The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-05-05

Just 90. The leaders of that party
have shown large capacity in that direc-
tion for mauy years, and no amount of
discipline seems to be able to cure them
of their folly.
The Constitution, in its last issue, re-
turns to the charge Of Republican hypo-
crisy on the temperance question, and
sliDgs his epithets at them a. though he
was the most thorough going. consistent
moral man, If not even . aChristian, that
one could find in days journey, and ~
II the old mossbacked Democratic party
which he serves had an unimpeachsble
record for temperance and virtue. A
prominent Democrat has already an
nounced that one Of the principal argu-
ments to be used against the Republicans
in the coming campaign would be the
failure to pass the Temperance measures
which were before the Legislature. The
absnrdity of this charge must be obvious
TO every intelligent reader. but 70 refresh
our memories. let NJ review this portion
Of our political history. In the first ses-
sion Mr.. Young introduced e bill which
required all retail liquor dealers to give
bonds in the sum Of from $500 to 81 500
as security for all costs and tines under
the existing liquor laws. This bill re-
ceived afry-two affirmative votes. Of
which the Republicans cast forty-dve
and Democrats seven. On the local op-
tion bill the Republicans gave forty-nine
votes in favor and the Democrats four.
In tho second session, just closed. the
local option bill received. in the House,
forty y-six Republican and four Democratic
votes. Then came Q proposition to re-
enact the law Of 1869. giving villages and
cities the power TO legislate on the ques-
tion Of the liquor traffic, which received
forty Republican and one Democratic
vote. After this came bill to re-enact
the Adair law. which received forty
Republican votes and one Democratic.
A resolution, proposing to submit to the
people an amendment to the Constitution
embodying tax, license. local option and
prohibition. received sixty.two Republi-
can votes and sixteen Democratic. that
being majority. It thep went to the
Senate, receiving the vote Of every Re.
publican but one, every Democratic vote
being sgainst il and defeating It. The
Pond bill received In the Senate nineteen
Republican and Two Democratic votes,
that being majority; went to the House,
where It was defeated, ffty-one Republi-
cans voting for it, and not one Democrat
When the Democrats have had . major
ity and when they have had minority,
they have equally opposed Temperance
legislation. The local option law of 1869
was repealed BY Democratic Legisls-
ture. The Adair law was repealed by .
Democratic Legislature. Az rule. not
one in eight or ten Of that party have
ever supported any temperance measure
brought before them. On the other
hand, not over one in eight or ten Repub-
licans have opposed such legislation, and
those have been elected from the large
cities which were under the control Of
the liquor interest, and which, Of course,
took care to elect those who would repre- |
sent their wishes. II would have been |
possible to pass any one Of these meas- |
ures II the Democrats had given only
one-ffth Of their vote In favor Of them. |
The Temperance element among the Re-
publican members has never been strong
enough to pass such bills unaided, but
the Constitution charges them with dis
honesty and hypocrisy because. forsooth,
the party in all the moro advanced sec
tions Of the state advocate Temperance
measures and elect tempersnce men to |
the Legislature, and are not able to 90
cure = unanimous delegation in favor Of
legislation. For like rea-
son We might say that the editor Of the
Constitution was . hypocrite Of the
blackest hue for claiming to be tenn
perance man and in favor Of Temperance
when he supports political
party . large majority of which are
openly opposed TO Temperance. and nine
tenths Of whose Representative and
8enatos uniformly oppose every such
Wouldn't it be better for the
before calling attention to
he mote hat 10 In the eye OF the Repub-
lican party, to first cast out the beam
hat ID In tho eye Of the Democracyf
Butwe should not expect to persusde Tie
though We were able 70
pile arguments mountain high. 1t Il not
of the kind 70 be convinced Of anything
except that the Democracy want ONCE,
md such effort would be like the tradi-
sional casting of pearls before swine.
The Republicans, however, should be
made acquainted with the facts in this
and able to meet such
Wholesale denunciation and slander.
We make no pretention to exalted vir-
me, nor do We endeavor to get credit for
{ BY denoun6ing ~ hypocrites our neigh
,ors who are ten times % worthy - We.
Z the Constitution wants to get credit
'or sincerity In its advocacy Of temper
Iucs principles and make 1t appear rea-
Ionable to brand the Republicans -
lypocritical on this question, 1t ought to
10 little missionary work among the
Of. the Democratic party. In
tead of wasting words In abuse of Re-