The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-05-14
= STEP FORWARD.


There is 4 growing demand among tho
Republican masses in New Jersey that the
party take a positive and advanced posi-
tion on the Temperance question at the next
state convention and commit the Republi-
can organization to policy OF unqualified
opposition to the liquor interest Many Of
the strongest men in the party are favor
able to such a movement. and openly dc
clare that the time is ripe forgiying official
endorsement to policy which to-day inn
bodies the sentiment of 80 per cent. Of the
individual voters Of the party. The Jer-
sey City .foHr1al in a recent editorial on
the subject. expresses the hope that the
endeayor will be made this year to in
duce the Republican party to take posi-
tive attitude as a party Of temperance re-
form and temperance progress: to commit
it to any and all practical measures which
will tend to lessen the loss. waste. crime,
and misery resulting from the sale of IN
toxieating liquors. Many other Repub-
lican papers throughout the state take the
same view Of the question, and express
similar sentiments. We are glad to see
this agitation, and hope it viii continue
and grow so strong that it will prove irres-
istible in accomplishing the results desired.
As Republican paper, devoted to the
public interests, The Ge1ater has always
held to temperance principles and sup
ported temperance measures. believing
that in the end it pays best in politics. as in
all other things. to uphold the cause Of
morality and right. At the same time it
has always believed, and still believes, that
the cause Of temperance can never be made
a political success outside Of the Republi-
can party The past has invariably shown
that to be the case. and the future gives no
promise Of any different results. The
Democratic party in New Jersey, az in
most of the other states, is too closely
allied to tic liquor interest to warrant any
hope Of relief from that organization II
is owned out and out by tie saloons, and
depends upon them for its very existence
Without their moral and financial support
the Democracy Of this state could hardly
elect township constable in many Of the
counties, let alone carrying the local cleo
lions in cities like Jersey City. Newark.
New Brunswick and Trenton. and sweep
ing the state when Governor is to be
elected. The interests Of the Democracy
and liquor dealers are identical, just as the
interests Of Republicanism and temper
ance are identical, and for a long time it
has only been a question Of method when
the lines would be sharply drawn between
these dual interests. We believe that the
time has now come when the Republican
party Of New Jersey, as a party, should
recognize the principles Of the temperance
cause and make them its own Wearc not
afraid of the result; on the contrary NE
are confident that such course would
make Republican, SIN stronger just as sup
porting the right has always made it
stronger While the two are politically
divided both must necessarily fail IN their
contest with the united forces Of rum and
Democracy combination too powerful
to be successfully resisted by divided OPP
position.
All sincere temperance people would APP
prove of such action, and would be willing
to act with the Republican party as the
most or only practicable way Of accom-
plishing anything for their cause. The
Prohibition extremists, Of course, would
object; but as they would be left in an IN
significant minority, their power for harm
would be small. and they would soon dis
appear altogether A great national or
gauization. like the Republican party, en-
bracing in its ranks the intelligence, mo-
rality and proaressiycuess of the country,
pronouncing against the liquor interest,
would carry with ii the great body OF sin
cere temperance people, and leave no valid
excuse for the existence Of any other or
ganizcd political party acting in the interest
Of this great reform. While such a move
ment in this state might result in the loss
Of some votes in certain sections. it would
draw from the Democratic organization,
whatever Of the temperance element ii
now contains, and bring back in four-
fold numbers men who have been misled
into deserving the only party which, while
it has not always been able to accomplish
all that could be desired, is after all the
only party that can offer any hope Of sue
cessfully graphing with the rum power
(,a,Te,3 (,55f,sjsy