Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-09-20
THE POLITICAL PARTIES ON PRO
HJBIIION.

The prediction was made in these col
umns, the other day, that the question Of
prohibiting the manufacture and sale of
all alcoholic liquors would soon become
the overshadowing issue of the day in all
the Northern tates. Nearly every po-
litical State onvention that has met
anywhere this year, no matter what
shade of political opinion it represented,
has expressed itself on the subject, and
pledged its adherents for or against sub
hitting the question to vote of the peO-
pie. This has not been done in accord
ance with the wish of the active politi-
clans, for those adroit gentlemen look up
on it as one of the perplexing questions
that they would not vex their souls about
if it were possible to avoid it, but it has
been forced upon them by two antagon-
istic forces in the community, and they
are compelled to face the music. These
diverse forces are the Prohibitionists on
the one side, and the distillers, brewers
and liquor dealers generally on the other,
and each aided and abetted by those in
the community whose tastes or interests
lead them to unite with one faction or
the other.
Kansas led off in the west in Novem-
ber 1880, and adopted a constitutional
amendment proving that the manufac-
ture and sale of intoxicating liquors shall
be forever prohibited in this state, ex-
cept for medicinal, scientific and mechan-
ical purposes, and in June last the peo-
pie of Iowa, followed with constitution
al convention to the same effect and en-
phaszed it with nearly 10000 majority.
The fight has been bitter and protract
ed one in Kansas, but the last Republic
an convention not only reuominated
Governor St. John, but passed resoIu-
ton unqualifedly in favor of prohlbl-
ton of the manufacture or sale OF intOxi-
eating liquors as beverage" and ofsuch
additional legislation as should secure
the rigid enforcement of the constitutions
al provision on this subject. On the other
hand, the Democrats of Kansas take
direct issue with the Republicans and de
clare themselves Gin favor of the repeal
of the act known as the Prohibitory law,
and of the constitutional amendment up
o. which it is based"
In Indiana the Republican Legislature
of 1881 passed proposed prohibitory
amendment, which, if approved by the
coming Legislature, will then be submit
ted to a vote of the people. The Repub-
licans are pledged in favor of su bmitting
it, and the Democrats are on the fence,
declaring themselves opposed to all sumpt-
uary Legislation, but admitting the right
of the people to pass upon it and to amend
their constitution, if they please. This
does not please those who are engaged IN
the liquor interest, who contend that 1t is
derogatory to their personal liberty
even to have it submitted to vote. In
Illinois, the Democrats are pledged to oP-
pose the submission of the question, hold
ing that cit is not the legitimate province
of government to control the habits or
appetites of the people, so long as they
are peaceable and orderly and do not en-
croach on the rights of others or society"
In Ohio, another phase of the liquor
question forms the liveliest issue Of the
present campaign, and in nearly every
state in the North, the temperance peo-
pie are preparing 10 move at once upon
the enemies works. Even some OF the
ex-slave states where the temperance re-
form has shown the least signs of life, the
sentiment of total abstinence is rapidly
gaining ground, and preparation is being
made to test the question at the ballot
boX.-Chicdgo Journal.