New-York tribune., 1886-07-17
PROHIBITION AYD REPUBLIcAyIsM
DANGER AND oPPoRTUNITY-TyE FUTURE or ru.
PARTY.

DANIEk AND oPPoRIUNITY-TUE FUTURE OF rBp
To hs Edttor Of The Trtbmne
SIR have read what your correspondent
H. says Of Prohibition Foes OF Temperance" IN yo,,
paper Of July G. and tho editorial on the ssms
subject. have been seadfast Republican from ths
organization OF the party until now, and have Ala
always and oyery advocated the prohibition OF thu
liquor traffic have also been reader and admirer a
THE TRIBUNE and have recognized II as the eresa
loader of the best political Journalism In the moral ~
forms Of the age May suggest how this prohibition
question strikes me as n Republican
First Of all, them the liquor question In its varoua
aspects is attracting more and more attention year ~
year Its relations to health to peace AMI order in 40
ciety to public and private morality, TO poverty Ml
crime and taxation etc, are better understood than
before. The nnumerabe evils which take root IL
the saloon stand out more ana clearly and seSa
and felt by the people, on whom any political party
must depend for future II II shall have future 10 ,hs
great Republic. No intelligent well-informed journal
doubts the existence Of these great eys OF
that they are proper subjects of legsl alton.
Hitherto the Democratic party In the Northern States
and especially In the larg cities. has been tho most
obedient servant Of the saloon power is generally
regarded settled thing tnat temperance REFORM anl
especially prohibition, has nothing expect from the
Democratic party. II should not be forgotten, hovevs
that the main strength Of the Democratic party In the
Southern States and that the largest progress OF the
prohibition movement within the last two three yea
is seen IN these same Southern States Tho days when
the saloon power shall govern tho Democratic party 10
the United states are nearly numbered. The power Of
the saloon In politics is nearly at an end
The liquor interest, for many years past, has been
strongly consolidated. In many places IL has held the
balance OF power, and through its thorough orsanIzA
ton. which covers the whole country and penetrates
every voting precinct. concentrate money an In
huence wherever the emergency may require. II not
neither tho DOitc1 nsa
cared to provoke its opposition Is power. how ever
like the physical strength OF its boated Victims is
apparent than real and 1t will fail under the first trial
Of strength. whyl Because Its heart sni
soul mercenary. The money getting OF distilles
and importers ami brewers and saoon-keepers the
life OF the whole business which feels upon the abnor
NAL appetites of lis victims AMI supporters The real
interests OF nne-tenths Of those whom it look
for help political contest against &c, aud more
III Al ha OF them have already awakened 10 tue fact
As Grant said OF the Rebellion, Is ike an sggsnel
and 1t breaks in at point 1t will break all over
The saloon power in politics 10 not far from It's Apo
And just here is where you the folly Of the third
rarty movement Others see 4 as well The liquor
party stands IN the market and offers votes 20 The po
ical party which will protect aud help IL
rhe little fraction OF Pronoltloni't which thus far have
made up the third PARTY have gone of 10 work In their
chosen Held What theni Why OF course the two
they Then what will become Of the majority Of
Pronlbtionists who have renamed 10 the party unu
now speak by the records when say that tho Pro-
hibtion party. as separate political party las nevor
yet beon able to marshal one IN ten OF It's real strengt
fraction grows larger however 10 every election where
the question 10 involved. Deprecate 1t as may cal
it folly and other harder names, already the RrpIb
can party has suffered defeat by the detection and
less wisdom shall come to the Republican leaders or 10
these radical prohbitionsts. or 10 both. more over
whslmng defeat Is inevitable in the near future. The
time has fully when the RepuDloan leader. must
choose the saloon and thosa who have resolved
upon Its destruction. Compromise Is impossible; IL
wonld avail nothing II attempted The Republican party
is and glorious Its achievements are the grand
history. rt includes the noDlest citizens OF the
greatest republic or the world. But IL IL nWt great
to hold the saloons Of the country AMI The
who believe them TO be the source OF wel-nigh all
Let the Republican party declare itself for the sup
preston Of the s anil the protection or the homo
NewJersey as IN Iowa. ana here as there the way VIII
open to victory. The Republican party Of Iowa was
sharply criticised for adopting the pros Dition psnx
but the stability ami perpetuty OF the party are assured
there nowhere else the direct result ~ TINS action
But for this 1t would have been dismemoerod AMI de-
feated Now the day OF II, peril In that state has passed
away with the saloon. for As thing OF power In tns
state the saloon Is already gone Let NewJersey follow
the example. and Pennsylvania move along the same
ne and the end will be attained. Two simple RepuD-
can steps lead TO all that prohibition RepuDcAns ask
sf the people have right TO express their Will AT tue
ballot box and secondly the viii OF the people mus!
he oheyed. On this line the Nation Will move. ana
within twenty years the saloon Will be prohibited. and
the party which shall lead the Will hold the reins
OF government for another quarter Of century.
PROHIBITION REPUBLICAN,
A sbTy Park, " j.. July IA. 1886.