit The kind
regard expressed and implied is cordially
reciprocated.
appreciate the motive which prompted
your letter, and sympathize with you in
4 your desire to know your duty in regard
to the rum traffic and to do it. To sup.
press the iniquitious traffic moral suasion
should be used-through the press, on
the platform, in the pulpit and by per-
sonal influence but moral suasion alone
is not sufficient. agree with you to the
necessity OF proAibitory lao, at the same
time recognizing with you that "no law
is operative in this country which does
not secure the support of majority in the
district covered by the law"
While we are in entire accord as to the
end to be attained operati0e prohi6itory
laso--I regret that we should differ as to
the best means for attaining this end.
My decided opinion for some time has
been that except in states where but one
of the great parties of the country is
recognized practically at the ballot-box,
the Prohibition Party was serious mis-
take. am obliged to you for presenting
clear aud concise statement of the ICON
siderationsn which have led you and
many other intelligent and conscientious
men to the conclusion that it was your
duty to cooperate with the Prohibition
Party. have given to your letter de-
| liberate and as trust, unprecedented
considera ton. With the highest respect
for the intelligence, the judgment and
| the consoientiousness of yourself and the
good brethren who agree with you, feel
constrained to say, see no good reason
for altering my previous conviction.
will endeavor therefore, most respectfully
to comply with your request to "show
Wherein" in my opinion "you are wrong
in this matter"
Omitting for the present the considera-
tion of the "line of thought" which has
led you to your conclusion, ask you to
consider this question What is my duty
as citizen Of Nsso Jersey at the present
crisis
We are confronted mot with theory
but a condition. Our last legislature
enacted law, which, If unrepealed, will
IN short time close the soloons in all
cou mites where there is q majority fa-
vorable to Prohibition-that is, undoubt-
eddy in large part of the state. In the
counties where large majority are at
present opposed to Prohibition-and
where, consequently, prohibitory law
would be inoperative--the law imposes
such restrictions on the tafiic as may re-
duce the evil to minimum. BY faith
full, persevering effort In these counties
we may hope that ere long public senti-
ment will be changed aud the saloons
closed throughout the entire state. Tho
constitutionality of this law has recently
been affirmed by our highest judicial
tribunal-the Court of Appeals. The
rumsellers recognize aud acknowledge
that, unless thisla is repealed, the rum
traffic in New Jersey is doomed. They
accordingly are making desperate efforts
to secure majority 10 the next legsla-
ture favorable TO repeal. To this all 9TH
err political considerations are subordin-
ated. The political form, therefore, In
VIII ich the question of duty in regard to
the rum traffic presents itself TO the citi-
zens of New Jersey in the present crisis
is--ShGH the eristing lao be repealed or
sustained?
On such an issue it might be supposed
that all who have any just sense OF the
evil of intemperance, the iniquity of the
rum traffic and the necessity for prohibi-
tory law for its suppression, would be
throughout the canvass and at the ballot
box, united to man 10 earnest effort
sustain the law. Were this the case
there would be little reason for apprehen-
sion as to the result. The deplorable fact
however is, the law is imperiled by the
action of the very men who-as you say
''are committed to the prosecution of the
earnest work Of destroying the traffic in
Intoxicating beverages" The rumseller's
main hope Of success is the Prohibition
Party. Under these circumstances, eau
you, my dear brother, on reflection, say
that it is my duty to cooperate with that
party We are frequently reminded now
adays by our Prohibition party brethren
that we should cote as zoe pray. Pardon
me for asking-do you pray-can any
one, Republican or Democrat, Prohibit
zionist or Anti Prohibitionist, pray-that
the law in regard to the rum traffic now
on the Statute books of New Jersey may
be repealed? And il not, is it not the
duty of every citizen who is in favor of
Prohibition to vote in tie soay that oiy be
the most e6sctual TO prepent The repeal Of
the lawf If SO, would not voting the
Prohibition Party ticket be simply fail
ure to do his dutyf
And now as to the Slime of thought
by which you reach your conclusion. You
ask mo to ''show you wherein you are
wrong'-that is, to indicate fallscy, If
there be any, in your reasoning.
That there is fallacy somewhere, it
seems to me, has been demonstrated. The
point where 1t comes into my minds
is your 18th consideration" Having
previously established the necessity for
bringing the question to the ballot-box in
order to secure prohibitory legislation
you proceed to say /: "But no such ques-
tion can be brought except by some po-
iitical party. This binds me to work
with any political party which commits
itself to the earnest prosecution of the
work of destroying the traffic in intoxi-
eating beverages. find one such party
acI h.,t n,a he D.nL.hst,o., Da.t.,