Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-11-19
Prohibition In Politics.

The Prohibition party of Kentucky
will hold state convention at Louis
vile on the 3lst of next March and
put out a state ticket. The question
of prohibition is one likely to cause
trouble with the old parties in the
future history of the country. 1t is
a question that is growing into such
proportions that it will shortly be-
come an issue. Prohibition is not a
principle but a sentiment. Princi-
pies never die, but live on even
though the parties founded upon
them may die and be forgotten. A
prohibition party could be a party of
but one idea, one purpose and one
sentiment. When its object had been
accomplished there would be nothing
else to do and the prohibitionists
who would keep harping on the same
old string after there was nothing to
play for, and keep clinging to a dead
issue, would become fogies, fanatics
and cranks. Prohibition is senti-
ment which should be confined to
communities and kept outside the do
main of politics. But the progress
made by the temperance people with
in the last few years clearly indicates
that there will soon be third party
of troublesome proportions. We are
sorry to see that there is to be all at
tempt to inject prohibition into the
politics of Kentucky. Third parties
always injure the dominant party and
this will be especially true in Ken
lucky in this instance, because the re-
cruits of the Prohibition party must
come principally from the Democrat
ic party. The question is one that
should be settled outside of politics
as it has already been solved in this
and over 80 other counties of Ken
lucky. After the object is gained
Law and Order" clubs can render
all necessary assistance in enforcing
the law. There can be Democratic
prohibitionists and Republican pro-
hibitionists, but when the adherents
of either party forsake their party
principles to run off after single
moral idea they become cranks. AS
well might man try to carry his re-
ligion or his masonry into politics as
TO try to found party ON the single
idea of securing the passage of pro-
hibitory laws against the liquor traf-
fic.
In the recent contest in this county
all parties, denominations and races
were represented in the fight for pro-
hibition and now since prohibition
has been secured, each voter can con-
tinue to affiliate with his party. This
is as it should be and we trust no
Democrats in Christian county will
be led astray by any set of men who
are anxious to gain notoriety by fig
uring as the leaders of a third party
1t is a question Of but few years
when the State of Kentucky will do
as Maine, Kansas, Iowa and 9TH
er States have done and submit the
question of prohibition to a vote of
the people. If it should be passed
then there would be no further need
for a prohibition organization. fit
should fail then whatever organized
efforts were afterwards made would
be much more effective if made indie
pendent of politics. Whenever
few doubtful states adopt pro-
hibitory laws we will find that
one or the other of the old parties
will adopt prohibitory plank in it's
platform. III this way prohibition will
become a national question, and such
a step taken by either party would
destroy all the campaign thunder"
of an alleged prohibition party" and
its organization would straightway
and necessarily lapse into "innocu-
Gus desuetude."