The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-29
NEW POLITICAL ISSUE In THE WEST.
Smash.Up of the Radicals the Prohibition
Liquor Law Dodge-The Germans 10 the

Smash-Up of the Radicals on the Prohibition
Liquor Law D0dge-The Germans 10 the
Rescue.
From the St. Paul lMlnn.l Pioneer democratic,
Dec. rs
The temperance issue In Illinois Is rapidly becom-
Ing very important element In politics. The
Bloomington temperance convention adopted EN-
Gent measures for the organization OF prohibitory
liquor law party. They claim $4,000 or 90 900 votes
to start WITH ana that there l50 600 temperance
voters IN the state who win be at once attached
TO their organization. With this commencement
they do not doubt that they Will achieve substan-
tial triumph n that State ut no distant day. AS an
onset TO this movement, u meeting OF Germans was
held IN Chicago recently in which they accepted the
temperance Issue, with many denunclations of the
0riglnators OF the temperance movement, and in
general spirit OF characteristic earnestness. There
Is, therefore, In process Of formation in that State
prohibiory liquor law party and an antprohlbitory
liquor law party in addition to the democratic and
radical parties as they exist OF present.
ton TO revise the constitution of Illinois has been
called, and the election Of delegates composing 1t
will be held few months hence. II Is probable
that at that election the first array OF these new
parties VIII take place, and the complexion OF the
convention VIII be determined, TO q great extent,
by this action.
1t Is very probable that both OF these new parties
Will draw the greater proportion OF their numbers
from the radical party. That party has made so
many brazen pretensl0ns to the possession OF all the
morality and humanity that 1t has attracted the pro-
hbItory liquor law people to its ranks and it has
continued to deude them with the promises that It
will legsate on their principles it the
power 10 do SO, and after the settlement OF the
slavery question. In Illinois, also, the majority OF
the Germans are radicals, having been deluded by
that parys false professions OF devotion to freedom,
and the anti-prohlbtory party Will be composed
mainly Of people OF that nationality. The radicals
have been trying TO carry water on both shoulders
| and are likely to lose both loads.
The antiprohbitory party Will, OF course seek an
alliance with the democrats, who have always OPP
posed sumptuary legislation. The democratic party
does not believe In laws for the regulation OF lndl-
vidual morals individual opinions beyond what Is
absolutely necessary to prevent and punish crime.
There are as many hard drinkers among the radicals
ms there are among the democrats, and more secret
drinkers. But the democrats do not seek to
control mems appetltes by law nor to regu-
late individual conduct so far as 1t Ii
not I'm violation OF the recognized rights OF
Others. This party principle is the groundwork or
democratic opposition TO the probitory liquor law;
and the opponents OF such law viii md that In the
democratic ranks they can most etfectuaY labor to
prevent Its enactment. SO the Illinois temperance
movement Is one OF great political Importance. It
Will the radical party TO lose two classes OF It's
supporters-the pronbltory liquor law people, who
will form party OF their own, and the anti-pro-
hiblt0ry liquor law people, who will come over
openly and In q body to the democracy. The in
iuence and the movement itself viii extend to other
States, and we should not be surprised to see poll
tics I'm Minnesota shaken up from the bottom at no
distant day on this subject.