Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-03-11
Disturbing Elements.


clan nowadays is anything but an
enviable one. The lesson of independ-
ence that the mass of voters have
learned in the past few years, make
them anything but pleasant subjects
for manipulation. Two years ago the
liberals unceremoniously thrust them
selves into the field, SCATTERING the old
Democracy beyond redemption and
giving the Republicans scare from
which they have not yet recovered.
Following them came the Changers,
and Notwithstanding their repeated
declaration of non-political intentions
they have seriously disturbed the
even tenor of party politics, and
made the couches of political
leaders anything but a bed OF
roses. And now come the Tenn
perance Crusaders to still further
complicate the already intricate prob
lem of how to steer the party ships.
Outside of Ohio where the crusade
first began, ~ has not taken on pro-
portions sufficiently portentous to Sc
riously disturb the politicians, but
there is no telling to what an extent
o great popular furore like this is like
ly to spread, and although the leaders
in the movement earnestly strive to
unite religious denominations, and to
steer clear of politics, the politicians
of Ohio already scent danger in the
breeze, and see that whatever the in
tentions of those engaged, it cannot be
without political effect. The Cincin-
natl Commercial says that the
crusade is already making the politi-
cious very uneasy, and that the pro-
hibition question is certain to enter
largely into the State canvass next
Fall and adds, "Whether it is to be
fought out on larger field in the
Fall, and to be forced into the front
along with the Granger movement,
remains to be seen. If, however, it
does enter the canvass with other
questions that are demoralizing to
party discipline, we may fairly antici-
pate campaign of more glorious UNI
certainties than we have known since
the breaking up of the old Wing and
Know Nothing organizations twenty
years ago." Nothing has yet trans
pired to indicate how the subject will
be handled by the existing parties.
The Changers have to be sure, given
it formal endorsement but they do
not claim to be party. 1t is often
said that "this thing will break up
the Republican party if it goes on
much longer" but on the other hand
the leading Democratic paper of the
State looks with disfavor on the whole
movement. 1t can no longer be de-
MED that it has become very formida-
BILE. Hundreds of saloons have been
temporarily and many permanently
closed. A great many dealers have
gone out Of the business, and the de-
mand for all kinds of liquors has been
greatly reduced. How the fight is go
ing, can hardly be guessed at until
the opposition has been organized. At
present there is no community of ac-
ton and each individual dealer is left
to his own devices. But this cannot
last long. Meetings have already been
held, and though nothing as yet has
been done, the danger is too menac-
ing to long permit such inactivity.
In this State, though some feeble eff
forts have been made to initiate the
crusade, it does not seem likely that
we shall have to face the question inn
mediately, but the disturbing effect
such great popular movements have
on National politics and the immense
interests that in our State are involved
in the settlement of the liquor ques-
ton, makes it matter of solicitude