St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-28
SOM Nuts

For tbe Temperance People to Crack.
TC the Editor of the Globe:
A certain religious journal with decided
political proclivties of the Republican type,
last week declared that the only correct and
consistent position for the friends of temper
ance, of law and order and of good govern
ment to take, is the support Of the Republic
can state ticket at the ensuing election; this,
presumably, because of the provision in the
platform of that party Tin favor of high Ii
cense, local option and the strict enforce
meuJ of existing laws regulating the liquor
traffic" The adoption of this plank by the
Republican convention, after the nomination
of its candidates, who have not been heard
upon this question, and who have not de-
clared themselves as in accord with this pol
icy, may be sufficient to satisfy the above
mentioned religO-poltical journal. But many.
less credulous, will be inclined to ask more
substantial proof of the sincerely and effic-
acy of this action before committing them
selves to support which necessarily extends
to all other principles enunciated by this
party and platform as well as to all other in
terestS which its candidates represent. In
word, there are many friends of temperance
and high license, who are not friends of the
Minneapolis warehouse, elevator and millers'
ring. To perpetuate that obnoxious institu-
ton, so ruinc US to the farming and business
interests of our state, so blighting TO our
commercial prosperity and individual well
| fare, is to pay high price
| for high license, even if we get what we buy.
Will the temperance advocates of the Repub-
lican platform produce the evidence neces-
sary to remove this skepticism on our part?
Will Mr.. McGill break his sphinx-like silence
and tell US what his policy is on this subject
and what he understands this indefinite dec
laratiou of his party to mean? Will Mr.. A.
Z. Rice. co-canddate, inform us at what
period his conversion from antagonism to high
license took place, If at all, for well we remem-
Der, to our sorrow, that high license was not
his doctrine during the last session of the
legislature? We desire to be told what these
gentlemen understand by high license; what
by ''local option in the connection in which
it appears in this platform, and whether it
refers TO the antecedent clause or to the gen
eral question OF liquor dealing; whether it is
to be optional with localities to say whether
they shall have liquor dealing at all or not
merely high license or not. The provision
for enforcement of existing laws is senti-
mental and nothing more. 1t is not necessary
for any party to declare itself in favor
of enforcing existing laws to give to those
laws life and effect. The statutes take effect
from and after their passage, not from and
after Republican convention declares itself
in favor of their enforcement. 1t has been
widely affirmed and generally be-
lieved that the Republican party put one side
in the platform and the other side in the
ticket. There is no disputing the fact that it
did so with regard to the farming interests, to
the labor question, to the tariff. If the jour-
nal above referred to has any Information
which will advise its readers and
the temperance men whose con-
sistency it would question. as to the
point where the Republican party in conven-
ton assembled ceased to be inconsistent. and
meant what it said, or what it would have I'M
derstood that it meant to say, the time is ripe
for the disclosure of the evidence.
Among other things which would follow
from the adoption of such position would
be the Endorsement of compulsory education
as proclaimed by the Republican platform
This is treadiug upon dangerous ground. 1t
is unnecessary and uncalled for in this age
and in this country. 1t is an OrfShoot and re il
of the old penal laws with which England
sought to destroy Irish nationality and pre-
vent Irish faith. The platform demands the
education of the children lin the schools
What schools but those only which the legis-
lature can take cognzance of, to-wit, the
public schools? This is a surprising position
for an Irish Catholic journal to take. surely;
a1tagonistic to the wel-known discipline of
the Catholic church, whose organ it processes
to be. We will await with interest the out
come of the editors cogitations on this point
which will determine whether or not this, too,
is part of the price which Catholic temper
ance men must pay for the privilege o. sup
porting the Republican party, as he advises.
w.
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