Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-08-13

Mr.. w. l.. Pearl Of st. Johnsbury de
clines to accept his appointment a, a dele
gate from Vermont to the national ant
saloon conference, and in a published let
ter gives his reasons. These are
% Because the Republican party since
is convention in this state has done moth
ing to enforce the prohibtory law.
(2) The recent call for the anti saloon CON
ference makes it evident that it is called
to save the Republican party at the ex-
pense of Prohibition. l3l The
call for the anti-salOOn conference was
originated in Kansas, yet the Republican
party OF that state refuses to ndorse the
call and the prominent leaders of the
party will not be at the conference. and
will not indorse it, if it declares for PRO
hihition Believing that the time has
fully arrived for immediate action to to-
tally destroy the liquor traffic, | can but
regard any attempt to postpone such re-
suit by halfway measures as treason to
humanity.
% Since when did it become the duty
of a political party, as such to enforce
any law Are the officers of justice the
officers of party, or of the public We
have noticed many reports of cases Of en-
forcement of the prohbitory law in Yer
mont since the convention. In most cases,
probably, the officers were Republicans
but they did their duty because they were
officers of the ldiC and not of any party.
Horses have been stolen and houses
broken open, and breaches of the peace
have occurred-why does not Mr.. Pearl
arragn the Republican party for not en-
forcing the laws against burglary 1t
would be the greatest possible calamity if
the time should come when the admins
tration Of justice and the execution Of the
laws should be committed to a political
party. rather than to the servants and
officers OF the State as an organized COM
munity. If the prohibitory party is labor
ing to bring about such a result, it should
be frowned down by all law-abiding citi-
zens If the law has not been enforced
where Mr.. Pearl resides, nc is to blame,
rather than any political party. The law
gives him, as "A citizen, the means Of Sc
curing lis enforcemeAt-aud he cannot
shove off the responsibility to any politi-
cal party.
C2) The anti-saloon movement is un-
doubtedly intended to couuteract a. far as
possible, the assistance given to the allied
powers Of Democracy and whiskey by the
political prOhbitionists This is a laudabe
and proper purpose. 1t is also intended TO
accomplish an etfectual warfare on the
saloons-and to do vastly more than is
now done in the way of effective re-
striction of the liquor traffic. Its advo.
Gates hope that it may prepare the way for
more effectual measures of restriction and
ultimate prohibition throughout the land
CO. We do not know who has authorized
Mr.. Pearl to speak for the Republican
party OF Kansas, or to announce the
course of its leaders. The Republican
party of that State has given to it Il strict
prOhibltory law. We understand that
some of its prominent leaders endorse the
anti-saloon movement, and will attend the
conference and doubtless will abide by its
decisions. Individual surmises as to what
may or may not be done in the future by
individuals in distant State, make a
pretty shallow reason for Withholding en-
enlargement from a national temperance
movement.
The last sentence contains really the
only reason worthy the name, offered by
Mr. Pearl, and it stamps him as typical
political prohibitonist. He is no doubt
worthy gentleman, but IN this
matter he has lost his head and
hidden good bye 10 common sense.
His letter is in effect an announcement
that if he cannot have perfection here be-
low, he will have nothing. Immediate,
total destruction of the liquor traffic is his
ultimatum-and he Will have nothing
short of that.
But why contne denunciation of half
way measures to this business Why
not say, because all crime is not sup
pressed, | will consent to no partial sup
preston of (which is the utmost that has
been attained in any human community
or because all hunger and want are not re-
lieved, totally and Immediately, will re-
lieve none or because ignorance abOunds
no one shall have any education If the
utmost good cannot be reached, let US
have no measures that will take us half
way to it This is the logic Of the politi-
cal prohibitionists. Argument of course
is lost on men who can take any such
pos ton. They avow their purpose to kill
the Republican party because it mas not
brought Ia the millennium. They may
perhaps accomplish this but they cannot
kill the Democratic party, or prevent its
stepping into full power, arm in arm with
whlskey, whenever the Republican party
is broken down. " hen they have given
these allies full and permanent con troll
they will see their own mistake and Bit
terly repent it, when it will be too late to
reverse it.