The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-09-08
Ohio Politics.

Under the above caption a writer in |
The National View, Greenback paper |
published at Washington, D. c., thus
discourses on the political and temper
ance question of the gubernatorial can
vass in Ohio:
sThe prohibition convention which
nominated State ticket in Ohio, was
not political party but was made up of
dissenters from all the political parties
of the State, composed unquestlonabiy
of men who are of honest convictions,
and jealous in their efforts to effect
reform in the State. The question
wish to discuss, and mean to do it in
candor, is the political expediency of
their present political action. A poll
tical party may be and generally is,
founded upon principles, but its work
ings, as the term itself implies, is from
policy.
Chow does the question stand in Ohio?
Certain laws have been enacted, from
time to time, regulating the liquor
traffic. Temperance people consider
these laws insufficient for the protection
of the people from the encroachment
and ruinous effects of the liquor traffic.
In this respect 1 agree and sympathize
with them.
s'The leaders of the Republican party
claim that under the Constitution of the
State, further legislation is not expedi-
ent, and in the platform for the present
campaign, propose to refer the question
TO the people a. constitutional question.
The Democratic party assumes to do the
same thing.
cat the coming election either the Re-
publican or Democratic ticket will prob
ably be elected. The Prohibition ticket
will be lost, and those who vote 1t will
be placed in q hopeless minority in so
far as future legislation is concerned, L
say hopeless, because having worked
and voted to defeat the dominant party,
whichever may gain the election, it can
not ask or expect or hope to be consider
ed as a party in the Legislature, it has
opposed. In pursuing this line of argu-
ment am aware that shall be charged
with aiming to sink the will of minor
ity in that of the majority. This charge
is always made, but deny it.
ssI say again the object of party or
ganization is to carry elections, whereby
set of political principles can be form
ed into laws, and this is what the tenn
perance people of Ohio aim at. The
question now is, how shall they best
and soonest accomplish itP My advice
is emphatic and unqualified: vote with
one of the political parties of your State
in the coming election, and by casting
your vote with and for the candidates
of that party secure their election, an6
thereby create a demand upon tha
party which cannot be ignored or resist
ed in its future legislation. 1t is pro-
bsble that the prohibition vote cast with
either the Republican or Democratic
party will carry the election of tha
party. Which shall it be?
eff a canvass of the supporters of thu
prohibition convention be made, 1 vent
ure the assertion that more than two
to one of them will be found to hay'
been Republicans. Further than this
it is an apparent fact that more thai
, two-thirds of all the temperance voter
, of the country are found habitualll
voting with the Republican party.
ssNearly all legislation in all tn
Northern and Western States which ha
been enacted in favor of prohibition, o
of other measures looki ng to the regula
ton of the liquor traffic, hasbeen enact
ed by Republican Legislatures.
"In view of these and all other facts
for the Democratic party of Ohio +
assume the role of prohibition party
5 would be sublimely ridiculous. Th
great mass of temperance men IN Obi
, are actually Republicans. Let the pre-
o hibition vote be cast for the Republican
t ticket and that ticket elected. Prohibl
e tionists can then demand of the Legisls
s ture such legislation as the Constitutio
T of the State admits, in the interests {
!. sobriety and morality.
/ "If the Constitution is defective, the
e the temperance men and women ca
r demand of the Lawmakers that som
e constitutional amendments shall be sui
/. mitted to the voters of the State, regulai
Is ing future legislation. Legislators dar
I not and will not ignore the reasonabl
). demands of the voters, who are foun
y in majority; and Governors and otht
State officials will not be likely to dii
II regard the wishes of the majority
1t voters who elected them.
"a ssThis view of the political situatio
in Ohio deem wise, philosophic, an
n polite, and If indorsed, will cradle II
T. minority (if the temperance people al
m in the minority to effect some progrel
- under the State administration now
" be elected.
10 "On the other hand, to persist In rul
le ming prohibition ticket. in oppositio
II to party ticket which will be electe
is to indefinitely postpone all possib
n legislative action concerning the liqut
g, traffic, and thereby enable tie oppos