Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-12
TAE COMING POLITICAL CAM.
PAlGN.


From the N. Y. Times. 10th.
By the letters which we publish this morning
from the widely-separated states of Ohio. Mas
sachusetts, and North Carolina. it will be seen
that the country is already preparing to take its
annual dose OF politics. which this year. when
new House of Representatives is TO be elected
VIII be pretty heavy one. At the same time
there is evidence in these letters that the voters
are by no means so intensely interested in purely
partisan politics as they were even two years
ago, and that there will be good deal of indie
pendent voting this fall. One indication OF this
10 the prominence given to the various phases Of
the Temperance question. In Ohio. the passage
OF the Pend liquor law. imposing taxes on liquor
dealers and brewers. was the immediate cause
OF the republican defeat in the local elections. In
Massachusetts, the failure to pass prohibition
bill has destroyed the political chances of Mr.
speaker Noyes, prominent candidate for the
republican nomination as governor In North
Carolina, where the election of United States
Senators enters into the canvass for the legisla-
ture and for governor, Senator Ransom's rela-
tions with an ant-prohibitiouist leader are being
used to influence the result In all these states
and In both parties the liquor question is likely
to have much to do with the choice of members
of the House Of Representatives, as well as Of
state officers.
Yet the liquor question can hardly be called
national question, and ne would be q hardy
prophet who should predict that it can ever be-
come one. 1t is only because the questions
which have been national have partially lost
Their consequence that one Of this curiously
limited characters can attract SO much atten-
ton and can 60 so far toward determining the
fate OF parties even In national elections The
liquor question is one OF those which ALWAYS
come prominently forward when Others of
greater intrinsic interest are laid aside. Ii is
admirably adapted to furnish occasion for bitter
and violent struggles when politicians have
nothing more serious to contend about It
appeals to strong feelings on both sides-to
the deep moral conviction, often vergng on
fanaticism, OF the temperance people, and
to the interest, the pride. and the vices of
large class who sell or use liquor. lt is a
singularly difficult question to deal with be-
cause it Involves interference. for excellent
motives, with either the business of dealers or
the personal habits of the drinkers of LIQUOR.
and it is almost impossible to find any common
ground on which, as between these classes
law can be based and obtain respect or even
acquiescence. And the difficulty is Increased by
the fact that those who are actively interested
In the question one way or the other are usu-
ally a minority in any community or any party
Inc question, therefore. generally comes up, as
lt does now, at time when voters are compare
lively indifferent on other matters. and when the
margin of any party in the ascendant is narrow
and can probably be destroyed by an active
movement in the direction Of temperance Iegis-
lation or the contrary. Naturally, legislation
which proceeds from these movements is apt to
be fiuctuating and inconsistent and there is
PROBABLY no body OF law III the country so full
OF crudties and contradictions or so variously
construed or enforced as that which relates to
liquor.
But while the relative prominence obtained at
this moment by the liquor question is evidence
that the Older questions are in allegiance it very
likely that still Others will come UP before the
congressional canvass is fairly under way In
close districts. or in districts where either party
is strong, but divided, candidates will be mar
rOwly watched by one or another OF several
bodies of independent voters, who are already
showing good deal Of energy i'm the way of
organization. The civil service reformers have
associations In nearly every northern state who
will unquestionably be guided to great extent in
the congressional canvass by position of parties
on that reform. The revenue reformers are also
organizing in the west with the distinct pur-
pose of throwing their votes where they will do
the most good with reference to the reduction
of the tariff, and like organizations of prOtec-
tionists will undoubtedly oppose them. On the
whole there is a prospect of considerable and
interesting variety in the conduct of Congress
sional campaigns in the various districts. For
the time being. at least, the security with which
candidate who had obtained a nomination
from the majority party regarded his election
has disappeared, and though the immediate re-
suit may be little confusing, the ultimate eff
feet will be wholesome.