The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-04-03
Friday, April 5, 1891.
The Prohibition Advocate, paper pub

11UNy9 APAAA ~
The Prohibition Advocate, a paper pub
lished 10 Baltimore, complains of a lack of
courtesy on the part of the MIDLAND JOUR-
NAL in not exchanging, which was an oyer
sight that postal card from the former
Office would at any time have remedied.
This Advocate of prohibition, whose good
intentions and name will have to be char
itably accepted for the performance, garbles
a few extracts from the MIDLAND jour
NAILS comments on the Voices despaiiing
article, pointing out the failure Of the party's
methods which have been tried, and sue
ceeds much better in demonstrating the
EDITORS inability 10 comprehend the point Of
our argument, than ability to advance the
cause he thinks, or seems to think, he is
assisting. Answer the fool according to his
folly, the wise man says, but not by return
ing a foolish answer. Any one may see
who has "gumption" enough to 60 in out Of
the rain, that the two old parties are, and
have been, since the last Presidential cleo
tion, making shuttle cock of the prohibi-
tion party, and using it to blackmail the
saloon. They are anxious to get up prohi-
bitlon amendments in any State, raid the
saloon for funds to grease their party
workers. by threats of turning loose the
prohibition party on it, if the money isn't
forthcoming to fight that party with, and
when they have managed to plumber the
whiskey men-no great crime by the way
and defeat the amendment, it is all charged
up TO the prohibition party, and word passed
ronnd that ''public sentiment is opposed to
prohibition.
The fact is that an adventurous band,
filed with confidence of the mate virtue Of
the average man, has undertaken to beat the
two old parties, hoping that when their
methods had been exposed and the vicious
nature of the whiskey traffic laid bare, that
voters from the old parties would flock to
the standard Of the little party, till like
Peter the Hermit it would lead hosts
against the vandal rum, which is deiilipg
the home This hope has not materialized,
and those who have kept close watch Of the
events must see that there is no promise
that il will. In fact the trend of events is
away from the little organization but not
away from prohibition.
That papers Of the class to which the
Advocate belongs do not comprehend these
facts is not surprising, bat the Voice GER
tainly must. II has supplied the organiz-
ing power, the enthusiasm, and largely
acted as the financial head, not only by
devising ways and means to fill the depleted
treasury, but aiding by personal contribu-
tions 10 the funds. The party as politica
machine on its present system IS largely a
matter of bread and butter, to the Voice.
The publishers of that paper have expended
large sums in exploring the country, and
making typographical map of the whole
field, and naturally feel reluctant TO aban-
don the plan of battle WHICH has cost SO
much labor and exEendie of brain and
money. All that is%anting to draw the
campaign 10 successful and glorious close is
recruits, voters. The appeals to conscience,
the exposure of party villainy and saloon
brutality have been in vain. The outlook
discovers no signs of promise, but on the
contrary new complications which have
arisen on the political field, are drawing
away, and are likely to continue to draw,
from the prohibition party as distinct
political party.
But we have no expectation that the lead
ers will reform their lines or change their
tactics. They will continue TO take the
field under their old party flag and endeavor
to lead charge against the combined forces
of the two old parties, which will end in
the formers total annihilation, if not in
next falls campaign, certainly in that Of 1872.
The liquor power is one of the protected
monopolies of this government and paid 107
millions for the privilege of rol,bing the
people Of ii hundred millions last year; the
manufacturing monopoly for the privilege
Of collecting from the people sum that no
statistician will ever estimate, and the
money monopoly have paid simply nothing
for the privilege of plundering the indus
trial classes of this nation in the last decade
Of hundred thousand millions. These three
of.springs of the same parent, children of
The same birth, and the saloon will not be
beaten while these two strong brothers
stand on either hand to support it.
Under existing conditions it is utterly
hopeless for the prohibition party to draw
sufficient votes 10 it to make it visible as a
political factor in the future. The saloon
has not injured it by its brutality, nor have
the old parties by their political villany,
but it simply lacks the elements of political
growth. 1t does not draw the masses. 1t
never had hold on them. Without votes
il is farce 10 place candidates in the field.
Other reform organizations embrace the
principle of prohibition and more. As a
political party the prohibition party is only
in the way. 1t has ceased to be able to
advance the reform. The saloon is recover
ing The territory that was wrested from il
and which the prohibition party volunteered
to hold and occupy.
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To persons not easily nauceated
by the repetition of falsehoods and