Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1884-11-19
Prohibition Wisdom,

/ II the election is involved in dispute.
| one cause is the Prohibition vote,
This vote has been cast on the score of
| principle. 1t has been claimed that
the issue Is of greater importance than
any other, and that, therefore, it de-
manded the votes of those who be-
lieved in it. The result has been to
/ give aid and comfort to the Democracy.
Just how, under the pretense of supe-
rior devotion to principle, men may de-
stroy the very cause they profess to adj
Vocate has been strikingly illustrated
in this State.
About twelve years ago Rev. Pen
nell COOmbe. of this city, was made
State temperance agent. He was a
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 a
local option law. This law was enact
ed by Republican legislature in re-
spouse to an influential public appeal,
and was signed by Republican gov
ernor. 1t provided for a special cleo
ton. At the first election under this
law twO-thirds of the Counties in the
state adopted local option. The vote
IN It's favor was very large.
At once the extreme Prohibitionists.
who had yielded reluctantly to the
local option policy, assumed that the
vote cast represented what they could
command in popular election. The
next year they nominated full ticket.
ana polled just enough 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 Prohibitionists by
also passing it, and the law was swept
from the statue books. It 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 national
affairs. The candidacy of st. John re-
suited III 10000 votes being cast for
MN IN New York and nearly 5000 in
New Jersey. These, largely drawn
from the Republican party, would have
elected Mr.. Blaine triumphantly and
saved the anxiety and possible disas-
tiers growing out of the close vote in
New York. VIII it do the temperance
cause any good? Emphatically not.
On the contrary, it will put it back
quarter of a century. One probable
effect will be to take the tax Off whis-
key, 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 manufacture and sale, so far as the
National Government is concerned.
OF the State governments. PennsvI-
vania, New Jersey and New York
have Republican legislatures. Exas-
perated at the bad faith that ignored
every consideration but the one in
which the PrOhibitionists were inter
ested, the Republicans will not be at
all likely to consider them now. The
hearing they might have had in three
important states will probably be re-
fused. And this will be deserved.
Nothing is regarded as less deserving
OF consideration in politics than bad |
faith and perverse stupidity. The
leading element IN this movement an
pears to regard the great Republican
party as possessed of the spirit of a
slave, 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 them
selves. This canse, which was making
healthy Roadway, is now farther back |
by twenty-five years because of the |
6lunder on election day.-PhiladeIphia |
Press.