Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-03-10

nothing. United efforts Iiils''ii 00.t -
will as surely fail. In dealing WIN
human affairs practical means anu
methods must be adopted ra'nei
than fine-spun theories.
Until it becomes apparent tna'
the Temperance element in our po-
, liticaI organization is in the MAJOR
itvi n Is unwise to organize a third
party and when it does predom-
mate there will be no necessity Ior
sucb an organization, for all parties
will take that stand. Organized
minorities, acting independently
accomplish nothing, save to excite
ridicule and contempt, but when
firmly united and held as balance
of mower between contesting forces
it may become a controlling iactor
in political action.
In a close contest a small minority
often holds the key to the situation
and in proportion as the minority
approaches the majority in point OF
numbers just in that proportion VIII
it be appreciated and courted by the
dominant parties.
The whisky vote of this country
makes no mistakes, it does not
organize "third party" movements,
but il seeks to hold the balance of
power. It is this that gives itpower
and not that it is in the majority.
CT temperance advocates have any
other mission than that Of perpetual
ing the power and control of the
whisky ring they must exercise as
much discretion in political action
as do the adversaries of law and
order. The same course of action
by the friends of temperance would,
if PERSISTED in, make itself a power
more potent for good in four short
years than is the whisky ring for
evil to-day.
If the temperance vote of this
state could be crystalized, into a
solid phalanx, 50 as to vote only for
good and true men, to fill the various
offices Of the state, not by third
party candidates, but by selecting
only such from the old parties, thus
causing the defeat of the corrupt, an
early date would find the old parties
bidding for that vote by putting
forward only such men for office.
/ trust that the true friends of tenn
perance will manifest as much
wisdom as is shown by the rum
power, in directing political action
by not running after strange gods
nor dividing up into bushwhacking
squads but on the contrary select the
best men put forward by the old
parties, without special reference to
either, thus popularizing the good
and degrading the bad. Let it not
be said of us, "The children of this
world are wiser in their generation
han the children of light" BY >
we'll directed persistent effort on the Z
inc indicated we may in the near 2
umre command just such legisla-
ion Us the wisdom of experience e
nay demand, but by no other 4
There are enough friends of tenn :,
'erance legislation in this country n
o hold the balance ofpower between
he two political parties, so as to de-
Eat or elect, just such nominees as
hey may select, But, it may be
lggested, they won't make suitable !
My answer is, they Il
I'LL, when 1t is once understood, *
nat only snch can be elected. So n
ing as the temperance vote is NJ
lrown away upon "Third partyn s.
when there is no hope of .,
n election there will be no induce
lent held out to the old parties to
such men but on the con- 6,
AIRY every inducement to bid for e. e.
le other vote. in
Political organizations, like indi- Sc
duals, must look on the practical !,
de of the question II they would "
! successful. w
While eontending for principles 4,
ey must not ignore means and n
ethods favor the right but do the co e,
pedient seek the highest good by s,, lss
ceptng the best possible. 90
To attempt to do the impmcticable, So
political action, is an indirect sun tShh
IT of the wrong TO overcome the sal
,ht by reason of the divided forces 50
vocating the right, N
The impmctible visionary politi. we
m, however high aud worthy his vii
rpose, eNcites pity, often rldicule Sn, ann
Il contempt, because of his mis- sou
lded Judgment while he ceases to Sft
a potent factor in the body polite
lille his political indiOsyncrasles =