The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-11-20

Gen. Neal Dow writes to the PRESS to say
that all the reports of the proceedings of the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union at
Chicago published by the papers of that city
were misleading-that they were misinfor-
nation rather than information. That may
be so, and no doubt Gen Dow is fully con-
WINGED that such is the case. But Gen. Dow
Is rarely an impartial observer. His sympa-
thies go out very strongly to one side or the
other in controversy, and the side that the
General does not sympathize with is not
likely to get very soft treatment This is not
saying that he Intentionally misrepresents, 1t
ismerely saying that the Generals prejudices
are apt to be so strong that he can see but
one side of a case in which he is interested
His mind is not OF judicial cast.
1t Is perfectly natural that Gen. Dow
should approve the course of the Woman's
Christian Temperance Union in allying itself
to the Third Party. The General belongs to
| that party, and of course he is pleased when
aid comes to 1t from whatever source But
the question Is not whether Gen. Dow is
pleased, but whether this alliance has proved
profitable to the cause of temperance and to
the Union. The question is whether the
Union has been able to advance the cause of
temperance as much as it would if it had
| formed no entangling alliance with any
party? Concerning the right of the Union
to ally itself with the Third Party there can
| De no question. Such action is entirely
within its province. But things that are
lawful are frequently not expedient, and this
alliance, 1t seems to us, was not expedient.
Much OF the influence of the Union
was thrown away when it made it.
self political machine. Very likely
Its members do not realize it, and even
II they did, pride would restrain them for
some time from acknowledging it. Women
do not like to confess errors any better than
men, But 1t is patent to outside observers
Conventions which formerly were harmoni-
GUS are now filled with discord. Women
who formerly were among the most influen-
tlal In the Union have withdrawn and allied
themselves with another organization.
Where formerly the Union met nothing but
| good will, now it encounters Opposition.
growing out Of the suspicion that it is a Do
litical organization bent often upon advanc-
Ing the interests of party rather than the
cause OF temperance. If these losses are offset
byany gains from the alliance with the Third
party we would like to have somebody point
them out. Certainly they are not apparent.
or course the Union may be prosperous in
spite of discords. A part of its work is so
removed from any political connection that
1t may not be affected by its political ALI.
ance. But considered in all its aspects this
alliance has done it more harm than good
We have no disposition to gloat over or
magnify any discords that may exist in the
union, and we have never detected much
wisdom in the formation of rival organi
cation, which, though calling itself non-par-
tisan. will from the circumstances attending
its formation inevitably be recorded by
portion OF the community as much a politi-
cal organization as the union. We simply
wish 10 point out that whatever OF diocuru
there is and its results have sprung from an
i'll advised alliance with political party and
might have been avoided.