The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-06-03

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Evidence comes from every side that
the Republican Joseph Surface is at last
being found out, and that sensible peo-
pie are appreciating at their proper
worthlessness the beautiful sentiments
which have. been the sole stock-in-tyado
of the grand. old party Of Coda rpo-
rality for some years back. Its trickcry
in dealing with the Chinese question has
lost it the Pacific slope without insuring
any compensation in, the East. After
clamoring in its own ears for q quarter
of century that the Mormon problem
must be dealt with, it has finally, in tax
ing action, produced measure. indig-
nation at the Internationally of which
does not exclude disgust with its imbe-
cility. 1t has raised the tariff issue and
displays Frankenstein terror of the
monster it has evoked. After dehounc-
ing Tammany for years It has been
forced into a public alliance with that
organization. Parading as the sole
champion of the public credit, it has
surrendered to Malone. and pretending
to inaugurate an era of economy at
Washington it has revived the rings
and the lobbyists and entered upon
career of extravaganza which has
provoked the protests of its. own
most reckless organs. 1t is upon
the temperance question, however, that
the Republican party has done some Of
its most characteristic straddling. For
many years it has denounced the De-
mocracy as the party of the rum-shops,
and proclaimed itself the sole guardian
of the Sabbath and society against the
open or insidious attacks Of goddess for
eigners, at the same time qualifying its
ferocious virtue in practice so as not to
offend the anti acknowledgements beyond
remedy. The Republicans have always
been in favor of a Temperance law but
s'agin its enforcement and for long
time the Prohibitiohisfs have, with eyes
shut in ecstacy. fed upon their flap
doodle and regarded it as honey dew
and the milk Of Paradise. This was all
very well SO long as the temperance men
brought an unquestioning faith to the
digestion of their diet. and. in the grace
full language Of the Times, the temper
ance movement in practical politics did
not amount to 1.-THE squeak of boot. -
Of late, however. the Rrohibitionists
have demanded that their Republican
well-wishers shall formulate their alb
stract hatred of the rum-shops in con-
crete acts and amendments, and the
anti Prohibitionists have taken up
ground with like zeal on the other side.
SO that the Republicans have found
themselves compelled to espouse one
side or the other. Last year in Ohio
they declined to restrict the liquor
trade, and provoked such demonstra-
ton of hostility ON the part of the
temperance men that il the Democrats
had stood faithfully by their ticket Gov
ernor Foster would have been buried
out of sight. This scared the Republic
ans, and last week they passed Liquor
bill as concession to the temperance
men. Like all trimming measures, the
Pond act only exasperated the classes
at which it was directed without pleas
ing the people at whose demands It was
introduced. The liquor-dealers and
opponents of prohibition and the whole
German population have united their
forces against the Republicans, and the
Temperance man have looked Grinaly ON
without raising finger in aid Of their
pseudo-friends. Cincinnati, which elects
two Republican Congressman, gives
$500 against them. In Cleveland a
Republican majority Of 5000 is turned
into Democratic majority of 1900,
and from every other part of the State
comes intelligence to the same effect.
In Indiana the Democrats and Germans
united to oppose the Prohibition amend
ment, and, rallying to their support the
anti-Prohibitionists of the Republican
party and many of the negroes whipped
the Republicans at the State capital by
| ZOO votes in contest which, we were
informed on high Republican authority
three weeks ago, would 'salmost GER
tainly foretell the result of the Novem-
Der election" In, tho. Republican
stronghold of Wayne, Richmond elects
a Democratic Trustee for the first time
since the formation Of the Republican
party. In Illinois. Chicago and Spring.
field lead the way tn political revolu-
ton in the State. In Michigan, where the
temperance issue has begun of late To
complicate politics, all is at sea. and in
Iowa, where the Republicans solcmnly
declare it to be the meaning of the Pro-
hibitory amendment that it did not pro
hibit the manufacture of liquors for sale
outside of the State, gratifying Demo
cratic gains are announced All the in
dications are that in the West the divi.
sions of the Republican party are no less
marked than they are here, and thai
upon an issue Of paramount importance
in section where there is o rural popu.
latiOn demanding prohibition and an rr.