Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-10
TEMPERANCE AND POLITICS.
MIR. Daniels Letter OF Acceptauce.

GROWTH OF THE PROHIBITION sENT1MRNr-Ev1s OF
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC-THE PROPOSED REFoRM.
MIR. Daniel has issued his letter accepting the
nomination for Vice President the national pro-
hibition ticket lie says that "the necessity for
the prohibition OF the liquor traffic Is based upon
the well-established and conceded facts that this
traffic is the producing cause OF large part OF all
the crime poverty, insanity, suicides and diseases
that exist In the land that 1t Is the great disturber
OF the public peace, as we'll as the destroyer OF do
mesttc peace and happiness; that it renders life,
liberty and property insecure, and imposes upon
the community heavy burdens OF taxation without
equivalent or consent
GROWTH OF TIE PRoHrB1roRY SENTIMENT
He says that the prohibitory sentiment which
resulted in the Maine liquor law OF 1851, and other
movements at that time was crushed uy the rebel
lion troubles OF 1851 and did not again attract gen
tian Temperance union, beginning in 1873. Since
then. he says, the prohi6 Ion sentiment has great
itsef in the statutes OF Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont and Iowa, and In the constitution, as well
as In the Statutes OF Kansas II has also imprinted
itself upon the laws OF q number OF counties and
localities In other states, north and west whilst
It's growth In the south, or what were originally
the aveholdlny states, has been even greater In
Maryland. for instance prohibitory laws prevail In
some thirteen out OF its twenty three countless and
in number OF localities In others; in south Caro-
lima In nearly all OF the rural districts outside OF
Incorporated towns and cities; in Georgia In some
ninety or more counties out of about hundred and
th1rty-seven, besides In the nelghborhooI OF
CuuICucS oiO III OtueT CUuull6S, IN AlaO1Qa
in ten to dIteen counties, and numerous other dis
tricts In Mississippi 10 large districts and in Lou
lsiana In many Parishes In Arkansas In large sec
nessee, by reason Of law that prohibits grogshops
within several miles OF schoolhouse or church,
neae4 nese oe quite Aso h in Of Missouri 1ns state
thirty counties are prohibtory. and in Ken
prohibition Moreover this sentimept in Iowa was
strong enough to give majority OF nearly 5000
for prohibltiory constitutional amendment
some two years ago, despite Of the most deter
mined efforts Of the liquor leagues In opposition.
In Ohio about year ago 1t was sufficient to cast
over 323 OOO votes for similar constitutional amend
ment that were counted and some 10000 or more
that were not counted, or frauduenty counted out,
the total OF which would have carried it. And this
result, too, In the face OF the opposition of both
republican and democratic parties, hampered as 1t
was by coupling 1t with license amendment to be
voted on at the same time, and the enactment of
what is known as the Scott tax law. And In Maine
very recently majority of some ,2S3 has been
ta1nedfor similar amendment, and this after a
trial OF thirty years or moro OF statutory prohibit
tOn. The people in some fifteen other states have
within the last year or two oesieged their respec-
tive legislatures with petitions, for the purpose OF
stitutional prohibition, but have been refused.
Had their prayers been granted. prohibition would
doubtless now prevail IN a majority of them at
least And 1t Is believed that upon fair vote, and
with the country thoroughly aroused, this liquor
crime would be prohibited by decided majority.
GROWTH OF THE LIQUOR INTEREST.
He says that the trouble is that the people are
unorgantzed and not in q condition to overcome
the determined opposition OF the organized liquor
interests, and the unorganized prohibtionists are
found on election day voting irrespective OF that
great issue and often irrespective OF the character
OF the candidates He says that notwithstanding
the great efforts OF his party the swelling tide OF
drink and decentralization Is spreading over the
country, and greater efforts are necessary. Some
estimated from the most reliable internal revenue
statistics at $So0,O0OOO0. From the same sources
the estimate FOR last year was 040 900 000 nciud-
ing both foreign and domestic liquors, whilst the
increase In the indirect cost which results from
deprecated physical capacity to labor the loss OF
wages and profits, and in many other ways, is per-
beer has increased from about 600 gallons In
1870 to ISL goo 900 In 1885, that OF distilled liquors
and wines from 900 600 to % 100000 Nor has the
Increase In beer drinking decreased whisky drink
that as n Is sas 'fHe n
crease In the use OF intoxicating liquors In Kansas
it has been about eight per cent In spite OF the
rapid increase OF population and the decrease has
been still greater In Maine and some other states
HOW REFORM Is RETARDED.
he complains that the reform proposed by his
party II impeded by the laxity Of the authorities In
enforcing the law and the encouragement the ma
m to sas 9
plains OF the want OF interest manifested in the
question by Congress He demands change OF
policy and advises party organ nization.
BOTH POLITICAL PARTIRS OPPOSE PROHIBITION.
Both OF the existing political parties, he says,
have opposed or ignored this great issue, and their
candidates for President and Vice President have
done likewise. Messrs Cleveland and Hendricks
iiqiorloving liquor allies and cry out @ against sumptaary
laws that vex the citizen" On the other hand, Mt.
Blaine would perDetuate the traffic Tor the pur-
pose OF raising permanent revenue, TO be apprc-
prated TO the payment OF the taxes OF the several
states In proportion 10 their populations, and
oices In the probable and constant increase OF such