The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-07-06
The Temperance Campaign.

The temperance agitation is tax
ing on peculiar form this year.
II is becoming q somewhat infiu.
entail factor in politics.
In North Carolina, party lines are
about obliterated, the sole issue now
being on the temperance question:
Democrats and Republicans are about
equally divided, some for prohibition
and some against it. A vote is to be
taken next Fall to ratify the action
OF the Legislature Of last winter in
passing a psohibitory, law, and the
canvass is becoming exciting.
So also in Ohio, the temperance ell.
ement is regarded as the balance Of
power in politics. Foster is drinking
with those who drink, and going dry
with those whose habit it is 10 90
dry. The Republicans are really
more concerned about the drift of the
temperance party in that State than
any other feature of their campaign.
Temperance reformers are really
becoming practical enough to make
themselves a power in politics. Ev-
en- right here in our own State they
have concluded to quit beating the
air and get down to business. There
was more of business about the Con.
vention which concluded its sessions
in this city yesterday, than in any
temperance convention we have seen
sit in the State. True, there were
impracticables among them who got
in their work as usual on the wildcat
scheme Of prohibition. But,the bns.
mess element, while not antagoniz.
ing prohibition, propose, in quiet
way to shape their campaign in this
State after the fashion of the Tenn.
perance Leaguein New York. They
will organize, not so much for the
purpose or with the expectation Of
having an independent majority par.
ty Of their own, as of holding the
whip over the political parties, com,
polling them to nominate temper
ahce men Tor office, and pledging the
members of the temperance organin-
tion to vote only with that party, If.
respective of politics, which puts up
temperance men for candidates.
They hope to secure enough men
from out of both political parties who
will pledge themselves to act upon
this line of policy, making politics
secondary to temperance reform, so
that the temperance vote will be able
to throw the result Of any election in
favor of that party which conforms
most nearly to the aims and ideas Of
temperance organization. If they can
secure 10000 unconditional pledges
to such policy, as they claim, they
will become at least q respectable
power in the politics of the State
which will compel recognition from
party leaders and party conventions.
Political parties are not governed
nova days by principles, favoritism,
or preferences Of any kind, so much
as by the chances of victory. When
any element of society is strong
enough to offer votes which NAV
change the result one way or the 9th.
er, it matters not what its principles
or purposes as a society may be, it
will get the politicians down OH theis
knees begging for favor, and compel
ling unwilling concessions of any
character in exchange for votes. II
is entirely practicable for the tenn,
perance issue to complicate politics
in way to which one party is just as
susceptible as another. In North
Carolina the Democrats in the Legis-
lature passed the law for the prohibi.
tory amendment, and the Republi.
cans are taking advantage of the sit
uation to effect a fusion with the lio,
our interests to carry The State. In
Ohio the Republican Legislature
Shirked the demand of the temper.
ance people for prohibitory legisla.
ton, and the Democrats are now
SN"'tiH5 WIZ Veul PeIdlCe eleuleHt 10
overthrow the Republicans. In each
case politics is seen to be secondary
consideration with the temperance
element and temperance is equally a
secondary consideration with the pol.
ltlcians who only want votes.
A very distinguished and far see.
ing statesman remarked short time
since, that the temperance party of
the country would give the casting
vote for the next President-they
would not nominate him, but would
determine which of the nominees of
the political parties should be chosen.
And the signs Of the times indicate
that they will at least become more
formidable power in politics than
they have heretofore been. Organi.
cation and well defined policy is a
power which can always be depend
ed upon for effective work. Wheeling
Register.