National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-24
The Republican Party in North Caro-
LIMA.

! We hear OF the Liberal movement in
| North Carolina, and we hear Of Republi-
can protests against it. Then we hear of
movements by Republicans of promi.
nence in that State against each other.
There is, in fact, a very bitter feud among
them, in which neither side is wholly
blameless. There are all sorts of pretexts
which men are antagonizinge each other,
chief among which is the prohibition
question. The introduction of that ques-
tion into party politics, as parties are now
constituted, is as inexcusablo as would be
the introduction of the Thirty-nine Ar
tlcles or the Darwinian theory. The ex-
isience of n strong temperance element
among the Republicans was known, and
Democrats who cared nothing about it
pretended to favor prohibition. The lat
ter were simply driving ut the political
power supposed by them to be welded
by the Republicans through the in
tcrnal revenue officials. A convention of
prohibitionists lastyear sent committee
to confer with legislative committee
The Democratic members outwitted the
genuine prohibitionists, and reported q
bill to prohibit the manufacture, JW not
he sale, of liquor in the State. This bill
was passed, but not to take effect until
ratified by the people. The State Cen
tral Committee of the Republican party
was divided between the two factions ar
rayed against each other the previous
year at Chicago. Some sharp practice
had been alleged in the organization of
the committee. There was full meet
ing of the State committee, at which it
was generally understood that the tenn
perancc question should not be made II
party one. At II subsequent meeting u
minority of the committee, but ma
jority of the quorum present, resolved
that the party ought to oppose the pro-
| hibitory law. The measure was beaten by
| 10000 majority, less than 10000 votes
being cast in its favor. Now each party
is trying to cast upon the other the
odium of the measure, and in
our party ambitious and strong
headed men are trying to utilize
the question in antagonisms within
the party The Republicans who voted
for prohibition declare that the major
ity seek to drive them to the wall by an
appearance of a coalition with dsaifected
Democrats on an anti-prohibition plat
form. This is their understanding of the
Liberal movement" Such is not our
understanding. Any effort to wound
and render uncomfortable the twenty
! thousand or more who voted for
prohibition, and the still greater
number who would resent such an
attempt, could only have the result to
disintegrate the Republican party. That
would be the very worst thing that could
be done. 1t would be the height of folly
to disband our grand army in North
Carolina in an effort to recruit it.
The Republicans who last summer adj
vocated making opposition to prohibition
u party measure did not, and had no
power to make it thereby a party test.
. No Republican was bound by any order
of the State committee on the subject.
We think this is not claimed. Their OBJ
iect was to get as much credit as possible
for the party and themselves in defeat
ing an obnoxious measure. Tho hope re-
mains with them that many Democrats
are so incensed with their party, which
they hold responsible for the bill, that
they may be induced TO leave it forever
and TO act with Republicans on a liberal
basis.
tits obvious that only the mcrest faction
lists would seriously propose to enter the
contest against the Bourbons this year with
either of these Republican elements left
out The sole question is how to unite the
prohibition Republicans and the anti
prohibition Democrats. If this cannot
be done, then the Republican party should
remain intact and do the best it can.
But il can be done. 1t will not be by
/ either side saying the other is of no con-
sequence. Such men as Keogh, Wheeler,
and jenkins cannot be spared. Such
men us Mott and Cooper cannot be spared.
The prohibition Republicans recognize
that the question has been disposed of,
and it seems to us they ought to be will
ing to have it 50 stated in the platform.
They ought not to be asked to consent to
any declaration of opinion upon it in the
abstract The prohibition Democrats
NhEiih w uN'Spt tiip NpoNS 80 tll NFopuidliIS
that the Republican party, if in power
: through their aid, would not cheat them
byusing that power against them. Then
all ought to unite in dcuouncing the de-
struction of local governments in the
State and pledge themselves to free
ballot, free education, and home govern
ment in county affairs.
The details for the accomplishment OF
all this can be easily arranged if there is
really any serious purpose to unite the
f enemies of Bourbonism. If the only de.
sire of Republicans in North Carolina is
? to humiliate each other our plan would
not work. In such a case it would only
be question Of how large Il majority the
r Democrats and one faction of the Re,
publicans could have over the other Re
publicans
MERELY from the force of habit, the
Rhode Island Democrats have put up Il
State ticket. The imposing head is Hor-
ace A. Kimball, of Providence. 1t will
take a special providence to elect him.
births Ia London.
II Is calculated that in London u child is born