Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-12

Temperance and Politics in Georgia.
One question which the State Temper
ance Convention at Atlanta settled for the
present is, whether it would be advisable
for the temperance people to nominate
candidates for State officers TO be voted
for at the next State election. The con-
vention decided, and wisely, against max
ing nominations.
The temperance people now claim lO2
Of the 1877 counties ofthe State, and if they
are as strong as they appear TO be, it will
not be very difficult thing to get control
of all the counties.
But 1t is by no means certain that all OF
those who voted for restricting or pro-
hibiting the liquor traffic in the l02 tenn
perance counties could be depended upon
to vote a temperance ticket at State
election. In fact, it is doubtful If one-half
OF those who helped the temperance move
ment in the temperance counties would
vote for temperance candidates for State
offices.
Admitting that a temperance ticket
would be beaten, it is evident that the
temperance cause would suffer great dam
age from defeat. BY making temperance
an issue in politics an opposition to it
would be aroused that might prove to be
sufficiently strong to overthrow it even in
the counties where il is now most strong
ly entrenched. 1t is not to be expected
that Democrats and Republicans would
abandon their own parties in any consid-
cradle numbers to promote the interests
of temperance party even if the majority
of them were favorably inclined to the
temperance cause.
What particular benefit would it be TO
the temperance cause for a temperance
party to have control of the State? 1t
might be some satisfaction to temperance
people to have the Offices of the State oc-
cupied by representatives of the temper
ance cause, but is this satisfaction worth
the risk of weakening, and perhaps ruin
ing, the temperance movement?
There are men In the temperance Or
ganization perhaps who care more for
their own advancement than for the adj
vancement of the cause of temperance.
They do not hesitate to advise a course
that win tend to benefit themselves.
aAAOuS bAlObCs uOWGNbis WIN " anu W AuhhS
temperance the basis Of political party
there are many, doubtless, who are sin
cere. They believe that a temperance
party is necessary to the success Of the
temperance cause.
But why not let well enough alone?
What greater success could the temper
ance people reasonably hope for than
they have had? In a comparatively short
time they have got control of nearly
four-fifths of the counties of the State,
and the temperance movement is still
vigorous and is making itself felt in the
counties which are still without temper
anee restrictions.
The temperance people will act wisely
by Increasing their friends in both polih-
cal parties. Their experience thus far
shows that they can become strong enough
to dictate the nominations of both
parties. The temperance adherents
in either party can say 10 the party man
ayers that If they want the temperance
vote they must nominate candidates who
favor the cause of temperance. If the
success Of the temperance movement in
this state teaches anything, it teaches
that the less connection with politics it
has the greater its success win be.