The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-11-29
Prohibition Wisdom.


pute, one cause is the Prohibition
vote. This vote has been cast on the
score of principle. 1t has been claim
ed that the issue is of greater import
ance than any other, and that, there
fore, it demanded the votes of those
who believe in it. The result has
bean to give aid and comfort to the
Democracy. Just how, under the
pretense ofsuperior devotion to prin-
chile, men may destroy the very
cause they profess to advocate has
been strikingly illustrated in this
state.
About tweieve years ago Rev. Pen
nell Coombe. of this city, was made
state temperance agent. He was
man of great logical force, of marked
determination of character, and clear
mental perceptions. Not choosing
to spend his time for nothing, he con-
ceived the idea of harmonizing the
temperance elements in the state on
acted by Republican legislature in
response to an influential public APP
peal. and was signed by Republic
can governor. 1t provided for a spe-
cial election. At the first election
under this law two-thirds of the
: counties in the state adopted local op-
hA
large.
At once the extreme Prohibition.
lists, who had yielded reluctantly to
the local opinion policy, assumed
that the vote cast represented what
they could command in a popular
election. The next year they nomi-
mated fnll ticket, and polled just
anough votes TO give the Assembly
to the Democratic party. The first
bill introduced in that body was for
the repeal of the local option law.
1t passed the House, and the Senate,
which was Republican, paid the bad
faith Of the Prohlbitionists by also
passing it, and the law was swept from
the statue books, 1t put back the cause
of Prohibition in this state twenty
years. Such was the effect of this
policy,
The same kind and degree of wis
dom has now been applied in nation
al affairs. The candidacy of St. John
resulted in $4,000 votes being cast for
him in New York and nearly 5000
in New Jersey. These, largely drawn
from the Republican party. would
haye elected Mr.. Blaine triumphant
ly and saved the anxiety and posi-
BILE disasters growing out of the close
vote in New York. Will it do the
Temperance cause any gOodp EN-
phatically not, On the contrary, it
will put it back quarter of q cen
tury. One probable effect will be to
take the tax off whiskey, which will
cause The national government to
cease to exercise any control over
the manufacture and sale of liquor
1t will thus be free, both as to man.
ufacture and sale. so far as the nation
al government is concerned.
OF the state governments. Penn
sylvania, New Jersey, and New York
have Republican legislatures. Elk
asperated at the bad faith that ignored
every consideration but the one in
which the Prohibitionists were in
terested, the Republicans will not he
at al likely to consider them now,
The hearing they might have had
in three important states will proba
bly, be refused. And this will be de-
served. Nothing is regarded as less
deserving of consideration in politics
than bad faith .and perry erse stupid
ity. The leading element in this
movement appears to regard the
great Republican party as possessed
of the spirit of slaye, and that it
only acts under the lash. This is
fearful error. 1t is not in the power
of those who crack the whip to drive,
except away from themselves. This
cause, which was making healthy
Roadway, is now farther back by
twenty-five years because of the
bIunder on election day.-PhiId0eL
phia Press.