Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-01-08
PROHIBITION IN GEORGIA.

'See what has been done for prohibition In
Georgia without third party. Docs not the
result there show the unwisdom of a third par
ty in Ohio and in the Nation?''
Not bit of it. There is practically no anal
ogy between Georgia and Ohio in the respects
you mention. The non -partizan method OF
carrying on the temperance reform may work
in those States where one or the other of the old
parties has such an overwhelming majority as
to be able to run elections in defiance OF the
liquor vote. Republicans have such majority
i'll Iowa aud Kansas. and in Georgia the DEM
ocrats have it. Not so, however, in Ohio.
In Georgia the Democrats have majority OF
two to one over the Republicans, In Ohio the
parties are so evenly balanced that either losing
the support OF the liquor element in the party
is sure To be defeated. The result of the late
election shows that neither Of the parties had
a majority of tho votes cast at the polls and the
officers elected we're elected only by II plurality
vote. With liquor men ii Is beer ilrst and par
ty afterwards. With politicians 1t is party iirsl
and country afterwards! Liquor men, no mat
ter to what party they belong, bolt and vote
agins. all men and platforms hostile 70 tn,
truilic. The politicians of both parties know
this and dare not speak, much less iegislate in
Ohio, against the demands vi that traIiic
TitCn VI oiu puitiNo IN Nohl"nea W.
liquor men. Neither. upon penalty oi defeat,
dare offend these ren by any hestile move
ment lest they slido over to the other party aud
give 1t victory.
Thus In Ohio, the liquor dealers who max.
the protection of the traffic condition of the
support OF either or any party are now, and
have been for years, In Ohio and in the nation.
u balance OF power aud hence, masters of the
.,,t nr,,ia
| Dou not know that local option law was Civ
en- the people Of Georgia and that 1t is by means
| of this law that the traffic is being rapidly sup
pressed In that state? Why have the people oi
| Ohio 10 such lnwg In ls7s.9a petition signed
| by 60,OO0 citizens Of the State, asked the Dem
ocratic Legislature for local option l-~' The
| liquor men oblectd and the Legislature refused
| Republicans denounced the Democratic Lcgis
lature for Its refusal and passed resolutions In
. me counties declaring that such reiusa
was an 'outragc ON the boasted principles o
home rule, and was u virtual denial of the righ
4 of protection" lsee Fulton county resolutions
of June ., 1871 Yet the Republican Lcgisla
ture following, when, in lSsO'l, asked by 2j0,Oa
petitioners for local option, Notwithstanding al
| is hypocrital denunciation OF the Democratic
Legislature, did just US its Democratic predeces
1
| No question is or can be OF more a political
1 question than is that relating TO the manuiac
| ture aud sale oi Intoxicating beverages. l
practically involves directly or indirectly. ev
cry interest and everybody In the State. II in
1 wolves too, all departments of government, leg
islatiye, judicial and executive. ThuOgh no
necessarily partizan question, 1t is essentially
a political one. Where existing parties are in
dependent and free and ready TO act aginst tn
liquor crime. no new or third party may b
| needed. But where existing parties are dom
mated aud controlled by the rum elemeut, Il |
absurd to expect such parties ever te repress tn
evil that rules them
To expect either or any party so dominated t
suppress the liquor traffic would be as silly
| II wonld have been for Union men during til
late war. to have expected Joo Johnston's o
Gen. Lees rebel armies to have suppressed til
rebellion. The liquor power In Ohio aud In tn
| nation Is an organized political power. contro
| ling, with despotic sway. both tho old parties
These two old parties being In fact, only Il,
two wings of the liquor vulturo With onl
these parties the traffic would forever have IRE
sailing. A third parts. solid and unanimous 4
prohibition. enacted and enforced, Is the d.
inand OF the age and 1t is being rapidly respon,
cd TO by the people.
Elmira, Oi Jnnn 1880. W.