The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1881-08-04
The Ohio Republicans and the Tenn.
perance Question.

Mr.. Levi Mills, in declining the Tenn
perance nomination for Attorney Cen
eral, says George K Nash, the Repub-
lican nominee for the same office, Z" Is a
sound temperance man in sentiment, a
total abstainer in his habits, and in every
sense worthy of the suffrages of the
Temperance people of the State" 1t
may not have occurred to MIR. Mills that
he was "piliug it on too thick" Re
publican candidates for State offices are
anxious to get the temperance vote, and
will be duly thankful if they do, but
they do not want their records and per-
sonal habits too closely scrutinized or
published Take, for instance, Mr.. Fos-
ter, the head of the ticket. He sets
the example for obscuriug the main
point. The nearest approach we have
to certificate of abstinence on his part
is the tolerably well-attested statement
that he never invited his Private Secre-
tary to take a drink. He should be
dragged out and compelled to take a
definite stand before the minor charac-
ters in the cast are overhauled. The
averment that Mr.. Nash is total alb
stainer" may give that gentlemen much
trouble. A great many people will wait
with anxiety for practical demonstra-
ton. When Mr.. Nash comes to Hamilton
County in the interest of his candidacy,
and circulates in the precincts where the
exhilarating amber flows as innocently
and in as great profusion as water at
Sunday-school picnic or lemonade at
circus, it is hardly probable that Mr..
Mills would agree that Mr. Nash should
avail himself of the exceptions implied
L. 4 1r,,,
There are too many complications in
this business, and radical means of set
tlement should be introduced. The Re-
publican party having long claimed to
be the only party OF moral attributes
and civilization, an earnest appeal was
made to the Republican Legislature last
winter for practical temperance legisla-
ton. ALI degrees and phases of the tenn
perance element joined in movement
which never had a parallel in zeal and
activity. Nothing was accomplished.
The Goyernnr,- -whn is chiefly RESPONSE
BILE for the Republican majority in the
Legislature, has wabbled and lodged,
and refused to go on record. He looks
askance at the "hquor interest" and
cringes. The Republican State Conven-
ton offered no consolation in its plat
form. 1t merely postponed considera
ton of the temperance question three
or four years. Still the Republican
managers go on begging for the temper
ance vote, and put forward political
shysters to capture Temperance Conven-
tions. The Republicans annually boast
that the temperance people will squirm
and kick early in the campaign, but will
get into line under the lash by the time
| of the October election and vote the
Republican ticket. While the Republi-
can leaders refuse to act in behalf OF
temperance principles, they are domi.
neering and impudent in their demand
for temperance votes. Now this matter
is getting very hot. The Republican
candidates, while they are claiming the
temperance vote, should be willing to
answer fully, and without equivocation
or reserve, few leading questions. The
leaders of the cold-water movement cal
formulate very interesting catechism
and Messrs. Foster, Richards, Long
worth, Nash, Turney and Paul woult
constitute decidedly interesting ant
talented class. In fact, they are the
only refuge of the Republican party OF
current question. The party ha
failed, through its Legislature ant
through its State Convention, to take
position on question concerning which
much was expected of them. If tn
candidates do not come out strong tn
opportunity will be forever lost.-Cal
ciranati Enquirer.