Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-18
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER Is, 1886.
Tbe Ant,-saloon movement.

The Anti-Saloon Movement.
We said last Saturday that the Anti
Saloon Convention which was then ex-
pected to meet in Chicago within few
days would prove to be q Republican
Convention in disguise. The Conven-
ton was held day before yesterday, and
il passed series Of resolutions, as such
sssemblages usually do, but il did not
attempt 70 disguise the fact that it was
held in all Of the Republican party.
The speakers advocated, and the
resolutions provided for, . policy
which it was calculated would rebound
to the advantage Of that party. twas
a convention Of Prohibitionists who
were Republicans first and Prohibi-
tiopists afterwards. Their prime OBJ
iect is the success Of the Republican
party. ROSCOE CoNKLING once wit
tily said Of CARL ScHURz that he was
professional foreigner. The men,
bers Of the Chicago Anti-Saloon Con-
yention may for'like reasons be dubbed
I" professional Prohibitionists."
Senator BLAIR, the temporary chair
man, attempted to give the keynote to
the Anti-Ssloon Convention. "He was
one Of those who believed that it was
only through the Republican party that
the suppression Of the liquor traffic
could be secured" What business,
then, had he in an Anti-Saloon Conven-
ton held ostensibly for the purpose Of
committing the Republican party to the
policy of opposing saloons,-that is,
the sale of intoxicsnts by the sdrink-
and inducing that party to allow the
liquor traffic Of all other descriptions to
20 on? He negatived al once the pre-
sumption that he was real Prohibition
list. This point he met, however, by
say ing that as between free rum and
low license he was in favor of high Ii
cense, whilst as between high license
and prohibition he was for prohibition.
He added that the Convention met as
Republicans, and were Republicans who
could not be driven out Of the party"
Senator WINDOW followed in the
same strain. He too desired to put
Down the liquor traffic through the Re-
publican party. lie never had the
slightest idea of attempting to organize
q rew party. lie desired the Republi-
can party to take hold Of the question
Of suppressing the liquor traffic but
this object, we repeat, will never be
accomplished by warning upon saloons
only, instead Of warning against the
sale by retail or any other way Of all
intoxicating liquors.
Surely these we're singular speeches
to como from Prohibitionists. They
were calculated to prejudice the Demo-
Gratis who were Prohibitionists against
the anti.saloon movement.
But what say the resolutionsS The
first denounces "the liquor traflic" in
the hsrshest Of terms but the second
drops the liquor traffic and confines its
denunciations to the "saloon." +" We
declare war against the saloon" The
third says Congress shall prohibit the
manufacture and sale Of liquor in the
District Of Columbia and the Terrific
ries--that is, wherever it has the power
to do so. The fifth tells what ought to
be done in the States-that is, to let
the people decide whether the liquor
traffic shall be prohibited by the SUBJ
mission Of constitutional amendments,
and, until such amendments are adopt
ed, by the passage Of local-oPtion
laws"
The hypocrisy Of the whole scheme
and Of the schemers is exposed in the
eighth and last resolution-the post
script, SO to speak, which tells why
the letter was written. This resolu-
fion roads AZ follows
Eighth. We demand that the Rcpub-
lican party, to which we belong and
whose welfare we cherish, shall take a
firm and decided stand as the friend oil
home and the enemy Of the saloon.
"In the name Of the prophet, flgs.'
Is IL not evident that the Convention
was intended, as We said last week, I,
prevent the Republican party from be
ing weakened by desertions to the Pro
hibitionistss
The anti-saloon movement is, there
fore, bound to fail. There is nothin
in il. II has no attractions for genuine
earnest, sincere Prohibitionists. 1t will
not be accepted as 4 compromise b.
either tho liquor-sellers or the Prohi
bitionists. 1t will not prevent the at
tempt In 1883 10 commit the Rspubli
can party to prohibition--a cOmmitts
to which Mr.. BLAINE has already pre-
pared the way for himself by saying
that 10 Maine (his State and whore hs
leads ny the Republican party is Pro-
hibision party; for IL he can head the
Prohibition party ct home, he can head
Il Ill over the Union.
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