The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-06-20
AS OTHERS SEE US.
DIR. John Bascom Replies to DIR. Way.
lands False Charges.

1t may be fairly doubted whether our
real need is to see ourselves as others see
US. Certainly to Prohibitionists Just
now the view SO obtained would be any
thing but stimulating. If it is possible
for man to regard himself too favor
ably, it is equally possible for others to
look upon him too disparagingly. When
ever man or party comes under heavy
moral pressure, half their power of en-
durance is shown in refusing to accept
the averted face of friends, and the vio-
lent detraction Of enemies. A favoring
view has in it cQArage and persistence; a
submissive one, weakness, indecision and
failure.
A short time since an article appeared
in The Independent, written by Dr.
Wayland, of The National Baptist en-
titled, ga Man Without Party" The
writer, evidently interested in temper
ance, having given reasons why he could
not sustain the Republican nor the Dem
ocratic party, turned his attention, in
conclusion, to the Prohibition party. He
says of it: "The tone of its leaders and
of its organs is proscriptive, abusive, I'M
just and unchristian." These are hard
words, and unless the gun shotted with
them delivers freely at the muzzle it
must deliver disastrously at the breech.
l have no doubt the writer thought they
went straight to the mark. My opinion
is that the recoil in them is far more
dangerous than the discharge. I have
hpl 4 - IL
and the tone of the leaders and organs of
the Prohibition party-always bearing
in mind that from the nature of the case
their duty is one of attack and exposure
of hating measures and inadequate
means-seems to me, in business, for
bearance and good temper, commenda-
ble-not perfect, but commendable.
DR.. Wayland regrets that the Third
party puts up its own candidates when
perfectly unexceptional men are in the
field; that its leaders denounce local OBJ
ton; that they denounce restrictive
measures; that they regard the closing
of two-thirds of the saloons as no ad-
vantage. / cannot think these state
ments, just as they stand, quite true, and
yet there is color of truth in all of
them. The reason why Prohibitionist
is not jubilant over the closing of two
thirds of the saloons-a statement very
extravagant as applied to high license
is because the other third sell all, or
more than all, the liquor of the original
number. The apparent gain is an illu-
sion, and, therefore, the man who is
planning night and day how to do it,
not how not to do it, is profoundly Of
Tended by another and most wretched
makeshift.
The Prohibitionist is not displeased
with local option in and of itself. He dis
likes it becauseit has been found and will
increasingly be found, wholly inadequate
for the end in view. For my own part |
have put myself to much inconvenience
in supporting local and restraining laws,
and have usually found those who are
ready to aid the work Third party Pro
hibitionists. have learned the entire
insuficiency and feebleness of these re-
strictive measures in an active support of
them. That is the accusation we bring
against them. They are fitted to satisfy
easy going temperance men, and to
postpone all stringent, adequate law
The difference between the two wings
of the temperance army is one of strin-
gency.
This is especially seen in the sincere
objection SO often made, and made with
such supreme confidence in its goodness
that Prohibitionists will not support
temperance Republicans. Waving the
question whether this action on their
part is wise OF u,lwise, certainly there
is nothing strange or obscure about it.
AS the Prohititionist views the case, the
old parties have been tried again and
again. The measures they propose are
deceptive, or deceptively enforced.
The election of this or that Republi-
can does not alter the general bearing of
the question. The permanence of the
Third party alters all things. A temper
ance man and /; temperance measure
have been the bait by which the party
hook has been covered for years and
years. Are we to be reproached for not
greedily swapping at it once more? The
huntsman might as well say, "Why, ]
have prepared my trap just as 1 have
prepared it for twenty years; what
parverse old fool of a fox this is that he
won't be caught by it," Such objections
urged against Prohibitionists show that
those who make them have not fathom-
ed the earnest temper of the men they
so readily weigh and condemn. Has not
the time come in which such chaff as
this should no longer be in the air?
draw much consolation from acrimo-
NOUS and absurd attacks. There is in
them a safe, double inference. Our
work is telling; our force is felt; it must
be met. On the other hand, sound rea-
sons are not at hand. There is safety
only in misapprehending and misrender-
ing the facts. 1t seems to me that the
Woman's Christian Temperance union
and the friends of temperance who are
bearing the heat and burden of the day
are entitled to the beatitude of Christ:
BLESSED are ye when men shall revile
you, and prosecute you and shall say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for
my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding
glad; for great is your reward in heaven;
for 50 prosecuted they the prophets
which were before you."-Union Signal.
Strange Stiffness.