The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-08-28
Mr.. Balderston's Address.

On the fourth page we publish an address
to the voters Of the County by George Bal
dersion, Chairman of the Prohibition party
County Committee, in which notice is given
that he intends to put up ticket and APP
peal to the voters for their support. Mr..
Balderston has played politics in this man
ner for quite number Of years, and though
the motives and the cause he pleads for are
good, it has become self evident fact that
the whole business has degeuerated into
little else than farce. The public have
declared in terms most emphatic that they
will not march 10 prohibition through that
party organization. This may be all very
naughtyo on the part Of the people, and they
ought to vote down whiskey by every tenn
perance man coming out of the old parties
and falling in with the prohibition party,
but-they won't do it. You can lead a
horse TO water but you can't make him
drink, is an old saying. When plan to
accomplish wished for and much needed
result, has failed and failed repeatedly and
continues 10 fail, it is the height of folly to
waste time and effort on the machine that
won't work, although it looks like piece
of.perfect workmanship, and ought, on
scientific principles. TO do all its builders
promise for it. The very fact that it won't
do it ought to satisfy any reasonable mind
that another plan will have to be tried.
This ticket which Mr.. Ralderston pro-
poses to set up will not amount to hill of
beans, and he knows it. If the farmers and
other influential citizens, when they meet
at Woodlawn next week deem it policy as
well as wise TO place = legislative ticket in
the field, there is little doubt but that it
could and would be elected.
COL Baine, who is second to no man
among the leaders Of the prohibition party
in one Of his lectures says:
twenty-five years ago fifteen States were
in favor Of prohibition. To day there are
three" In place Of advancing the cause Of
prohibition statistics seem to show that from
some cause or other the prohibition party as
at present organized is actually demoraliz-
ing it. Heroic voting and conscience voting
is very pretty sentiment, but if it don't
advance cause it is nothing better than
FOOLS play. Setting up the standard and
asking the regiment 10 come up TO it sounds
heroic, but if there is no regiment to march
up it is infinitely more sensible 10 fold up
the banner and lay il away till the regiment
is enlisted.
Since the prohibition party was formed a
great moral and political movement has
started which embraces in its sweep all that
the prohibition party has been aiming at,
but has done nothing to accomplish as the
results too plainly prove. 1t has never been
able to get out of prayer meeting, psalm
singing groove, and the people don't flock
to that, these degenerate days, TO any con-
siderable extent.
AS flo help knock its own brains out
son the silver knocker of its own door," as
the Irishman expressed the sentiment when
toasting his friend, the leaders of the party
attacked the financial policy of the farmers
and other reform associations and became a
partner In abuse with the two old parties,
embracing their financial policy and vir-
tnally declaring for the money aristocracy.
The finance plank in the platform adopt.
ed at Glyndon is an exact copy of the same
plank in the two old parties with different
arrangement in the wording, and yet Mr..
Balderston declares that that platform
"embraces every point that the Alliance
contends for" In place of this being the
fact it antagonizes the fundamental principle
ofthe Alliance, Grange and other labor
organizations, and joins hands with the two
old parties; and if there is anything that can
strengthen the power of the saloon, it is the
present financial policy which accepts its
money as revenue and bride. The present
political organization known as the prohi-
bition party is stranded on this gold bank,
and those who support It's policy are aiding
the saloon, unwittingly perhaps.