Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-06-08

when these charges against the Republic
can party would not seem to be true; but
they are true. Now, then, in view of
this record and these specific facts, what
reliance will honest people place in the
Journals promises, or in the promises of
the party of which 1t is the willing slave?
The last Anti-Saloon Republican conven-
ton is the best gauge of Republican par
ty honesty on the temperance question.
That convention was simply farce and
a confessed failure at that. Similar facts
with reference to the other States named
in the Journal may be given. The lack
of space shuts them out at this time. One
can hardly decide whether to pity the
ignOrace, smile at the conceit, or doubt
the sincerity of the political caterers of
the Republican party, who claim we'll
nigh every virtue and well-nigh all INTEL
ligence for their organization.
Right here | will introduce another
thought There are now connected with
the Prohibition, or Third party, such per-
sons as Rev. Herrick johnson of Chicago,
Rev. Theodore l.. Cuyler of Brooklyn,
Gen. C. B. Fisk, Miss Frances f. Will
lard, ex-President John Bascom, Presi-
dent Julius II. Seelye of Amherst col
lege, Mr.. Joseph Cook and Judge Pit
man. To call the action of such per-
sons, when they sustain the Third party.
horrible" to speak of them as not able
"to see to the bottom of their subject"
call them "superficial," say that they
deliberately deny in practice what they
profess to hold,' to write of them that
they "are false to principle and that they
are doing more harm than good is, to
say the least, very serious reflection on
the man who thus records himself. These
persons have a national, and some of
them a worldwide reputation, not only
for integrity of purpose, but as well for
profundity and independence of thought.
Give us the logic of facts and we will
listen; but simply throw epithets at us
and burn us in effigy and you will find
you are not fighting ghosts.
There was an original question in the
professors communication. Here it is:
$40 whom does the Third party bow
when it sustains Democratic policy and
helps elect a Democratic President?
This is form of question known in
certain textbook, with which some teach
ers are familiar, and is called "Fallacy of
Many Questions" In the first place the
Third party, so far as | know, has not
and does not sustain the "Democratic
policy on the liquor question. 1t can
not be shown that we do. Again. The
Third party did not "help elect DEM
ocratic President it might have done
so with just as much self-respect as to
have helped elect Republican Pres-
dent, so far as the rum traffic is con-
cerned. There need not have been elect
ed a Democratic President four years
ago. Mr.. st. John polled more votes than
Ben. Butler and Belva Lockwood, and if
the Republicans had not thrown away so
many votes on James G. Blaine, but in
stead had voted for st. John, the awful
calamity that befel our country in the
election of Democratic President would
have been grandly averted. Some may
think this is not a serious answer to this
question. Very well. Here it is.
a large majority of the voters in this
country to-day think the evils of rum can
and should be abated. | think this will
go without question. Then where does
the responsibility lie-with the minority,
North and South, who break party
shackles and vote in the right way, or
with the majority who hang with DEATH
like grip to old party associations? The
sure answer must be that the majority
are untrue to moral duty.
Again | say-"Lay on, Macdutf, and
lame be he who first cries, Hold, enough"
| know the professor would like to cram
into my mouth another word for ''lame. ="
but let me say, Whatever the reply
may be, let us observe the Scriptural in
junction" "Thou shalt not bear false wit
ness against thy neighbour
Il. G.. THOMPSON.