Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-11-19
Prohibition a Ruinous Policy

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In casting about for the causes of tn,
recent defeat of the Republican party
the man who keeps his eyes open viii
not be long in finding one which ha:
contributed as much as all other agen.
cies combined to the success'o the De
mOcracy, and that cause is the mon
strOus absurdity of Prohibition. More
than third-term prattle, more than
Butlerisni, more than Press Gag and
Credit-Mohilier jobs and Sanborn con-
tracts, more than Grangerism or ans
other ism. Prohibition has steadily
and swiftly wrought the defeat of the
Republican party, and placed its OppO-
nents in power in every State where it
has made political issue. Its mis-
chievous influences com menced in the
October elections For some time pre-
viOus, the States of Ohio and Indiana
had been the center of the most active
efforts of the Prohibitie nists, which re-
solved themselves into the shape oi
oman crusades, and we're attended
with the most reckless invasions of pri
waite rights. Taking advantage of the
timidity of the Republican leaders, the
Prohibition leaders not only based
their agitatiOas upon moral, but pOliti-
cal grounds, and gave the Republican
party to understand that if prohibition
was not indorsed in its platforms, they
would withdraw and form third par
ty. Taking advice of their fears, it was
done and the process of disintegration
commenced atonce. Temperance Dem
Ocrats, seeing that there was now a
chance for the success of their party,
gave up their prohibition ideas for the
sake of that success, careless what be-
came of temperance so long as the par
ty once more got control of the offices
and spOils, from which it had been kept
so many years. In the other direction,
these sumptuary clauses in the plat
forms rapidly thinned the Republican
ranks. Thousands of Republican sa-
loon-keepers, Republican brewers and
vendors, and Republican consumers of
beer and wines, of foreign descent, re-
garded this unwrse action of the party
as direct personal blow at them, and
they at once leagued themselves with
the Democracy in contest for personal
rights, which they consider as of more
consequence than the triumph of the
Republican party in the 'Off-year."
The demand made of them was not
only unwise and absurd, but it was i'm
pertinent. 1t was not only that they
should stop drinking liquor, but that
they should stop drinking wines and
beer, cider, and any other beverages
more stimulating than water. 1t was
not only that they stop drinking on
Sunday, but that they should stop
drinking every day and night of the
week. 1t was, not only that their busi-
ness should cease one day in the week,
but it must be stopped entirely by the
force of law. Rather than yield to this
dictation, the anti-prohibitiOn element
Withdrew from the Republican party,
not to remain passive as-it might have
done had it been only, a political issue
in question, but to, place itself in direct
and fight for its rights in
the ranks of the enemy and under a
foreign flag. 1t was not a trihing Sc
cession. Its extent is indicated in the
diminution of the Republican vote.
Every saloon has a radius of powerful
influence, a strong and active cOnstitu-
ency, both transient and regular, W hich
is as constant and faithful in its service
to the saloon as the saloon Is to it; and
this power is reinforced by national
customs, habits of life, and social preju-
diceS and .conventiOnalities which are
still stronger. The Republicans went
into the contest, therefore, with no out
side help They could only rely upon.
and the result, of course,
was their defeat by overwhelming
odds. Its influence did not stop there.
1t set wave in motion which swept
over the whole country and left no
spots untouched, except those where
the folly of prohibition was not thrust
upon the people. In Massachusetts, the
lesson of October was emphasized with
disastrous results. Prohibition was
made clean, square issue, not only by
in the platform of the
Republican party, but by the personal
assurance of Gov. Talbot, that, if elect
ed, he would force it to the uttermost
extent, although the rural districts had
suffered well-nigh intOlerable
burdens from its partial enforcement,
and the whole State had been scandal
lied by the briberies and eorruptiOEs of
the State Constabulary, who were ap-
pointed to execute the odious and arbi-.
trary measure. 1t is folly to assert that
the Republican majority is lost in Mas
The majority of that party
only used the Democratic party as the
broom with which to sweep out the
peStilent nuisance of coercive prOhibi-
ton, aid it has been done thoroughly.
The party in that Slate has been swept
and garnished. ... f-,-..r..... ze'fi'f |
1t is almost superhuous to moralizeI
upon these facts, The election tables
of October and November are silent but
proofs of the reckless and
egregious blunder which the Republi-
can leaders have permitted themselves
to be dragooned into making, and, if
any further proof of this sort is needed,
it may be found in abundance in the
political records of Chicago during the
past two or three years. The only
safety for the party is to let sumptuary
and can not be made party principle.
If it is made law it can not be en-
forced. In Wisconsin, Iowa, Vermont.
Rhode Island, Nebraska, wherever the
party has ignored and re-
fused to have anything to do with this
folly, ii has retained its power. To per-
sist in bolstering up this mischievous
and insane movement any longer is
simply suicidal. Prohibition must be
prohibited in the Republican party, if
il seeks for success fenuslf .r>t
y Getting Even with Him.
An Irish fellOw-citizel called at ihe
post-office. Amy Ietther for O'Hoola-
yan!' Which of them?' Amy of
Ihim.' we can't give out letters that
your name?' None Of
your business fwhat my name is-II
want letther.' I'VE can't tell wheth-
or there is any letter for You without