National Republican., 1882-08-05
To Every Republican in North Caroline

To Every Republican in North Carolina
The remarks in yesterdays REPUBLICAN
upon prohibitory legislation must not be
understood as advocacy of the prohibi-
tion policy; they were simply intended
to call attention to the extent to which
the liquor question is being agitated.
The State of Iowa has, by a majority of
thirty thousand, voted against the manu-
facture or sale of liquor in that State.
North Carolina has, by vote of one
hundred and sixteen thousand, voted
down a law forbidding the manufacture,
and regulating the sale of liquor in that
State In both cases the great body of
the Republican party voted on the
prevailing side. This is the best
possible evidence that prohibition can
never be made a party question while
parties continue to be divided on the
one unsettled question which has dis.
turbed the repose of the Nation for over
sixty years.
When the status of the negro shall be
sett ed and established in conformity
with the civilization of the age and the
laws of the land-when his vote shall be
protected by public opinion and made
safe for society by education-then the
rule of the majority will prevail, and
republican form of government be
maintained. This result is the as
piration of all real Republicans.
Until this can be attained it will
be in vain for any lesser question
to demand q settlement In this coun-
trtr ,r1, u ic hot al c
are to be settled at the ballot-boX, the
absolute certainty that question can be
so settled, and that the ballot-boX will
truly tell how the voters stand is of the
first Importance. Owing to the desperate
resistance of the Bourbon element of the
South to the new order of things result
ing from the abolition of slavery by war,
he Jallot-Jor does not now report Hte wiU Of
The majority. Republican government is,
therefore, for the time being suspended
in portion of the States, and is con-
stantly meaaced in the Nation.
There are Prohibitionists and anti
Prohibitionsts who are in favor of a
complete restoration of majority rule. 1t
is the duty Of the friends ofa republican
form of government to vote together for
the overthrow of the Bourbon faction,
and, while so engaged, to bear and for
bear on the minor question. As well
measure oil in asieve as appeal to ballot
box which is in the hands ofjugglers who
will not let it tell its true story.
In North Carolina the existence of an
honest and earnest element in the Re-
publican ranks in favor of prohibition
was caught at by the Bourbon Democracy
in the legislature as atfording a chance
to recruit their own party. They framed
law, to be submitted to a vote of the
people in 1881, to prohibit the manufac-
ture of liquor. 1t also regulated the sale,
but made it very easy. The law did
not suit the Prohibitionists, but they
supported it for what it did contain
which they approved, 1t was defeated
by one hundred and sixteen thousand
majority at the polls, with the ballot
boxes in the hands of its Bour bon au.
thcrs. That time the will of the majority
was ascertained.
The Democratic managers found that
in attempting to divide the Republican
party they had divided their own. Many
of their followers came out of the cam
paign determined never again TO CO.
operate with the Bourbon party. This
became so apparent that the question OF
a liberal alliance between them and the
Republicans was soon agitated. By the
Prohibition Republicans this was
encouraged BY many others it was
watched with desire TO see the bes
thing done, as circumstances should de
veIop. By some Prohibtionists it was
looked upon with distrust, by others Will
hostility. The new recruits were an un
known quantity, and their opponents
said they were but few. The Republi
cans who were opposed to the ALI
ance were also an unknown quantity
and their opponents said hey were but {
few. On the l4th Of June the Republican
B.atc convention OF North Carolina was
held. Its delegates had been chosen afte
more than a year Of prohibition agita
tion, and after many mouths Of discus