New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-29
TIE TIDE CHdNGING.

II occurs 10 The Ne,c- York World that the
Democratic party, which has filched several
nolitical successes by adrolt use OF the temper
anrc issue is likely to lose much hereafter by
reason Of IFS jealous and unrcscrvcd champion
shin of free liquor. In this, as in some other
,b;ros The World offers TO the Democratic
nortv what il greatly lacks, intelligent leader
ship 1t says
The newspaper of Bishop Ireland the most mnnen
tai rate IN the Northwest has declared against 'ne Demo
crtie ticket In Wisconsin, Minnesota and Dakota us
reason Is that the Republicans favor while the Democrats
onpose high license and other Just compensation ioi ANU
restrictions upon the liquor traffic Inc hSoP oIo's ~.
"wde.Open" policy for saloons and is particularly m''r
AGAINST the 'Free whiskoy" platform and record OF Tie
nemocratic candidate for OF Minnesota NO party
su ford-to nut II on ground of votes aone-" o
nose rea sonabIe regulation Of the liquor traitc
Rut that is exactly what the Democratic
Marty has done for years in nearly all the States
and is doing TO this day. Through It's COM
m;ttoes the saloon keepers contribute TO sud-
mort third party tickets which arc kept alive
in order TO divide and defeat the temperance
vote. But the fraud is so open that nobody Is
deceived voters of all sorts understand thlt
the Democratic party, so far as 1t has policy
on the question: is in favor OF Tree whlskcy ana
vidc-opcn saloons. Where 1T cannot get so
much, ii asks less, proposing hlgh license IN
order TO defeat prohibition. and low license III
order to defeat high license, and no license at
all where that has a chance, just as the Rcpuo-
licans. with directly opposite tendencies, favor
prohibition where public opinion is prepared to
give prohibtory enactmcnts fair trial and
proper support, and high license where prohi-
btion is imprac.icablc and more moderate Ii
uh license
cannot be carried or enforced. The
issue may be put in nutshell thus
The LIQUOR traffic is hurtful to society
as whole the Republican party tres
to restrain it as far rs public opinion Will, or 20
make il bear rs much as possible OF the pubic
expense it causes the Democratic party tries
t. remove restraints from it as far as possible
and to get rid of laws which make the tralic
tear any burdens that it causes.
Tins in Congress the Republicans have I'M
posed and maintained revenue taxes on liquors.
The Democrats generally desire reduction or
repcal Of these taxes, though divided among
themselves as to that change, prior to the over
throw Of the protective tariff which the ma
iority seeks. In the Ohio election some years
ago. the aid Of powerful combination oil
LIQUOR distiilers and dealers was secured by
hedges looking TO the removal OF burdens from
the hquor traffic by Congress. Under the
Republican policy that traffic pays over S9O,-
600 900 or nearly one-third of the entire rev
cnue of the Government from taxation. so in
the State of Ohio a high license law which
sccured a large revenue to towns and counties,
and at the same time restrained the traffic ben
etcially. was overthrow by the Democratic
Hoo1lV.
ncv of the liquor association, the Chief EXccu-
tive of the State. But a similar law was en-
acted by the Republicans as soon as they rccoy-
cred the power.
The declaration of a single prclatc, however
influential, is but sign of the powerful lniiIi-
ence which the Democratic party is steadily
| driving into antagonism. The third-party Pro-
| hibitionists are few not many practical Amer
| lean citizens can be used as catspaws for Dem
ocratic politicians, throwing away votes on
| impossiblc candidates in order TO help TIC
| Eouor interest But the sincere friends OF tenn
pcrance arc overwhelmingly powerful In most
| Of the States. Direct maiorities for prohibition
| have teen cast in several States; almost a
| majority in Ohio; and local prohibition has
enlisted the support of a majority III states
where broader measures have not been deemed
cxpcdent. Among the voters who thus SIN
ccrcly support temperance measures are found
host of Democrats, a minority and yet body
so powerful that without its aid the Democratic
party would not carry ten States These voters,
| being sincere in their attachment to temperance
principles, favor in each locality the best mode
that is there found practicable of restraining
the liquor traffic or causing it to bear part OF the
burden it causes These voters. therefore, arc
precisely in accord with the Republican party
OF that question: and arc afironted and outraged
by the shameless bid of Democrats for the
| favor of the liquor interest. The time has gone
| by for the Republican party to lose by It's
honest attitude on this question. The time
| has come for the Democratic party to lose by
its championship of free liquor.