New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-15

LESSONS FOR HE PROHIBlTIONISTS.
Two recent events which mark the pro gress
of prohibition sentiment are emneutly slgnih-
cant of the futity of the third party doctrine
which the Prohibition organs so perslstentiy
preach The election in Rhode Island, invoiV-
ing the adoption Of the prohibition amendment
to the State Constitution, showed that the hea'y
vote cast for the amendment was brought out
by the nom partisan cha acter OF the proh'oit'oh
campaign. The leaders were wise enough 10
sink all nretence of a third-party movement.
Neither Republicans nor Democrats were
T, s,l;cted to transfer their allegiance. Every
aroument was foun lei on social and moral con-
siderations every appeal was to the reason and
conscience of the voter not to his political con-
v,ctiors. The Rhode Island press concurs III
asserting that it was the absence of partisanship
which carried the amendment. me question
was prndently kept altogether apart from poll
tics, and the Womcn's Christian temperance
Union contributed powerfully to impress upon
the voters the non-partisan character OF the
campaign Prohibition as the title OF party,
did not figure in the contest, and there can DC
no doubt that the success OF the moveineht
against the saloons is due to this.
The second recent event which has the same
significance for the Prohibtionlsts Is the
passage by the Maryland Legislature Of the bill
providpg for the introduction and use OF TEN
perance textbooks i'll the public schools. AT "A
meeting of the Maryland Temperance League
the chairman of the Committee on Temperance
Text Books read report of the work done be-
fore the Leg islature i'll securing the passage OF
the bill, and therein showed that the success OF
the effort was entirely due to the non-partisan
character of the agitation. Here again the
Women's Christian Temperance Union was
foremost in the labor and the committee
frankly acknowledged that the triumph Is
theirs "for without them, as two years ago, 1t
would have proved failure" The Importance
and scope of this testimony must be perceived
at once. Here again the agitation which, when
conducted on a third party basis, fails, Is sue
cessful, as is freely admitted, only because the
pon-partsan attitude is adopted. The Mary
land victory OF the Prohibition measure, like
the Rhode Island victory, is explained by the
abandonment of the partisan position. Had
the Maryland Prohibitionists gone to the Legs
ature as third-paIty agtators, they Admit
themselves that they would have failed to get
their bail through. They were sensible enough
TO perceive this, and so hey succeeded.
we recommend tllcst pItE cAhhh !'ioo w
the careful consideration of the P!ohl0ltlon
press all over the country. They are STRIKING
proofs of what can be done by non-partlsan
effort; and not less striking proofs OF the
necessity Of separating prohibition agitation
from craftsmanship, if it is to be made successful.
Neither in Rhode Island nor in Maryland could
the recent prohibition enterprises have been
carried through on any other than non
partisan basis The Rhode Island temperance
people were indeed so far from realizing the
strength of their new policy that, Judging by
the past, they anticipated defeat. The truth is
that in both cases they cast of fatal clog, ana
nut themselves in practically unassaliaDle
position. Such occurrences, however, Will be
of little Interior benefit If the lesson OF them Is
not learned. An attempt to claim the events
cited as victories of the Prohibition party
| would be not only fatuOus but suicidal. The
temperance sentiment in the country Is plainly
strong and growing. 1t can be evoked Oh the
simple merits of the question with powerful
effect, but every attempt to link it with politics
prevents its free expression and reacts dsas-
trously upon the experimenters Ii the FRO
hibition press will realize this truth and act
| upon it, the cause of temperance Will receive an
| impetus such as it has sought Ill vain through
| the tn rd- narty method.