The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-10-18

The Temperance Issue in Politics.
The stereotypel phrase which does duty AS
heading or comment on many tragic story =
Rum did it'-fully expresses the result of the
election in Ohio. Between the saloons on the one
hand and temperance fanatics on the other, the
Republican ticket met defeat The disaster is
not irreparabe, and it conveys lessons that may
be needed in the future. The record OF the Re-
publican party on the temperance question
needs no defence. The laws upon the statute
books in this ana other States for suppressing
or restricting the manufacture and sale of liq-
uor are the results of Republican legislation.
Here and elsewhere such legislation has en-
counered Democratic opposition. While the
Republican party is everywhere recognized as
the temperance parry, the Democratic party is
properly entitled the rum party. This does not
imply that there are no temperance Democrats,
no rum Republicans. But these are exceptions.
The mass leavens the whole, and the attitude of
the two parties on the temperance question is
correctly stated above.
Yet certain temperance leaders, who are
wholly impraclicable in their demands and
teachings, with more or less followers, serve no
other purpose than as tenders to the Democrat
lie or rum party. The nominating of il temper
ancc ticket in Maine, for example, would be
farce We're it not really blow to the cause os-
tensbiy in view. No sane man believes that
such ticket has the remotest possible chance
for success against the two old parties The
only effect can be TO give aid and comfort to the
that has been done TO exercise the demon of in
temperance. There are no doubt some who
would like to have a single sale of liquor pun
ished by hanging, and it is safe to say that these
cast their ballots in the air on election day or
stay at home, because plank of this kind is
not found in the Republican platform. The
good such extremists do to the cause is express
ed by cypher; the injury they do is incacul-
able.
Elsewhere we give opinions as TO the cause
of the Republican defeat in Ohio - :; defeat
which is also blow to the temperance cause
Ii there be any who doubt the authorities quo
ted the statement of Ferdinand Schumacher
the Prohibition candidate for Governor, ought
to convince them. At Akron. Thursday night
he said Il understand that the Republicans are
charging us with their defeat. | hope they will
to do" And further: I'VE beat them last wear
We have beaten them now, and. if they want Il
third whipping we will be ready to give it,
This spirit i, not confined TO Ohio. 1t is mani
Testing itself in Massachusetts and in Maine
The Prohibitory State Committee of Massachl-
sets has issued an address full of rant and fus-
tian. 1t indicates as little regard for truthuIne>,
AS is shown by GOV. Butler in his stump speech
and is evidently designed to aid in securing the
reelection of that notorious demagoguc. With
regard to Maine, the Boston Advertiser SAYS
edtorially;
Gen. Neal Dow writes to DR.. Miner that the
prohibtioni>ts of Maine have determined to
break finally with the Republican party because
it is "opcny in league with the gigantic crime
of crimes This would be funny. ii Mr.. Dow
did not really think, is no doubt he does that
he tells the exact truth. But considering that
the Republicans of Maine have been tinkering
the liquor laws for Il quarter of a century, meet
ing all the demands OF the prohibilOnsts, until
it was possible at one time to send Il man to jail
for having pint of sweet cider in his pocket
unless he could prove that he did not mean to
sell it. there is something like ngraliude in
this action. But ii shows how impossible il i
TO satisfy these who have persuaded themselves
that the great political issue is the liquor queS-
lion, and that it can be settled by passing law.
There arc probably those who find il profit
able to keep up a >o-called prohibtorv party
as an aid to the Democratic OF rum party; but
they are no credit TO tie temperance cause and
cannot be temperance men at heart. The Dem
ocratic party is not only more or less openly in
FAY OF of free rum. but it has refused even to al
low the people to pass upon the question. when
it had the power. 1t would have prevented the
submission of the constitutional amendment to
the people of Maine, had it controlled the Leg
lsature last winter. unmndful of the fact.
which the Republican party keeps steadily III
view, that the people are the rulers and the
Judges in this country. The case is not one that
calls for argument. Compare the records Of
the Republican and Democratic parties on the
temperance question, and there can be no doubt
as to the course the real friends of temperance
will pursue. 1t certainly will not take the d.
rection of undoing all that has been done for
/ temperance and Of helping TO pace in power a
party which ha. free rum bIazoncd on its ban
ners.