Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-11-16
in record, the republican party has
only to eafry-high-its ste ndard, watch
and wait -Teleqr0ph.
THE WORK OF THE PRO-
HIBITIONISTS.

HIBITIONISTS.
In discussing the causes which con
tributed to the election Of Governor
Hill in New York, we think that
scarcely enough consideration has
been given to the Prohibition vote.
Doubtless it is true that the New
York Independents are good deal
less numerous and influential than
they were thought to he; that much
of the Blaine Irish American vote
went back to the Democratic party;
that the virulent and damaging sup
port Of the Mugwump journals, and
their incessant declarations that a
vote for Davenport WAS vote for
Cleveland, alienated some loyal Re-
publicans that the weather was bad
for rural voters; and that the sharp
local contest in New York and Brook
Ign brought out larger Democratic
vote than would otherwise have been
cast. Any or all of these causes may
be conceded to have, had all the in
fuence with which they are credited;
and yet, taking them all together,
they would not have succeeded had
il not been for the Prohibition vote.
We are disposed to give the Prohi-'
bitlonists all the credit they can pos
sibly claim upon this score. Their
vote seems to have been not far
from 3Oa0O0-probably more than
three times the plurality by which
Governor Hill takes his office. Last
y ear the Prohibitionists of New York.
handed over the Presidency and the
control of national affairs to the Dem
ocratic party; this year they have
given the Governorship Of New York
to man of as small intellectual cali
bre and and as meagre moral worth
as was ever nominated for that high
office. And now, having accomplish
ed these results, we should be glad to
know in what way they have farther
ed the cause which they profess to
have at heart. Five-sixths of them,
possibly even larger proportion of
them, are Republicans by past affili-
alton and by personal convictions on
most public questions. They have
had share in some of the splendid
victories which the republican party
has won for the nation, and on such
questions as the tariff, honest money
and an honest ballot they are still in
sympathy, in general, with Republic
an principles. Yet they have delib-
erately sacrificed those principles,
and have turned the government over
to those who antagonize them; and
what have they gained?
If the name which these voters
adopt means anything, they seek to
advance prohibition. The Democrat
ic party, which they have helped into
power, is openly opposed to every
sort of temperance legislation. To
Democratic platform makers all such
laws are "sumptuary laws They
are for low license as opposed to high
license; for an unrestricted traffic as
opposed to any form of regulation.
Having put these men in power what
do the Prchibitionists expect to gain
from them? Any concession looking
toward prohibition? The idea is pre-
posterous. Or do they cherish the
idea that by abusing and defeating
the Republican party they will pre-
dispose Republican legislators to
adopt their cause? Human nature
would have to be radically changed
first. The fact appears to be that,
led astray partly by the delusion of a
name, and partly by craze for re-
venge upon some one because they
cannot move fast enough, they have
struck down the only party which
has both the power and the willing
ness to promote practical temperance
legislation. If either temperance Or
prohibition is strengthened by such a
policy 1t is not easy to see how it is
dOne.-BOStOn Journal.
WASHINGTON LETTER.