The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-10-04
THE DIFFERENCE.


The Germans profess to take deep and
abiding interest in the anti-prohibiton
question. In their estimation to pass penal
statutes against the manufacture, sale or
drinking Of beer, wine or other alcoholic
drinks is the essence of tyranny and
trampling on every semblance OF personal
rights. 1t may be right for man to say
what his horse, or COW, or ass, or dog shall
eat or drink, for they are inferior animals;
but tor one man to say to another You
shall eat or drink this; you shall not cat
or drink that" is such au assumption OF
masterhood as no freeman can submit to.
This is not only the German idea, but the
idea, we hope of vast majority Of free
Americans.
Yet there has OF late arisen a political
party in this country who take their stand
on this tyrranical ground and demand the
adoption of constitutions and laws to pre-
scribe not only what men shall eat and
drink, but to forbid, under severe pains
and penalties, the manufacture and sale of
certain articles which all the world aside
from themselves regards as legitimate ar.
tlcles of trade and commerce. Millions OF
money are invested in the manufacture OF
and trade in these articles, All this vast
capital they would wipe out at one fell
swoop and render thousands of men who
are now living in affiuence paupers,
The new political party that has arisen
to put forth these astounding demands is
mainly recruited from the republican par
ty, and supposedly controlling enough votes
to give 1t the balance Of power, it is obyi-
Gus enough that, though weak in itself, if
allied with either of the great parties ofthe
day-the Democrats or Republicans-this
weak party would become omnipotent.
Such an alliance with the Democrats is
out of the question, for the party has uni
iormly IN its conventions and platforms
pronounced against prohlbitory or stump
tuary laws But 1t is not SO with the Re.
publican party. A party that did not hes
ltate at the most scandalous frauds to steal
the presidency, and which, as exempllied
IN their recent great convention IN New
York, regard forgery legitimate means of
accomplishing Its ends, will never hesitate
to form an alliance with the prohibition.
lists to secure their votes. They have done
so already. In Ohio Charles Foster is
stumping the state as prohibitionist in
behalf of the Republican ticket. In lndi-
ana the Republican and Prohibition ticket
is the same; and in Illinois, as in this
county, every Republican legislative ticket
is made up of prohibitlonlsts.
The only hope OF resisting this tide of
prohibihonlsm and preventing It's over
whelmning the country Is supposed to lie
in German alliance with the Democrats.
Hitherto the mass Of the Germans have
been Republicans. Withdraw that vote
from the Republican side and unite it with
the Democrats ana Republicanism, with
its red, bristllng head Of prohlbltionism,
falls helpless.
But although the Democrats in this
county have not only nominated an out and
out antLprohibition legislative ticket, but
every other man upon their ticket is an
-prohlbihonist, and the Republicans
have given both their whole legislative
ticket to the prohibitonists, and the rest of
the ticket except two, we are told the Ger
mans, because one man whom they cared
for failed to get place on the Democratic
ticket, will now go back on that party and
unite with and help to elect ihe Prohibit
tion-Republlcan ticket! This is at least
about what the last Ottawa Republican tells
US. Are we to believe this? The suppo-
sitlon is an insult to the Germans! If they
care no more for principle than would be
implied By such action, all We can say Is,
when prohi5lhonism has triumphed, as it
certainly will if they are as unreliable and
quiXotic as such action would indicate
they can thank themselves for it. "One
good turn deserves another" If the Ger
mans want the Democrats to help them in
the protection of their property, tho enjoy
ment of their home customs ard personal
rights, they must help the Democrats. 9th
erwlse they may as well turn prohibition
lists themselves tor the Democrats can no
do this work alone.