Smyrna times., 1886-08-11

IN looking about US we behold every
where the tremendous evils coupled
with the general indulgence in intoxi-
eating drink and all reasonable per-
sons are thoroughly persuaded that
some adequate action should be taken
to stop, or at least to diminish these
great evils. The wrong has assumed
such proportions that of necessity it
has ceased to be private matter and
has become great national subject
and political question that can only
be handled by that same agency that
must be relied upon for all great re-
forms under a government like ours,-
the intelligent action Of the people in
Of the use Of the ballot The leading
question in the minds of the people is.
what is the relation of the National
and State Government to the liquor
traffic, and what is that relation going
to be p Shall the Government con-
tinue to support and sanction traffic
ruinous to all moral and social inter
ests, and shall this position continue to
be forced upon the Government by the
political power and influence which
the traffic possesses? 1t is time for a
change. The period is nearly at an
end when constitutional power and
true political principles must take a
back seat in the presence of the saloon
power. The saloon must cease to rule
party politics, and the time is near at
hand when the grog-shop will no lon
ger be the source of controlling polit-
ical interests, and the "pot-house " pol
itician will no longer be the arbiter of
the national destinies. A call has been
issued recently for a national confer
ence of anti-saloon Republicans. TO
meet in Chicago on the 10th of Septem-
ber The movement OF which this is the
result originated in Kansas and its in
tention appears to- be to commit the
Republic" parity to q strong policy in
favor OF total Prohibition and against
the saloon" This is worthy of en-
dorsemcnt as favorable movement at
the present time, and will doubtless
exert a desirable influence in the direc-
ton of Temperance and political reform.
Still tits observable that the other great
political power, the Democratic party
the party which has been supposed to
be most intimately associated with the
interests of the rum traffic. and the
constant servant of the saloon power
has been making important new de.
partures in this direction, particularly
during the past two or three wears in
the Southern States. 1t is in those
States that this party possesses its main
strength, dominant in many of them al
most without opposition, and in those
same Southern States the cause of PRO.
hibition has made its greatest pro
gress. And we notice that this adj.
vance has been made, not through the
force of third party, but by tha,
greatest of forces in a free country
the will of the people. The only ulti
mate solution of the immense present
question is complete Prohibition but
the strength Of law is the will of tn,
people. Prohibition will not prohibit
unless the sentiment of the people is IL
accord with it. The proper and legiti
mate method ofdealing with the prob
lem is BY the vote of the people. anl
from the recent developments in tn,
South, the indications in the preat
West and the disposition Of the oreat
parties to wheel into line, we NAV lust
ly conclude that it will not be very lon,
perhaps before the stately and defian
ship Of the whisky traffic will be blown
to pieces by the dynamics Of the ballot
We are gratiied to see the partie
breaking away from the control Of th,
saloon power let the sinister rule 0
Alcohol be destroyed and we shall no
only have "A rescued people, but a pu
rihed political atmosphere and an un
trammelled ballot.