Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-09-01
Is no BREAD BETTER THAN A HALF LOAF

No fact is more thoroughly established and
definitely settled than that the temperance
element Of the country has everything to ex-
pect of the Republican party and nothing of
the Democratic. Yet the temperance people
are too apt to take such a course as TO play
directly into the hands of the Democrats,
from whom they can expect absolutely moth
ing. An instance of this is found in the can
vass now being conducted in Ohio. The
facts are, briefly stated, as follows: At its
last session the Republican Legislature pass
ed the Pond bill taxing the retail liquor traf-
tic, and the Smith bill, prohibiting traffic in
all kinds of liquors on Sunday The Pond
bill was declared by the courts unconstitu-
tional, not because it taxed the traffic. but
because it made the payment of the tax q
condition precedent to engaging in the bust
ness. This, the court held, was equivalent
TO license, and licensing is forbidden by the
State Constitution. The principle that the
traffic is taxable is unaffected by
this decision; and the Republican con-
vention inserted a plank in its platform
favoring specific tax on the retail traffic as
also another favoring the enforcement Of the
Sunday closing law. The Republicans thus
favor Il large tax on the retail liquor traffic,
and closing all saloons on Sunday. The
Democratic platform declares against
'sumptuary legislation" which is a round.
about way of saying taxation of liquor; and
the Democratic press and public speakers ex.
plain that they are opposed both to the Pond
bill or anything like it, and to the enforcement
of the Sunday closing law. In other words,
the Ohio Democrats favor "frec whiskey and
no Sunday" The Prohibtionists do not be-
licve in taxing or regulating the tariff, but in
abolishing it altogether, and making indulg.
encc in it criminal offence and therefore
consequently they do not support the Repub
licans in their efforts, but nominate tickle,
of their own. This couse, however, car
have but one result, and that is to draw of
from the Republican vote and thus deliver
the State into the hands of the Democrats
who openly avow themselves in favor Of free
| rum anu tllc utsCCTullou Ol inc ShDDdtll. Int
real question is whether or not the State shall
be ruled by the rumsellers and the brewers
and MS the temperance men can not hope t,
elect their own candidates, their effort
simply 90 to strengthen the liquor interest.
In our own State We are sorry to see, il
one or two counties, action by the temper
ance men which can not fail of having tn
same effect, on a smaller scale, as the cours
of the prohbitionis,s in Ohio. 1t is our opin
ion that when nomination is fairly an
sqnarely made in political convention an
the nominee is areputab!e citizen, there
no justification or excuse for bolt 1t sci
dom happens that euerybody is satisfied wit
the result but when the majority OF tn
Republicans of county after due notice an
full discussion pronounce in favor of on
particular man, and lie an upright either
the choice is binding not only upon all VIII
participate in the convention but upon u
those holding our political faith Were III
case otherwise, we could have neither part
nor organization. And the bolts which "
are witnessing nowadays will simply tend I
injure the party and give strength to III
; Democrats. II the temperance men thin
that they advance their cause by such mcar
they simply deceive themselves.