The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-09-22
The Peoples Column.
Temperance Politics in the Fifth District.

NORTH EAST, Md, Sept. 10, 1888.
Editor Wig:-As you may have nc
ticed l was well drubbed by two cores
pondents Co in the Cecil Star last week.
From their standpoint every thing l said
in my former communications was false.
In regard to the endorsement of the
Third Party candidates by the bishops
and delegates of the General Conference
of the Methodist Church assembled in
New York last spring, although not my
self present as spectator of the pro
| ceedings of that assembly, the New York
correspondent of the Boston Herald
stated not only that the General Confer
ence endorsed Messrs. Fisk and Brooks,
but that this same Mr.. Brooks gloried
| that he had been rebel slave holder and
| Democrat, but he thanked God he had
never been Republican,.
The Star's correspondents say that the
Maryland State Temperance Alliance had
nothing to do with the Third Party's
National Convention and was separate
organization altogether. say that the
delegates TO the State Temperance Ali.
ance were selected in this town of North
East, and | say further that those dele
gates were elected from that alliance to
| national convention held at Harrisburg,
Pa i, and that there Mr.. St. John and Mr.
VIM. Daniel were nominated for presi-
dent and vice president. Mr.. Daniel, at
the time, was president of the State Tenn
perance Alliance. After his nomination
as vice president he resigned the presi-
dency of the Alliance, and the part that
was taken by the State of Maryland in the
national convention had it's origin in the
church. This was the plan adopted, O
doubt, by the managers of the Third
preliminary proceedings held in the
church-but primary meeting? By this
act it was launched as a political party,
and l am not disposed, as an humble
member of the Republican party. to con-
cede to the Third Party the privilege of
talking Third Party to the congregation
unless we Republicans have the same
privilege. Good temperance Republicans
do not, to my knowledge, claim this
privilege. nor do l claim it, but
| do insist that so far as the right is
concerned the Republican party is as
much entitled to it as the Third Party
Indeed | should be sorry to see any Re
publican drag his politics into that OF
any other church. If the correspondents s
of the Star are not ashamed that the
Third Party does do so, am ashamed for
them, for 1t certainly cannot benefit the
Methodist Church to have it dragged
into politics by over-zealous gentlemen
some of whom have only objects purely
political in view, and largely personal
objects at that.
Besides don't fancy the political tone
of some of these gentlemen. Fer instance,
call their attention to the fact that the
Democratic party bias during this year in
every state in the Union passed personal
GtOtFty anu duIi-suiH pbu"Iy pldlloTlS,
which mean opposition to any and every
form of restrictive legislation on the sale
of Intoxicating liquors, and these same
gentlemen will fly at you like tigers.
They would not like the Third Party move
ment as Democrats, if they believed it's
effect will be to injure the Democratic
party. Of course Shey would like to see a
large Temper ance vote cast for the Third
Party candidates But they don't as
Democrats propose to cast enough votes
to injure the present prospects of the
Democratic party. Their devotion to
their principles as Democrats, is much
more active principle than their devotion
to Third Party interests. believe, how
ever, that Temperance Republicans are
getting their eyes open to this Demo.