National Republican., 1886-10-02
nI,bop IreInnd on Tcmperanoe.


Bishop ireland on Temperance.
As heretofore stated in these columns,
the Northwestern Chronicle, the personal
organ Of Bishop Ireland, head Of the Roman
Catholic Church I'm Minnesota, veteran
worker In the cause Of temperance, but not
an advocate of prohibition, has announced
that It will support the Republican ticket
in the pending election, not only in that
state, but In Wisconsin aud Dakota, and
viii use such influence as It possesses to
induce members Of the church TO vote that
way. This influential journal takes this
position for the reason that the Republican
platforms In those states, as well as tho
territory, favor the restriction Of the liquor
traffic through the methods Of local option
and high license, which have been incor-
porated in the statutes Of Illinois, aud
which will become law in Minnesota. Wis
consin, and Dakota II the Republicans are
successful this fall. The language of the
Chronicic, which is believed to DO the
language of Bishop Ireland himself, 50
closely does It reflect his views, will bear
reprinting:
There can be ne question as to where tn,
friends Of temperance, OF law aud orlcs. of
scbritty, and of good government must take
their stand this fall. Between Amcs. with his
"widC-open" policy standngon n free whisky
platform, with the Columbia League at his
back openly declaring that they will capture
The legislature in the interests Of rum, ana
McGnl, as the nominee Of the party pledged to
high license and the control Of the liquor
nj no
abstaincr, no enemy Of the saloon can hesitate
n moment and be consistent We have advo.
Gated high license for years; we have written
and worked against rum for so long, and We
would be untrue To ourselves, untrue to the
principles We proclaim, did we not declare
ourselves strongly in favor Of the party that
pledges itself to the measures we desire to see
enforced. The Democratic plry pre-.
fers low license to high license II "wiio.o icl"
policy to legislative control of the liquor
traffic. II has made It's choice, II appeals 10
the friends OF those measures to support its
ticket, and, rs we are not nor ever have been
in sympathy with such political programme.
1t evidently does not desire our support, and
will not be disappointed when It fails to get It,
The Chicago Tribune, like Bishop Ireland,
anti.prOhibition, but an earnest friend Of
temperance reform, says:
The position of the able prelatc OF Minnesota
on the temperance question has bcon we'll
known for years. He has set his face like Il
flint against the use Of liquor. He has labored
indcfatgObly for temperance, aud his wOri
has been crowned with remarkable success,
not only among those directly under his
charge, but nll over the state. lie has enroll ID
goodly army of nbStalners through the iunu.
cnce OF moral suason, and has sthuscorrcspond.
ingly restricted the liquor traffic Just as Muir.
ply has done, with whom he has strong
sympathy. Noman among the Prohibitionsts
Is IA heartier hater of the saloon or a more
enthusiastic worker for the cause of temper
arcc than he, and no man among them can
point TO such recoTdoi success. And yet he
is rs uncompromisilfJy opposed to the attempt
to make man stop drinking by compulsory
legislation rs he is TO the frec.liquor policy OF
the Democratic party. Such u man could not,
| of course. lend his influence to the wida.open
| policy of the freo-whisky Democratic party
nor to the compulsory policy Of the Prohlb-
| tlOnists, who are in open alliance with 1t. He
| has always recognized the local option aud
| high license law MS the only wise and practical
method of dealing with the saloon traffic, aud
| the widespread reputation he has gained as
| temperance worker, rs well as the eXtraorii-
nary success he has had In dealing with the
evil, will commend the utterances inspired by
him In the Chr0nicic not only to his own com.
munion but to voters outside Of II VINO are
really anxious to effect something IN the inter
est oftemperance and 10 keep down the evils
of the liquor traffic,
Naturally enough the Democratic mag
mates in the northwest have been thrown
into state of alarm bordering on panic by
the bishops declaration in favor Of the Re.
publican policy and candidates, They find
tpat opposition to the ascendancy Of the
saloon in politics is not confined to the Re-
publican party; that there is vigorous and
growing disinclInaton to submit to saloon
rule; that they have counted the saloon In
fluence too ardently aud are Inenaced witt
ruin by the factor on which they have de
pended for the destruction OF the Republi
can party.