New-York tribune., 1886-05-30
PROHIBITION IN NEW-JERSEY

PROHIBfIION lN NEV-obhcHA'
The New jersey Prohibitionists are no doubt
for the most part sincere and earnest DeiieVors
in the doctrine they advocate. They honestly
desire to abate the drink evil. Their upright
ness of purpose must be admitted. They seek
to do good in their generation. And yet IL Is
perfectly apparent that they have just refused
to accept compromise which promised certain
and important gains for the reform they have
at heart and that while declaring their enthu-
siastc and indescIibable devotion to ProhlDl-
tion they threw themselves into the arms OF
the rum power with complete abandon For
this, and nothing less than this, is the practical
outcome of their proceedings. The Antl-o
loon Republican Conference showed them now
by allying themselves with the Republican
party they could secure distinct advances
toward temperance. BY such an alliance they
could have defeated the rum power and thrown
all their influence upon friendly and power
full party already committed to fight against
the saloons. The arrangement was one which
presented special opportunities for the develop
ment of temperance POLICY. But they refused to
consider it in any way, and while declaring
their hatred for the rum power they resolved
that every vote they possessed should be cast
in behalf of their foe.
There ia no exaggeration in this view Of the
situation. Every Prohibition vote cast in New
Jersey is a vote for the Democratic candidates.
The Prohibtionists no doubt endeavor to ig-
more the obvious consequences OF their action
by alleging that their only purpose is to rebuke
the Republican party for not having Kept falth
with them. Such means of obtaining revenge
would not be thought very remarkable II re-
sorted to by ordinary politicians; but 1t Is
remarkable that men whose political action
centrps upOn one reform measure should de!ib-
erately adopt course the only possible effect
of which can be to strengthen the evil Tor the
removal IF which they have organized. Next In
order of stran geness to this line OF action Is the
line of argument by which it is sought to justify
il. No Prohibtionist ever ventures to express
a homo that the drink evil will be lessened by
putting the Democrats in control OF the Leg
isature and State Government generally. But
though the utterance of such a hope would
doubtless provoke irOnc mirth in any Prohbl-
ton convention, the thing itself, the actual
voting to aid Democrats and saloon keepers. is
determined upon and agreed to with as little
hesitation as though it were all In the direct
line of the party policy.
The New-Jersey Prohibitionists are angry
with the late Republican Legislature because it
failed to give them local option. Therefore
they have resolved next time to do all in their
power to put in Office the party which, as they
truly assert is the representative and the thrall
of the rum power. They cannot. and know
they cannot, elect their own ticket. All they
can do is to defeat the Republican party; the
one party from which Prohibition has anything
to hope or expect. The Democrats have made
no concessions. They do not pretend to be
anything else than the party of the saloons.
Nobody is foolish enough to look TO them for
any but saloon legislation. They can be relied
on to spread the gospel of rum, but no other
gospel. Yet it is with this party, soiled with
all ignoble uses dominated wholly by the rum
power, hostile in every fibre TO temperance and
good morals and cleanliness of life, that the
Prob ibitionists of New Jersey have formed an
alliance. 1t IS by buttressing the saloons that
they apparently expect to re2ress intemperance.
There are some people who prefer no bread to
half n loaf but these reformers. go further. If
they cannot have what they want they will take
what they do not want. If they cannot keep
the people from drinking altogether they insist
upon making intemperance freer than ever.
1t is strange position, but the refusal to ac-
cept the sound working compromise proposed
by the Anti. Saloon Republican Conference
gives emphasis to the fact that this, and moth
ing less, is what the NewJersey Prohibitionists
have committed themselves to.