The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-07-24
Anti.Saloonism in Massachusetts,.

The Republican meeting In Boston
to emphasize the temperance senti-
ment of large element in the party
has resulted in the adoption of reso-
buttons favoring the submission to
the people of a prohibitory constitu-
tional amendment. The Prohibition
wing, which was present, prudently
accepted the prevailing view of what
was most jusdicious to be done.
There can be no doubt that this ac-
ton is significant. and that it points
to coming extension of demand for
temperance measures within the Re-
publican party which the politicians
everywhere will I've compelled to rec
ognize and respond to. 1t is to be
observed that the Anti.Saloon move
ment is not the work of this class, and
the fact is important. The charge
made hy the prohibition organs, that
1t has been started mercy to hood
wink the friends of temperance, can
not be sustained for the reason that
the promoters of the movement are
not office-seeKers, but for the most
part business and professional men.
who have become tired of waiting for
the politicians to move in the matter
and have at length determined to ap-
ply an impetus to them.
In fact the analysis of the new
movement shows that il is one to OBJ
tam what the Prohibitionists want,
but In common sense, practical way
which promises far better results
than the third-party men can ever
reach. The latter assert that nothing
less than the complete stoppage of
the liquor traffic will satisfy them
but in the act of making this asser-
ton they so cast their votes that all
their political influence goes to build
ing up the Democratic party, which
Is the great champion and buttress of
the drink traffic. Nothing is palmer
than the fact that a third party Pro-
hibition movement must help the
Democrats. In many instances it
can only have the effect of literally
making all temperance reform hope
less for years. In all cases it must
delay such reform and encourage its
enemies. This being so nothing can
be more perverse and irrational than
the pretence that those who insist on
helping the friends of whiskey are
the only trustworthy friends of tenn
perance. The simple truth is that all
these people are confOunding talk
with action and while they talk one
way they act in another. 1t is GER
tain that without the help of one of
the great parties there can be no tenn
perance reform. 1t is equally certain
that no such help is to be had from
the Democratic party. The case,
therefore, is obviously one in which
all the TEMPERANCE influence available
ought to be organized for appliance
tothe Republican party, since progress
can be made through that party alone
This is the view taken by the Bos-
ton Republicans who have put in
motion the Anti-Saloon movement.
1t Is said. and perhaps truly, that the
politicians do not sympathize with
the movement. They are always
fearful of moving ancient landmarks
and trying new experiments, and
that is why at intervals it becomes
necessary to electrify them with a
convincing proof that public opinion
has gone forward. If they cannot
rise to the occasion they will have to
step down and out. 1t is public
opinion which is being forced upon
their attention now, however, and
they will neglect it at their peril, hut
not at the peril of the Republican
party. All healthy and genuine re-
torn originates in this way within
the party, that is to say. Reforms
adopted in response to pressure from
without are seldom urged with en-
thusiasm or earnestness, but changes
for the better from within are real
changes, and are followed by perma-
nent gains. The Massachusetts Pro-
hibitionists have now not a shadow
of excuse for maintaining the third
party illusion. 1t has been made
plain to them that the way to guide
the Republican party into the advo.
cacy of temperance measures is clear.
No doubt the Boston Conference will
give fresh stimulus to the Anti-Sa-
loon movement throughout the coun-
try. and tend to convince doubters
that there Is going to be a good deal
of a shower after all.-N. Y. Tribune.
The Best Chill Medicine.
GATISnIrpV Mn Auu 1894