The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-02-07
THIRD PARTY FOLLY.

The State OF New Jersey affords jus
at present perhaps the best illustration
of the folly of the third party Prohibi
ton movement to be found in the Unitet
States. The third party people at tn,
late election cast 1904 votes, sufficient t
give States + ectoral votes and the CON
troll OF it's Legislature to the Democrats
party. The Legislature of last winte
was republican IN both branchea, anC
: nacted local option law--passing it il
the face of solid Democratic opposition
and over the ito of a Democratic Gov
Prnor-which aroused the formidable
Ii quor traffic of the State in the las
campaign to redouble its efforts to de-
feat the Republican party, Because oI
the third party detection the liquor peO
pie succeeded, and Democratic Legis
la ure, pledged to promote the liquor in
terest, il now in power in the New Jer
sey capital. One Of the first proceed
ings of this Legislature will be-, of course,
to repeal or cripple the local option law
"a step against which the temperance
organizations of the State are vigorously
protesting. Strange to say, one of the
principal opponents Of the repeal OF the
law is Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, the late
third party candidate for President,
Gen. Fisk, IN a letter to Mr., A, E. Bal
lard of the Church Temperance Com.
mission, says:
MY Dear Sir Il want to be enrolled
among those who protest against the re-
peal of our local option law, the weaken
ing of its provisions, or the lessening OF
its penalties. trust men of all faiths,
religious or political, will stand together
in earns9t protest against any backward
step. Faithfully yours,
CLINTON B FISK
General Fisk is mi itary man, ver5ed
in the rules of honor which govern
armies. Suppose that in the great Re
bellion right on the eve of battle, pOr'
ton of the Union force shoul have de.
serted the main body, and not content
with abandoning old comrades, should
haye ac lively assisted the enemy When
the the hattie opened by keeping up an
Annoying ii e t the Union rear Let US
suppose that the resut of these discredl.
taba tactics was Union reverse, aud
that whe the victorious enemy was
about to pilage the Union camps the de-
serters should have come up, asked theil
| faithful comrades to receive them with
open arms. and suggested, when 1t was
too late, that some steps be taken to pre-
vent the common foe from reapng the
fruits If his triumph. What would Gen
Fisk, lryal Union officer, say TO the
| leserters in such a case rs this ! YET
here in New Jersey we haV a case which
is an exact parallel. The Republican
party in that State had enacted a string
ent temperance measure and chsl'ang,
the saloon Democracy to do its worrt
rhe third party people, instead OF stand
ing by the temperance colors, deserted
them, and their detection proved seriou:
enough not only TO defeat the Republi
can Electoral ticket, but also t. defeat
sufficient Republican candidates for the
Legislature to give the control of thai
body to the Democrats. Having done
this, General Fisk is know protesting
against the repeal of the local optior
lava step which he and his frieT ds VI
to November Z, did all IN their power Il
make possible. 1t is difficult adequately
To characterize such conduct. Under
the rules of war it would merit and re
ceive summary punishment. Under thu
rules of peace and politics the only pen
atty likely TO fall to the NewJersey THIRD
party prople's lot il that inflicted by al
uneasy conscience General Fisk AND
most of his New Jersey followers are TOT
intelligent not to realize the unworthy
and ridiculous aspects of their po.i ion
Having given the saloon its victory, they
are now industriously deploring the fac
that the saloon cOntempIates using it
triumph to its own advantage. II thi
New Jersey incident would olny teacl
the third party people a wholesome anC
lasting lesson. it would not be withou
its comppnsations but that it will ac
compIish this it is follow to expect. Th'
next time in New Jersey or esewher'
that the saloon seeks assistance to enabl
it 10 obtain power. it will find the thirt
party the same blind, unreasonlng, use
full ally.