Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-28
The Temperance Essre i'm Politics.

often desired for L:y month. invariably
sdvsnce.
The Temperance Issue i'm Politics.
Since the Temperance workers resolved to enter
the sl1 OF politics III to fU5 their by the aid
of tne ballot they hiv- IN iie remarkable progress,
especially IN the west. The building us LOT new
political power Is usually very slow work. The
masses are deliberate in changing their way Of
voting Third party movements have appealed In
vain for support VI neY principles, promising
great refOTmatiOns; BIT the temperance move
ment, by the sheer strength o. the great principle
involved, marshas It's followers at the pills, and
IN short time, stlrt.e5 AMI alarms both the Old
parties by the power +; Ia1ai.csts II has carried
two stateS-Kansa5 All ioT1-an1 has developed
such strength In 0;hcr; that those seeking political
prefeTmeDt dare not de.y. or even ignore it. The
agitation, so vigorously kept up by the temper
ancce WORKERS, has st eiS1n 3nts OF the liquor
interest at lOggerheais in the wet Some of
the Glst'lieTS or that saeticn coa2lliad that
It was injUlciCuS for the Hauor in
terest to array Itself against certain moral rules
TIE Observance 0! whi- IS garl- "a a. 90 iTatory
by the majority Of n"3rly every community.
1t was advised b. those Who took this
view TINT the liquor dealers should
not place themselves before the public as
antagonists OF morals well as temperance.
This Kind OF advice seemed to Impress itself upon
the disillersf for at the meeting the west
ern d15t1lleTS' association in Chicago resolutions
were unanimously adopted declaring IN favor OF
high license, Sunday observance and the reduction
OF the number OF drinking places. At the same
time an emphatic declaration against prohibition
was put on record. accompanied by the declara- |
ton that the association asked no special priv- |
leges for their line Of business. This action was
presumably, intended TO relieve the distillers of
the charge OF antagonZng al! efforts in behalf OF
morals and temperance; but while it probably |
brought the distillers no nearer In line with the
temperance workers, 1t aroused the savage fndg- |
nation OF the Illinois brewers, whose association
met In Chicago just subsequent to the session OF |
the western distiIlers. The brewers formally re-
solved that the distillers' action yra5 pretense in
behalf OF temperance, designed to foster the sale
OF sprttuOuS liquors at the expense OF the far less
Injurious malt beverages. The brewers argument |
Is that to close drinking places on Sunday would
compel those desiring stimulants on that day to
purchase Saturday alcohol enough TO st them;
whereas, with the saloons ODen on Sunday the
popular drinks are beer. wine, and the lighter
spirttUoCS liquors. The brewers denounced the
President OF the distiIeTs' association by name,
and attacked his character, besides charging the
dtstillerS with popular deception with the view
CT influencing Congressional action in behalf OF
their trade. |
This schism IN the ranks Of the liquor interests
seems to be broad and deep, and while the two
classes OF liquor dealers fighting each other
The temperance people. who have already selected
Illinois OF the states to be won over to their
cause, VIII move on in solid column against their
divided enemy.
Throughout the entire length of the star-route !
trial the policy OF the defense has been-frst to
prevent facts from coming to light and second, to
divert the minds OF the jury from those facts after
they had been brought out The prosecution have |
evidently understood this and have refused ID fol-
bwthe defense in their attempt TO lead away from
the damaging truth. Mr.. Merrick in his argument |
reviewed the history OF the established by
the testimony showing clearly the connection be-
tween the Second Assistant Postmaster-Generars |
ONCE and the outside manpulators OF the con-
tracts, binding, as he (Aierrick) promised to do,
his exposition OF the raScay OF the ring so tightly
10 that made by others of the prosecution that no
oefendent could escape his share OF tie RESPONSE |
hlity- The defense have mainly consumed their |
time In appeals to the sympathy OF the jury. They
have. in touching language, pictured the heavyn-
fiction that verdict OF guilty would impose upon
the innocent members OF families of the accused. |
They have, in short, appealed to the hearts and |
not the heads of the jury:
IL the friends OF Gov. Cornell gave publicity to |
the charges against ex-senator Conkling with the |
view Of advancing the governors prospects for re-
nomination, they committed serious blunder, the |
effects OF which can hardly be now repaired. Aside
from all consideration to how much the charges
fn1ure Mr.. COnkng, or whether they injure him at
a., the publication OF them led TO the divugpnce
OF the ''bllnd pool" transaction, which has hurt
Gov. Cornell badly. The transaction was perhaps
not worse than thousands OF others connected with
stock speculations, but IL was not to be expected
That the governor OF great State would engineer
hin person, putting himself indirectly, at least In
order 10 achieve his object, under obligations to
men who were interested in legislation that would
depend upon the governors signature. The gov
ernorS explanation OF the transaction and his con-
hection with IL has not exonerated him, and at
present he seems TO be bringing up the rear In the
Taee for the nomination. The outcome OF the Bit
Ter fight viii probably be the nomination OF some
man no: identified with either faction, who can get
TIE support OF both. The convention Is not likely
t. intensity the factiOnal fight by deliberately car
Tying it into the canvass, and the only way I'm
which IL escape this is to nominate candi-
date acceptable to both wings OF the party.
"Nothing succeeds ike success" they say; and
@ the other hand nothing defeats Ike defeat A
few years ago when Jay Cooke met with his disas-
Gous failure IL was a common thing to decry his
two pet enterprises, the Northern Pacific Railroad
and rapid transit across the Atlantic-vla New
Foundland and the southwestern point OF Ireland
rs the wild impracticable schemes OF an enthusi-
sstic dreamer. Just now, however, the frst-named
venture bids fair to be all It's impulsiye protector
ever claimed for IT, and is regarded on all hands as
es2fe and good investment, While new company
has been organized 70 carry out the other by build
Ing the necessary railways and constructing
enough steamers to run daily line between the
terminal points naIned. Mr. Cooke may not be
worth as much as he was, or as he would have
peen n2d none Of his plans miScarried; but when
these great works are completed and In successful
operation 1T Will doubtless be a great satisfaction
70 him Tn be able to smile blandy at the boys and
aay 81 told you So"
The chief Of the London fire brigade attended
sort OF drill display OF the New York force the
other day, and pleased to observe that he
thought the boys were little slow In getting the
water turned on, don't you know. Considering
chat but for the appliances and improvements
borrowed or stolen bodily from this country, the
I1ndon fire brigade would still be putting out fires
ny passing buckets along lines OF men, women and
chsslren, II IS fine thing for its chief to sit In
Judgment on American firemen. Next we shall
hsyea water-nuer from the Nile taking depre-
ealing view OF the Corliss engine.
fhis time IL was ten year old boy who play
fusfy pointed a loaded shotgun at his cousin and