Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-11-03
THIRD PARTY FALLACY,
A Ringing Letter from Hon. Columbus
Marchbanks.
spARrA, TENN, oct. 81, lSS8

bers of our old and honorable party
are now being mislead by the new
Third party or prohibition movement
/ am induced to write this letter.
All men agree that under Cleveland
and Democratic success the country
has had great peace and prosperity.
That integrity has been on guard and
honesty at a premium. Then | take
it that every man who voted the DEM
ocratic ticket in 1884 is proud of his
vote and the part he has taken in pro-
noting this great public good. l
should also conclude that all think
ing men would be slow to risk
change of President or party control.
But l find a man once in while who
says he does not care whether the Re
publicans or Democrats win this cleo
ton. / today heard Third party
man say in front Of my Office that he
had lived under both Democratic and
Republican administrations and he
saw no difference between them, and
as far as he was concerned he did not
care which party succeeded. Hefur-
ther said that he had always been a
Democrat, but would now vote for
Fisk and johnson. This same man
was also rasping Republican about
the free whiskey plank in his plat
form. From all of this l come to the
conclusion that this Third party man
had not read the prohibition platform
and as he is at least an average man
of his party, l conclude that their
speakers have kept this platform in
the dark. Now for the benefit efsome
Democrats who are about to throw
away their votes, and at the same
time give Harrison and Hawkins the
half ola vote. l will quote from the
prohi platform of Fisk, johnson d
Co. BY reference to section 4 of said
platform we find the following Ian
guage:
"For the immediate abolition of the
internal revenue system"
Is this not strange prohibition doc
trine. The Republican party is also
for free whisky, and in its platform,
declares for the centre repeal of in
ternal taxes rather than surrender
any part of the protection system"
Let any fair man say which party is
most in favor of free whisky? If free
untaxed cheap whisky means prohi'
bition then the name is snare and O
) fraud. Ifany man can make whisky
) and brandy, without let or license
: anywhere, and everywhere, and sell
, it cheap, in any quantity, will that bt
a step towards prohibition, or towards
an immediate earthly hell? Yet this
is one of the most prominent plank'
in the prohibition platform.
The Republicans favor free whisky
rather than modify the tariff. Indeed
, does misery and malice make strang,
! bed fellows.
We then come to sec. 5 of the prob
y. platform and find that it is for rev
enue tariff, and opposed to any sur
: plus and for removing tax on neces
+ saries, but to place a tariff on sucl
articles of import as will give protec
Il ton to the American manufacture
x and laborer against competition o
u the world.
: Is not the democratic party 70
y tariff reform and for cheap food
clothing and necessities of life? /
: not the Democratic party now in a
attitude to give these blessings to tn
'e people? Then why cast a vote tina
II you know cannot benefit you any
u but that may defeat the only part
y that can lessen your taxes and Civ
u, you cheap goods? The prohibitio
i0 party has no hope of winning thi
election, but vote for Fisk an
Johnson is half a vote for Harriso
and Hawkins and if they are electe
7 your taxes are not to be reduced, bl
o we are to have a renewal of old r.
IT, publican practices. Now let us go
w see. 6 of the "prohi" platform
r. "That the right of suffrage rests c
he no mere circumstance of race, colo
sex, or nationality"
fe Can it be that old time Democra
ID, have read or heard this part of tn
platform, and now propose to vote
MS woman suffrage, and that any ms
from any land or country, Chinama
Hottentot, or what not may vote
,st free America the day he lands, al
TO thus elect infidels, idolaters, a
~ archists, or any sect, class or facti
that they may deem best? Yet IL
in is fairly what that section of t