New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-02
TEMPERANCE IN POLITICS.

The Republican party of New-York was
defnitively organized in State Convention at
Syracuse in the Autumn of 1856; where many
excellent Republicans insisted that IL should
insert a Temperance or Liquor-Prohibition
plank in its platform. The subject was fully
and fairly discussed, and the Convention
decided, by a large majority, that it would do
no such thing, but leave every Republican free
to think, feel and act, on the subject as to him
should seem good. A great many were dis
satisfied with this vote; but each succeeding
year las strengthened our conviction that it
was right.
The vote of last Wednesday at Syracuse,
whereby Senator 0'Donnels resolve was
shelved, was in strict accordance with that
original decision. 1t did not condemn the pro-
iect; it simply pronounced it out of place in
Republican State Convention. The Republican
party includes nearly all the Prohibitionists in
the State but it also embraces many who are
not Prohbtionists, nor committed to Total Alb
stinence in any form. We have acquired no
right to make these say what they do not be-
lieve, nor to expel them from the party by
interpolating into its creed an article which
is repugnant to their views. AS citizens,
we may favor Total Abstinence; as
Republicans, we simply leave every one
free to favor it or not, as his own judg-
ment shall dictate. We. who are Total Alb
stnents and Prohibtionists. claim and exercise
our right to act in accordance with our own
convictions without prejudice to our standing
as Republicans; others, who differ radically
with us on Liquor questions, have a perfect
right so to differ yet be recognized and re-
BOD nil Of ri of
Republicanism. On all questions affecting
points outside of the Republican creed, each
of us is law unto himself, and no one, no Or
ganization, has any right to dictate to the
humblest Republican what he shall or shall
not believe, how he shall or shall not act, re-
specting Total Abstinence or Liquor Prohibi-
ton.
There are portions of our State where the
public judgment favors a Prohibition of the
Traffic in Intoxicating Beverages. There are
others in which the slightest practical restraint
of that Traffic is widely resented and iRpa-
tiently endured. The party, as such, could take
no ground regarding the Liquor Traffic which
would not ALLEVIATE thousands from its support.
So it leaves each free to judge and act for
himself. Hence the vote given in Convention
last Wednesday.
We are quite aware that the Liquor interest
always did and always will regard the Repub-
lican or any kindred party with distrust, if not
positive, emphatic aversion. 1t does this in
New-Jersey, where no embarrassment to Liquor
selling is legally interposed, as readily and
generally as in New-York OF Massachusetts.
Whoever seeks to live by pandering to the
baser appetites and passions-whether Gam
bling, Lechery, or love of Strong Drink-takes
to Sham Democracy as instnctvely as duck
does to water. Thus it ever was and ever
will be. Though the Republican party should
proclaim itself as devoted to Free Rum as to
Free Soil, at least nineteen Of every twenty
Lquor-dealers would oppose it as bitterly as
they now do. A party that is based on
moral principle and devoted to the
uplifting ot degraded Humanity cannot
commend itself to the confidence of
those who live by dragging 1t down.
1t has pleased some Republicans, mainly of Ger
man birth, to abandon and oppose their party
because other Republicans saw fit to act on
their own convictions Of duty and public
policy with regard to the Liquor Traffic.
These Germans virtually say to u.s. "You
"must act on the Liquor Question, not as you
"but as zoe think best or we will vote against
"the Republican party" This seems to us un-