The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-02-15

no voter IN his party relations. II
as q Democrat can and will vote
my party ticket, also for the pro-
posed Amendment. My Republi-
can neighbor can do the same and
vote against the Amendment. Yet
he is recognized as Republican,
true TO his faith, just as am recog-
nized as Democrat. But what Of
my Prohibition party friendi Are
we not willing to accord to him the
same privileges enjoyed by our
selves2 He has the privilege Of
voting for the Amendment only,
and is deprived of the privilege Of
voting for candidates for Office
in his own party. "Ws'u Stab the
Amendment" This is your threat,
while you we'll know the adher.
ents of this party are the most
steadtast friends of the Amendment.
For the life of me I cannot under
stand why as friends OF the Amend
ment we should fight this party,
or in what way the existence of
the same can endanger the tate Of
Amendment or yet, in what sense
can partizan politics enter the con-
test.
And just here will say, 1t ill
becomes the friends of the Amend.
ment when addressing an audience
in a "non-partisan" meeting, to
make it a special point to caution
their hearers to beware of the
Third party" forgetting that in
30 doing they exhibit more zeal for
the safety of their old party than
they do for the safety of the Amend
ment. If we desire the Amend
ment ratified we shoald antagonize
no friend of the measure. The
question OF party affiliations enters
not into the canvass, 1t is my
right and privilege to vote as /
please. Who can deny or abridge
this right? If Belva Lockwood's
friends desire to place ticket be-
fore the people of West Virginia to
be voted for, have they not the
right to do SOP Certainly 30, is
the answer. Surely then the Pro-
hibition party with its half mil
lion voters in the United States,
fully organized and in process of or
ganization in every State and Terri
tory in the Union, is worthy Of rec
ignition. It is nothing more nor
less than down right impudence on
the part of those demanding it, to
insist that this party which organ
lied as such in West Virginia three
years ago, should disband.
"We'U Stab the Amendment" Idle,
silly, foolish twaddle! No true
friend of the Amendment can be
driven from his faith and convic-
ton of duty by such croakers, who
think more about the spoils of
office than the success of the
Amendment.
Won't Fight the Third Party.
In conclusion, will say to my
correspondent, whose words l have
used as text for this article, No, 1
will not fight the Third Party" as
I find no fault in it of 80 much
magnitude and perchance by fght-
ing it might turn noble worker
for the Amendment from his post
of duty. We have but one enemy
to fight. It is powerful, it is we'll
organized, it is determined, it has
the potent einews Of defence, money.
That enemy is the Saloon, the en-
envy of Humanity, of Society. of
Government and of vital Goodness.
In the fight before us, know moth
ing but the Amendment and it
carried. To carry it we must not
stop to cavil and find fault with our
friends who may differ with us as
to the ways and means Of bringing
about the result so devoutly wish
ed for.
As heretofore, in your zeal tor the
success of the Republican party,
you mounted the rostrum in your
grand old County of Harrison, 60
do SO again if you choose, but let
me coniure you, do nothing, say
nothing to injure the prospect OF
the Amendment. Vote for it. Don't
LET the ghost of the Third party