Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-20

The new National yon-Pxrtisan W.
c. T. L., /. receiving hearty endorse
ments from many Of the best and most
earnest temperance advocates In the
country, A. We fully expected 1t would
Mr.. Phinney, President Of the new or
zsnization, has received the following
letter from ex-President Fairehild Of
Oberlin College:
The movement for the organization Of
the women Of the country upon a non
partisan basis for Christian temperance
work IL In accordance with my judg-
menf, and commands my sympsthies- /
zee little encouragement at present for
work upon any other basis. In this Geld
there IL abundant room for effective
work. and am glad that there are those
ready To enter IL. The situation calls for
much patience and grace There will De
Q temptation To waste strength upon re.
grets and recrimiaations and riyairiez-
The organization that can go forward In
the work without being led aside any
o. these temptations. or be1ilderfnents
cannot fall TO prove blessing to the
country in this emergency.
10 a recent number Of the Northwest
ern CongregatioDalist writer makes
the point-which we have more than
once emphasized In the Icader-that the
life has been taken out Of the Temperance
movement by the partisan course Of the
old W. G. T. L. lie says:
Ever since the union committed itself
10 the third party movement, many Of
the most earnest workers la its ranks,
and the great majority Of Temperance
people outside Of II who sympathize
with 10 10 its work, have anticipated such
a new organization many have even
PRAYED for IL. They have been 40 ham
pered and pest.rei. in their attempts to
unite the temperance forces and carry
on aggressive work, by third party ad
voeates sent out In the name Of the W
{. r. e., that they have seen no way
whereby the work could be carried on
again tremendously and with Old time
yigor and enthusiasm, except As they
could unite on non-partlsan basis.
Women, with no other claim to the
confidence and hearing Of the people than
the fact that they were representatives
Of the W. e. r. T., have pushed their
way Into our churches, Only TO advocate
third party politics and to denounce all
who could not see TIN. wisdom Of voting
with this party.
And what has been the result Of all
this partisan pressures surely this :;
The spirit Of di.sension has run through
our temperance ranks, all enthusiasm In
the reform has been killed. and all ag-
gressive power paralyzed The present
apathy Ia the temperance ranks through
out our State and nation il largely due,
IA it seems 10 me, 10 this partisan debate.
There il a great deal Of truth In that.
There can be no general and successful
temperance movement until ii is under
taken by an organization that can appeal
10 men OF all parties, aud that il at en-
NIFTY with no party. The Old W. c. T..
L. has engaged in such bitter warfare
against the old parties a. to utterly des-
troy Its influence for good with nine
teuths OF the voters of this couatry !; and
II il, therefore, incapable of inaugural
Ing or conducting a temperance revival
The new NOn-rartisau ". {. L, | is in
position to address its appeals to men
OF all parties with certainty of respect
full and even kindly attention, and has a
career of great usefulness open before
it CisueidHd Ledti.r.