The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-08-26
QUEER COVERING.

QUEEh COVEhTlNG,
Politics often make strange bedfellows,"
says the adage, and we have an amusing case
before US IN that of Mr.. Cullen, our republi-
can congressman and candidate for renomina.
ton, who, in his bewilderment over the atti-
tude of the prohibitlonists, concludes, on the
temperance question, to make his bed with
that staunch, rock.rootcd old democrat the
Hon. William Reddlck. "Our position" he
says (or the Ottawa RepubIicaH says tor hini),
con that question: Is identical with that Of
Hon VIM. Reddick, chairman of the demo-
cratic county commlttee!" The position OF Mr..
Reddck, thus adopted by our congressman, Is,
chat prohibition has nothing to do with poll
ucs, and that a man can be a prohibitonist
and n good democrat at the same time In
Mr. Reddlck' S way of putting it this Is meas
uraby true He stands on the Reddck law,
which the democrats have agreed to accept as
their limit on the temperance question: and
the ReddIck law makes prohibition matter
of local option, under which democrats, in
strong temperance localities, no doubt can
NblC against EIdutilIS IIStlctS'
But if that is the position Of our congressman,
how can he have the cheek to find fault with
the prohibltionists for insisting on such politi.
cal action as will Insure the adoption Of q
constitutional prohibitory amendment, or how
can he be IN harmony with the republican
party which CLAIMS to be INSIDE" IN favor OF
constitutional prohibition; or how can he be
| in harmony with Prof. Andrews whom last
prohlbitory constitutional amendment "in-
side" of the republican party?
our congressman (or his paper for hlm),
however, is quite correct In saying that "Mr.
Reddick is not the only democratic temper
ance man IN La Sale county. There are hun
dreds of democrats just as radical es he Is,
some Of whom are party leaders and hold in
iluen,lal positions. Ottawa has number Of
them, and SO has Streator, Mendoza, Earlvile
and the smaller towns"
The FREE TRADER claims that the demo
cratic party as Il body Is essentially a temper
ance party, opposed to drunkenness or excess
IN the use of stlmulaHts Of all kinds and IN
favor of subiectlng the liquor trade to rigid
! legal control and regulation. On this point 1t
readily accepts as evidence the RepuJfcan's
statement that" "a democratic Legislature passed
| the ReddIck law" and dem )cratic legislatures
have passed rigid license laws in Tennessee
and other states.
| The Republican, might have gone tUrtl er
aud furnished statistics from the census re
ports showing that there is not a democratic
state in the Union IN which there is not less
whisky drinking than in therepubllcan states,
measured by population. Even Maine itself
is shown to have more licensed whisky sellers
and 10 drink more whisky than West Virginia,
Of about the same population, though in dem.
ocratc West Virginia the sale of liquor is un.
restrained by law while IN Name there Is alb
soluie prohibtionl
But while the democrats are in favor OF telq-
/ peraHce, and Of laying such restraints upon the
sale of liquor as shall keep 1t within safe and
decent bounds, and is as ready to punish the
liquor seller for abusing his license as it would
any other dealer who plies his trade to the in.
! jury of the public, it has no faith in intemper.
'ate and compulsory legislation to compel men
10 refrain totally from touching, tasting or
handling drinks mid er strong Of which the
ages have shown the moderate and temperate
use has been not only harmless but beneficial
AT all events, they are willing to let every man
who has right TO claim that he is a man. to
be his own master in such case. Ifaman OF
sound mind and physique Is not fit to enjoy
this liberty, then he is also unfit to choose
what he shall eat, for there is as much lntem
/ perance ia eating as in drinking, and as much
bad health and misery result from one as the
either; and carrying cut the principle to lis
! logical conclusion, the government Is bound
to appoint inspectors Tor every mans side
board and kitchen and direct what he shall
eat and drink, and other inspectors must bC
appointed over the inspectors themselves tC
sec that they conform to the rule; and the ole
cOupet will become the law Of the land, that
Each little flea Is bit by fleas
AUd these have ileas to bite 'em;
! And these again have smaller ileas,
| And so oR iDfU1tl,I9