The Monmouth inquirer., 1889-08-08


from Trenton says: /: General Clinton B.
Fisk has at last practically left the Pro-
hibition party. This assertion can not
be successfully contradicted. The State
Prohibition Convention at Asbury Park
settled the marter, Fisk has been urg-
ing the Prohibition leaders of New Jer-
sey for months to keep ticket out of
the field in this State this year and join
hands with the Republicans He did
this because he said the Republicans
had adopted local option law when
they controlled the Legislature two
years ago, and that law really meant
Prohibition in the counties that held
elections under it and voted against
any license. The measure was working
we'll when the Democrats got hold OF
the Legislature last Winter and repeal
ed it. Gen. Fisk was angry over the
repeal. and remarked at the time to sew
eral of the Republican leaders that he
wanted nothing more to do with the
Democracy. He also said that the
Third party ought to turn in and help
the Republicans regain control Of the
Legislature, SO that local option might
be replaced on the statute books next
Winter.
The moment the report of Fisk's
statement was published there was mu-
sic in the Prohibition camp. The Gen
eral was charged with treachery and
with going over to the enemy. No
amount of explanation did any good.
He could not convince the members of
the party that he has been the leader of
for SO many years that he was only ad-
vocating what was best for the cause.
II wasn't the cause the Prohibition pol
iticians cared for. They wanted party
organization kept up for the notoriety
they got out of it. They would not be
conspicuous unless they had cam
paign of their own. It mattered moth
ing that the party in New Jersey owed
all its influence and success to Clinton
B. Fisk. When he ran for Governor
three years ago he polled the largest
vote any Prohibition candidate ever re-
ceived in this State or ever will receive.
Fisk's speeches and the active canvass
lie made saved the party from dissolu-
tion long ago. But ell this was forgot
ten. Other wouldbe leaders saw a
chance to make themselves prominent,
SO the old standard bearer was assailed.
Fisk soon discovered what it all meant.
He sized up the situation and conclud
ed he would have to abandon the step.
He was thoroughly disgusted with the
ingratitude shown by the men he had
pushed forward. He saw that political
greed and personal jealousy were bound
to wreck the party, at least so fer az
New Jersey was concerned. and he was
the wise man who crawled from under
in time. The position the General has
taken came to him gradually. Only
three weeks ago, in an interview in q
local newspaper, he said he was still a
Prohibitionist, and stood by the colors.
But he said it to divert suspicion. He
had then practically determined to cut
loose from the Third party, and either
be political rover for awhile or return
to the Republican party. He did not
hold to the impulse all at once, however.
He was persuaded that be ought to
make at least one more effort to beat a
little common sense into the party. So
he concluded to go to the Asbury Park
Convention and see what his influence
and record counted for. Meanwhile he
learned that fully half of the Prohibi-
tionists of the State agreed with him,
and great many delegates were not 60
ing to the convention at all.
General Fisk went to the convention.
It did not take him an hour to see how
unsatisfactory it was in every way.
Barely half of the delegates put in APP
pearance. OF those that were on hand
more than one. half were women. The
actual voters represented were small.
There was no strength in the gathering.
He also perceived that it was hostile to
him and his wishes. The men proposed
for Gubernatorial nomination were moi
men of influence nor especial ability
Brief interviews with some of the dele.
gates made Fisk tired and more dis
gusted and disheartened than ever.
And that is why he picked up his grip
sack and started for Michigan on the
eve of the Convention. He left quietly
and alone. Heretofore his appearance
at Asbury Park and Ocean Grove was
greeted with cheers and he was followed
around by band of admirers. Now
no one paid much attention to him, and
he had gone many miles before he was
missed. Whether he said anything be-
fore he left is not known. There is 9
rumor of just one remark he made to q
friend. He is reported to have said
that he had played the fool for foo
party long enough. At any rate. he
went, and it is extremely doubtful
whether he is ever seen again in Prohi
bltion councils.