The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-10-24
rHr nrrunss show that forty-sir co,

TIE RETURNS show that forty-six coun-
ties voted for prohibition and forty-two
against. OF the number favoring prohibi-
ton thirty-one returned Republican and
fifteen Democratic majorities. of the
forty-two counties voting against, thirty
four were Democratic and eight Republi-
can. We insist that this represents about
the relative standing of the two parties on
the temperance question, and yet our
Democratic friends say it's blank lie
when We charge that as party and as in
dividuals they are away behind Republi-
cans on this question. Do figures lies
The Prphibitionists say they do; that there
is no difference between the parties, and
their conduct shows that for some reason
they prefer the Democratic position, since
they have been persistently trying for years
TO help them into power, and so far as their
vote had any influence it gave the State to
that party-at the last election A friend
suggests that their name ought to be
changed from Prohibition party to An In
temperate party for'the Promotion of Tenn
perance. The Republicans are at least
twenty-five years in advance of the Demo
cracy on this question, and fully abreast Of
public sentiment. This is all that can be
expected, as in the nature of the case they
must represent the average public senti-
ment, aad if attempting to move farther
would be out Of sympathy with the rank
nd file, and must inevitably be defeated
The position of the Republican party has
been persistently misrepresented by both
Democrats and Prohibitioniss, and the real
progress made has not been fully appre-
preciated DR. Walden. in speaking on
this subject has well said, LESS than nine
years ago the Civil Damage Law was
emasculated, and the Municipal Local
Option Law repealed by Democratic
Legislature; less than five years ago the
Quinby Local Option Law failed in a Re
publican Legislature Ithe Democrats, as
psual, opposingl; within the past three
years the Republican party has demanded
the subordination of the liquor traffic TO
law, and the Republican Legislature has
enacted the Pond Bill and the Scott Law
lboth detested by the liquor interest, what
ever else may be said], the Sunday Closing
Law, the Municipal Local Option Law, and
given the people the opportunity to vote
for Prohibitory Constitutional Amend
ments free from all partisan bias" If this
does not Indicate substantial progress We
fail TO interpret its real meaning. Now let
US put to the test the real principles of the
Democracy on the question of temperance.
Local Option is possible under the Consti-
tuition as it is. We can petition for this.
and If granted, sixty cod0ties would soon
have prohibition. We should hardly ex-
pect the party in power 10 do this, though
IT is possible they may really begin to see
the handwriting on the wall in the vote for
prohibition of almost $4,000, and think
best to give the majority of the people in
the different localities the right to regulate
the drink traffic as they desire; but if not,
then the Republicans will make this the
issue in the next campaign. and on it will
go into power as sure as the sun shines.