The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-01-11
THAT DISCUSSION.
CARSKADON and FERGUSON.
Mr.. CarskadOn Eschews Kidicule
and Challenges his Opponent
to Higher Grounds.
Only One Code of Morals for Pri.
vate and Public Lite.

To the Editor of the I'stellgencer:
SIR: Absence from the State and
pressing private business since my
return have prevented an early re-
ply to Judge Ferguson's letter Of
the 9th of December.
The Judge kindly prefaces his
last with the sententious remark
that "but for matters other than
argument in my last he would not
trouble himself to reply" To
which 1 respond, but tat the pub
lie might infer from Jay silence
that his last ill-temper d effusion
was argument at all, | should at
once close what he has tried to de-
grade to mere perr ,nal contro-
versy. In his first article, while
he failed to answer single point
of my argument showing the neces.
sity for new and better party, he
yet preserved the dignity and
courtesy that should characterize
gentlemen contending for great
principles, and freely compliment
ed my sincerity. The last he de.
votes almost exclusively to ridicule
and personalities, charging me
with hypocrisy and all that is bad,
but again failed to answer the argu-
ment contained in my rejoinder.
Eschews Ridicule and Sar.
casm.
In passing may say that while
he lays himself open to a merciless
use of his favorite weapons abuse,
ridicule and sarcasm-though
strongly tempted to retaliate, | re-
train, being persuaded that such a
course will be neither edifying to
the public nor advantageous to the
cause | represent. His inability TO
answer my arguments Gas is usual
in such cases) may have necessitat-
ed his resort to personalities and
abuse, for which no doubt your in
dulgent readers will, as l do, ex
cuse him.
If the cause l represent and the
argument l adduce do not reach
the hearts and consciences of
those who read, all our writing will
be vain, as it is conscience in pol
itics we are pleading for-the same
application of Christian principle
to the ballot-box that we take to
the prayer-meeting, and it was the
strong putting of this in my last
Git strikes me) that cut the Judge
to the heart and made him gnash
his teeth, stop his ears and charge
so madly on the Third party and
the writer. The Judge charges that
in quoting him l added words to
his article. If I did q have not
the article now by me) it was en-.
tirely unintentional, as I tried to
avoid the least appearance of un-
fairness, and regret the error,
though it seems l did not vary his
meaning, for he reiterates the sense
less charge. that the saloon keep
ers and their allies favor the organ.
ization of the Third party whose
fundamental principles are the de-
struction of their internal traffic.
This declaration and charge of
the Judge is as absurd, base and
senseless as to charge Garrison,
Lovtjoy, Giddings, Sumner and
Phillips with organizing the Adolf
ton party to extend slavery.
1t makes me tired to read or lis
ten to such stuff.
Awful S0licitudA for the Amend
ment.
Another thing that almost takes
M breath is this awful solicitude
upon the part of the old party
leaders for the Amendment, lest
its real friends may not properly
guard it while they, when at home
Tin their conventions and plat
forms) won't touch it with forty
foot pole, but shun it worse than if
liberated with small pox, yet
praise everybody that will abuse
the only party which stands by
principle and platform pledged to
its adoption and execution. And
this same saloon power that the
Judge says is helping the Third
party is now through its South west.