Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-11-02

The position OF the Democratic party
on this question was the proper one, says
the Ohio Eagle. 1t declared that it was
against all laws that were merely sump.
tuary in their design and operation, not
only as regards the liquor traffic but on
all other subjects. This declaration did
not imply and cannot imply that the
Democratic party is in favor of the un-
restricted barter in Intoxicating drinks,
and the people, by large majority at
the polls recognized this fact.
The Democratic party has always been
in favor of placing the traffic under prop
er and legitimate restrictions-such re-
strictions as recognize the personal rights
and liberties of ALL while it restraints the
licentiousness of the comparatively few
who do not recognize moral principles
and restrictions. This is precisely what
the party means when it declares itself
opposed to merely sumptuary laws-laws
that carry out the ideas of few fanatics,
while it deprives all the rest of the com.
munity of their natural rights.
There is no necessity of cumbering the
statute books with laws that are of
sumptuary effect, or that remain dead
letter and are never executed except
when some person wishes to execute pri-
vate vengeance. The whole matter of
traffic in Intoxicating liquors in Ohio has
been very carefully regulated by laws
which remain unrepeaied upon the stat
ute books.
There could be no stronger restrictions
placed upon the, traffic than are laid
down in these laws, some of which come
up to the extreme line of the sumptuary,
and under which few thousand people
of Ohio would force, their ideas npon
more than three millions. ~
There are two heads to the pretended
temperance issue in the Republican party.
First and foremost it is quarrel over
question of policy between two sets of
leaders in the party, each of which is
anxious to get control of the party organi-
zation. 1t is in no sense whatever ques-
tion of principle, but question of policy.
The question of promoting temperance is
merely hypocritical pretense, and in.
tended to deceive temperance fanatics
and the true temperance element who
are not fanatics. Over this question the
two sets of leaders have been quarreling
ever since the passage of the Pond and
Smith bills.
That wing of the party which pretend
ed to be par excellence the advocates of
temperance had control of the organiza.
tion during the campaign, and were very
sure that they were going to deceive the
entire community. But they were mis-
taken. Men of all shades of opir ion saw
their hypocrisy and an overwhelming de-
feat was the result.
This defeat, so far from making their
pretended issue real one before the peo.
pie of the State, simply made it more
absolutely a bone Of contention between
the Republican leaders. They have al
ready been in consultation, and it is pref
ty safe to predict that by the time the
assemblies, the majority of
the Republican leaders will have repu.
dated the pretended issue SO loudly pro-
claimed by Gov. Foster, thus endorsing
the position Of the Democratic party in
its opposition to sumptuary laws, and de-
claring that temperance and Sunday OBJ
were not issues in the campaign.
Attention is called to one fact at this
time. The Republicans have two-thirds
majority in both branches of the Legis-
lature and are In position to pass any
law they see fit. The Pond and Smith
bills were passed last winter for no moral
purpose, but with the idea that they
would bring over the Prohibitionists and
temperance Democrats to the support of
the Republican party, which was grad
ually losing its strength, and needed
accessions from some direction. But it
failed. Now, the point we wish to make
is this: The experiment will not be re-
peated by the Republican Legislature
this winter-and the failure to take any
action will confirm what has repeatedly
been said that the whole course of the
leaders last winter and dur
ing the campaign on the temperance
question was from sinister motives.
No moral reform was ever achieved by
dragging it into the arena of party poll
tics. On the contrary such action merely
retards it. No party platform and no
political contest will ever reduce the
amount Of drunkenness, nor put an end
to; the misuse Of Intoxicating liquors.
Hence the Democratic party is the true
party by refusing to drag
this question into the arena of politics,
where II would only sbe nsed tosscure
party advantage, and as longasthe Dem.
octatic leaders are wise they will, As they
have inpast campaigns. refuse 10. permit
theissue TO be dragged ipto the qainpaign.
They did thisinas8 under the stress Of
the most powerful, pressure that, could be
brought to bear, and in the face-of the
most extraordinary and insulting false
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