The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1884-08-14

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The Prohibitionists have placed
In the field . presidential ticket
backed by very strong Prohibi.
bition platform. The Prchibition-
ists first appeared In q national
campaign only few years ago.
They had previously nominated
tickets In several States and secured
quite large following. In 1876
they felt themselves strong enough
to enter the presidential arena.
Since then their strength has been
constantly growing, and to-day, al.
though an unknown quantity, they
promise TO be an important factor
in the presidential contest.
Since 1872 q temperance wave has
swept over the entire West and
Northwest. From Ohio IN the Ter
ritories there 10 scarcely State hut
has passed some prohibitory or
anti-liquor law Kansas ranged
itself under the Prohibition banner
"a result due largely to the ipfu-
ence Of Gov. s, John, the party's
nominee tor the. Presidency to da-;
Iowa has done the same; Nebraska
and Wisconsin have passed strin-
gent measures against liquor, while
Illinois, Indiana and Iowa have
sought to curb the use of liquor by
high license.
The whole question has been q
bugbear and worry to the Repub
iicans, very annoying and very
damaging 10 them. They have been
between two stools. The Prohibi.
tionists come almost wholly from
the ranks Of the Republican party.
To placate them, some Law against
liquor was demanded; but such a
law had the effect Of driving from
the Republican party its German
vote 1t has been the question which
to support, and this question has
been so hard to solve satisfactorily
that it has given the Democrats
control of half a dozen Western
States.
1t was the liqnor question which
elected Hoadly Governor Of Ohio,
and made Click Governor of the
overwhelmingly Republican State
of Kansas. And throughout the
Northwest this question llas pre-
sented itself, sweeping away Repub-
lican majorities.
1t has been the hope of the Re-
publicans that prohibition would
not enter into national politics; bpt
in this they meet with a sad disap-
poiutment. In the last presidential
election the Prohibitionists cast
barely 10000 votes, nearly all in the
Northern and close States. There
is every promise ola decided increase
this year. The prohibitionis's are
stronger than ever; they have a
strong candidate, who Yields great
personal influence: they have
strong AMI popular PLATFORM, un-
donbte'lly good in many features;
they have n large campaign fund;
they have enthusiasm, and what is
more, fanaticism; and they have the
encouragement of the victories they
have won in the past three years
they were victories, for although
they did no. elect their candidates.
they shovel the Republicans that
there could be no success without
this assistance. and unless the anti
liquor legislation they demanded
was raised.
What part will they play in the
approaching campaign? They are
sufficiently strong in Maine, Ohio
and Illinois to change the results in
those States. They come almost
wholly from the Republican ranks,
and they seem to entertain a very
bitter feeling against the party, and
especially against Blaine and Logan,
whom they single out as special
enemies to Prohibition. Should
they do all they threaten, should
their prohibition enthusiasm and
fanaticism hold them to st. John,
and prevent their returning to the
Republican ranks, the number of
doubtful States in November will be
greatly increased, and Maine, Ohio
and Illinois will be classed among
them.-New Orleans Times Demo
crat. .oi