The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-07-30
Wriit"u iri tht MoNIToH.
DON FAKE TENPERANrE INTO
POLITICS."
Mrs pAYSlE IT,. calm

ia the prosecution Of temperance work,
me is frequently confronted with men and
women claiming a. be earnest advocates of
the same, who evidently shrink from indie
pendent political action. They never tire
Of ringing the changes oH the trite propo-
sition, that the question being a moral one,
it is illogical and even useless to attempt
its enforcement by legislative action. Emf
nent divines, noted philanthropists, etc,
in thoughts that breathe and words that
burn, have waxed eloquent III depict
ing the evils OF the drink habit. and yet.
when the test came. net only did not
support the party furnishing the best en-
bodiment Of prohibition, but in some in
stances betrayed a partizan zeal which,
il factions speak loHder than words be
true. showed only too plainly that with
them party ties were stronger than love Of
right. Whatever may be SAID concerning
the expedieney OF taking temperance into
politics, one thing is morally certain. that
rum IS cot only III the same, bnt foI q long
time has had a controlling influence. From
the primary meeting all the way until cleo
ton day, the campaigns Of the dominant
parties are largely engineered by the
whisky ring and tile brewers congress. RI
one doubt this let him read. not the utter
aneea af some Temperance crank, but
the official organs Of the liquor leagne
which, by the way, are recommended to
temperance workers far dissemination, in
the furtlleaHce Of the cause. (Paradnxi-
cal as it may SEEM If the perusal Of
these papers, showing by the stubborn
logic Of facts the true inwariness Of the
rimocraey. demonstrating beyond doubt
that the whisky men have i mortgage on
both parties. fails to open the eyes Of all
concerned, if surely must DC because they
belong 10 that class Of whom it is said
None are Sc blind a. those who will not
see. Why not submit the question 10
the people irrespective Of parties? .. is fire.
quently advanced. together with the state
ment that the whole matter can be settled
without the disturbing element OF an IN
dependent political organization" Doesn't
the merest-chiid know that laws have no
self-exccuting property; is not the novice
Of the fact that there is needed back
Of the Law an organization pledged 10 its
enforcement ? Would if not be the height
Of absurdity to trust to the gambling fra
ternity the execution Of the laws against
gambling, To expect a nest Of counterfeit
ers to show intense zeal il the enforce
ment Of the laws relating Ia counterfeit
ing Moral philosophers teach, and ex-
perienee confirms, that man is i selfish be-
ing, and such being the ease. ii goes
without saying. that lie legalized liquor
traffic will leave no stone unturned to
maintain and even strengthen their present
hold upon the dominant parties. and just
So long as politicians are open to brides
and the whisky men have tie money 10 buy
votes. party leaders viii obscqninusly do
their bidding, a truth SO plain that it seems
average man to attempt To demonstrate.
That asfute thinker, Rev Joseph Cooke
says, in language more pointed than eio-
quent, When I lind what the saloon
keeper don't want, that's the thing ! am
going for." There is a whole mine Of
practical philosophy in the above terse ex-
preston which temperance workers would
do we'll 10 note. You may multiply your
organizations. may increase the number Of
'goldcn-mouthed orators, etc, etc, and
inst 50 long as you keep the question out
Of politics, = yen shall scarcely disturb the
serenity Of tho constituents Of King
Bacchus and KING Gambrinusi but when
you make it a political issue then, in nau-
teal phrase, look ont for storms.