New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-18
THE IyTLS4LOOY MOVEMENT

Tho National Convention OF the Anu-oaiooh
Rcpublcans at Chicago has adopted platform
which NAV be regarded as the first step toward
orcanizcd and practical action within The nc
pubbcan party for reform of the saloon evil
The convention has been snecred at as unrepre-
sentative. In fact it represented faithfully inc
strongest temperance element in the country
that element OF clcar-sceing Rcpntllcahs who'
while profoundly convinced Of the need OF tcih-
ncraucc reform. believe that the right and the
only sure way to secure it is 10y compelling inc
party with which they are idenuhcd 10 ih',,c
Il n leading issue. II is only few months
since the Ant-SaloOn movement was pcsuh.
7, startcd in the face of ridicue and detracuon
From the outset it was misrepresented py inc
unscruplous masquerading politicians VINO are
endeavorine to create third party which snail
act as tender to the Democracy, under the pre-
tcnce of advancing the cause OF temperance.
AGAINST discoulagcmcnt however, the movement
nroccedcd. gathering strength continually, ana
Indicating. by the earnestness Of its subsidiary
conventions. the sincerity and determination
which have produced this national expression
The thoroughly practical character oil the
movement is shown in the Recommendations
Of the platform No time or energy was
o,oyp away in nero vague and general de-
maods for measures too sweeping to oicr any
present hope Of enactment but 1t was propose"
tlat the party should be required 20 cncct
everywhere the most and the best maze possipic
tx local conditions The practical tendency o'
such programme is clearly shown ny conpa'
iny it with the Prohibition policy. The iat'cr
aims at obtaining the final results at once, anu
ly purely independent means. The result as
hon not
ex,nrlcnce has shown, is negative, or Whch no.
negative. suicidal. For either the prohioiuon
is thrown away, or it goes to reinforce inc
Democracy, which is the bulwark oil the saloon
in politics The Anti-Saloon movement pro
cecds differently. 1t begins by dcduclng from
the facts of history the conclusion lhat inc
Republican party cmbOdics nnc-tenths Oh wha'-
ever rcformatory and progressive tendencies
are extant. 1t argues from this that Whatever
reform it is desirable to urge must, to succeed
Obtain the support of the Republican party. II
then facilitates reform by adapting IT'S measures
to local conditions, rightly reasoning That IL IS
better to secure even partial Improvements
where no more can at present be had than 10
attempt too much and consequently 1Ml III
obtaining anything. And finally, TO inc oo
lection that Republican politicians have oi'ch
shown themselves subscrvlcnt to the Saloon
| influence. it answers that the Anti-Saloon nc
| ,ublicans intend to devote themselves to rem
| cdying that, by exercising all their pohuca
| influence against it.
| There is not step in this programme when
ought not to be heartily approved by disln-
terested and intelligent advocates OF temper
ance throughout the country. TO the gen
| nine Proh btionists it offers for the frst Tin"
| n practical and rational means Of carrying INTO
effect the convictions they entertain most
strongly. To the friends of temperance VIII"
are not yet prepared for Prohibition the new
movement holds ont a hope of gradual pop
Mar education which may produce permanent
benefits. To all the proposal to remit the qucs-
ton to the popular suffrage must approve
itself as thoroughly consistent with democratic
doctrines and institutions. Nor can there DC
any serious question as to the possibility OF
informing the Republican party with the spirit
and purposes Of the Chicago Convention. The
issue is one about which all men are think
ing. The evils Of the saloon, both In politics
and society, are being recognized as never be
fore. A spirit is growing up among thinking
and patriotic men of kind to sweep away
any selfish obstruction, and this spirit has lis
Judgment in the Republican party itself. The
Anti-Saloon Convention at Chicago is but al
outward sign of growing tendency and dc
termination. 1t is the beginning OF organ
lied action on the one line which promises
enduring and solid results.