New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-10-05
TIE PROHLHLYLONLSTS.

The National Association Of Local Preachers
has adopted resolution /" That we cannot by
@our influence or vote sustain n party longer
that refuses toplace in their platform plank
"favoring the prohibition of the manufacture
"and sale of alcoholic drinks" 1t is true that
this was adopted by IA minority vote, but il was
adopted. Political statistics of course show in
the paiuest way the hopcessness of stalking
the success of Prohibition upon what can be
accomplished by a purely Prohibition party.
The Prohibitonsts, however, do not rely upon
this wholly. They are carried away by senti-
mental and fanciful analogy. They point ia
the history Of Abolitionism, and assuming that
Prohibition offers Il parallel case, they antci-
pate a similar outcome. But they arc mt fault
in their analogy. There is no real resemblance
between the cases. 1t is not true that the
AboitiOnists secured the extinction of Slavery.
Lncolns proclamation was distinctly war
measure, forced from him by the stubbornn"ss
of the South The Aboltionists no doubt
facilitated the extinction of slavery, but they
did not bring it about.
Neither is there any real analogy between the
drink evil and slavery. The latter could be, as
it was, abolished by the stroke of pen. because
IL Udl UD lbub III human h''lAl'' anu AHpur ~
supported strongly by the sclf-intcrcst of Il
large community il WAS opposed in its essence
to the simplest principles OF justice and right,
and had against it the collective conscience as
soon as that could be aroused. The evil
against which the ProhibitOnsts contend is far
different in its nature aIrl in its conditions. Its
extirpation by law is not the simple matter
abolition was Attempts to stamp 1t ont by
coercion have failed il every case hitherto and
for reasons which ought by this time 10 be
obvious to all. In the opinion OF the soundcst
thinkers il is a case for education, and com
pulson cannot control it, If this is true, how
ever, the ProhibitIOnists cannot make more
damaging bnnder than by Withdrawing from
the Republican party and attempting 10 run
alone. There is no such Prohibition sentiment in
the country TO-DAY ne holds ont the faintcSt
prospect of success for such "A programme. All
that separate Prohibition party eau do is to
expose its own weakness at the polls.
If il were stronger it might do one other
thing by taking this departure. 1t might
the party of rum, that is to say. Prohibition in
the nature of things can have LO prospect of
SUCCESS save by and through the Republican
party. BY kicking against its only friends it
must wreck its own cause and may postpone
the reforms it desires indefinitely by fixing
firmly in the Government the party winch hates
temperance and all who favor it. In short, n
more suicidal programme than thar referred to
could not be conceived, and If it is followed we
may expect to see the cause not alone of Pro-
hbition, but of High License and Temperance
generally thrown back for the next quarter of
a century. The Republican patty is the only
political organization through which such
social reforms can be advocated with any
prospect of future success, and the friends OF
temperance will gain more by working with it
than by alternating its friendship and sacrificing
its powerful alliance by operating against it
from without.