New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-04
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS
THE ILLOGICAL THIRD PARTY.
ITS HOLLOWNESS AND INEFFICIENCY-FATAL
TO GENUINE TEMPERANCE WORK.

lis HOLLOWNESS AND NORTHUMBERLAND
TO GENUINE TEMPERANCE WORK.
rome Edttor Of The Tribune.
Sir; Is the position Of the Prohibition party ten
aoel 1t Is separation Of minute fraction from
the Republican party avowedly for the mother pary's
destruction 1t would have the people underst and
that II has been called Of God TO denounce scottish
Nation, and to deliver It, under Divine guidance y from
condition into which It's people have always been
sinking without effort or hope for freedom. Sixty
millions In this land OF Christian law and order three
fourths members Of churches affiliated herewith
all unconscious Of their lost condition, save barely
ono per cent? A reversal OF the ninety and nine
parable; the one Is saved and the multitude IS doomed
Perhaps II we refer to national degradation Of
century ago, when drunkenness had well nigh botted
out ali deccncy, honor and religion, and compare that
condition with to-dsys honorable temperance record,
we may confront the Third party with which
Will show that the hope of reform is not entirely with
them.
The awakening of 1855 in tho Church has continued
with varying fervor. To testimony of Methodism
has always been for temperance, and It's thousands Of
churches in America active temperance Organiza-
tons and aggressive TO overthrow the power Of rum.
The Presbyterian Church, from It's earliest establish
ment In this country. has noted the sin OF intemper
ance and fought against II. DR.. Benjamin Rush was
OF this body. The Baptist churches represent a
OF honored names headed by George y. Briggs,
Governor Of Massachusetts, all of whom distinguished
lists established the first temperance newspaper and
led the way to the foundation OF the Temperance
publication House. They were among the first to
pronounce for prohibition, and they originated the
Washingtonian movement. The Reformed Dutch
Church. for three centuries an opponent of the drink
evil, In this country has always set her inhuance
against It, The Society Of Friends, in their yearly
meeting in 1854 bore testimony against the use of
intoxicating liquors. and their concern has always
been TO teach better minds We might 60 on
with the thirty sects of Proestants in our country
Their influence against intemperance has been inter
woven In harmony Of action which has wrought
the prodIgious change Of 100 years.
1t must be remembered that this Is a moral ques
ton, and results reached through teaching and
awakened cOnsciences. The havoc of alcohol Is self
consented to- and the remedy Is clear illustration
of self-denlal and rcvulsion of feeling which must
extend to majority Of the body polite before the
evil can be legally prohibited 1t is, therefore, de-
veopment Of moral ideas. This is clearly seen in
the results of the early temperance work 1t was
half century before the sentiment crystallzed into
effective temperance organizations, and these have
Invariably been moral and humane when effective.
Where moral influence has pervaded the majority,
restrictive prohibtOry laws have followed All
honorable temperance advocates believe IN prohibit
tion for the liquor traffic is sustained by sefshness
and love of gain. and those who value manhood will
need in the end 10 crush the enemy by law, else tho
weak will forever furnish victims for the evil trade.
VIC have that the Christian Church has accepted
her mission and wrought tho temperance sentiment
which makes temperance legislation possible.
We como to the organization of the Repub-
lean party, whose birth in 1856 was preceded by
Ike premontory moral influence in the Church against
human slavery. The organization Of this party
marked by the first practical temperance legislation,
and the party has followed this up throughout our
Union. keeping ahead of the moral sentiment Of the
people, the failure to enforce temperance laws Will
show. This great party has from the first embraced
the ninety nine per cent who are fOrsaken by
the frisky lamb in the Prohibition fold. The
Republican party has been hard work perfecting
temperance legislation in spite OF It's little sanctihed
enemy The Lord only knows how to deal with His
alleged elect ones, who glory in accomplishing evil
that good may come. I refer TO the expressed de-
sire Of IN, Prohbitonsts that the Democratic policy
Of rum shall win I'm elections and 10 their persistent
opposition to the enforcement Of prohibitory laws.
The das tardly spirit Of the Third party IS shown
in s taunts that the Republican party advocates free
rum because at the National Convention It took the /
stand that liquor should be put away, whllo |
the principle has long been advocated by all !
sincere Christian temperance workers. 1 ask any I
voter who may be doubtful to the mission Of the /
Prohibition party TO It's anomalous makeup and
its methods The assumption OF superior wisdom
goodness must stand the test OF common This
" oman Sunragists Whose good IS ieopardlzed
by this unnatural alliancc mingled with dissrunilcd
lhusiasilc element, namely. certain members Of the /
Christian Church who longer useful agree
able 10 their brethren who. 10 all intent, and pur-
poses. live apart to enjoy by themselves a special /
and fixed experience which they call holiness or /
SanctihcatlOn. This homogeneous political party TO /
peak chaTtahy. may be honest but belongs 10 thar
class which, unable to grasp tie principles and prog
ress Of citizenship. unable 10 deal with but a /
single thought or think beyond rs horizon. IS |
welded to narrow conception and jealousy main .
tans IL a. the only vital. maj lOnal principle.
need only 10 refer TO what this party has done 10
show its inuy. u mas destroyed the Usefulness %
all the temperance organizations which have leavened
the Nation with temperance sentiment. The sons OF /
Temperance and the Good Templass exist now only /
in name The spirit Of sympathy for fallen Is dead.
a aggressive work against the rum power longer
exists. The WOman's Christian Temperance Union.
born Of the Ohio WOmans Crusade, IS doubtless mn
aware that its faith In prayer has departed and that
IL is living In the memory Of its baptism OF fire. while
il exists only a Journalism. IT Is tied to the
Third party with the same string the Woman suf- .
fragists. The Temperance Publication House IS the
only living temperance organization outside the /
churches and thai IS identified with the Republican
party. The ninety and nine have taken up the grcar
work and united 10 with the group VI
high National principles vital 10 citizenship.
Salon, Mass, July 81, 1s55. JAMES T. ALMY.