The Republican journal., 1886-05-06
Constitutional Prohibition in Rhode Is.
land.

much of blessings obtained through the ''Maine
Law" For the past few months nothing has
been more persstently urged upon their atten-
ton. From pulpit and lecture platform burn
ing words of admonition have been poured
forth by speakers who have the cause of tenn
pcrancc close at heart. Capable lecturers from
afar have been added to local talent, while the
press of the state has been most generous in
publishing not only lectures, sermons and
speeches actually delivered, but likewise a mass
of matter never uttered save in type. All this
pointed to the coming struggle, and on the 7th
inst. the qualified voters of Rhode Island de-
cared their wishes regarding constitutional
prohibition. If these voters were not prepared
to exercise their right of franchise understand
ingly, 50 far as prohibition was concerned,
probably no men ever will achieve that distinc-
ton. If ever a considerable body of citizens
met with a surprise it was these same voters
when they read the papers on the follow
ing day and found that the required three-fths
vote had been exceeded by nearly 600 ballots
bearing the word 'approvcd." And thus un-
eXpectedly Rhode Island wheeled into line as
the fourth state that has adopted constitutional
prohibition in both making and selling of alco-
holic beverages. The liquor men We're victims
of misplaced confidence. With the mass of peo-
pie they had no idea the amendment could be
carried. The Prohibitionists employed every
honorable means; members of the w. c. I. u.
were indefatigable in urging that their tickets
be used, and in many places were stationed
near the ballot-boxes where their influence
counted for more than they dared hope. Poll
ticians, relying on the results of former cleo
tions were caught mapping. Men who would
as soon suffer paralysis of an arm as have their
liquor supply cut off jocu!arly voted for prohib-
ition, counting on the great majority of the gen.
eral balloting to nuify the sport they were
making. Numberess anecdotes of this kind
are told, and the humor of temperance men,
though waiting for the chance to express itself,
is now INDUCED at the expense of those who
carried the .oke farther than they intended
The adoption of the amendment was not par
ticularIy question Of political parties, though
the greater percentage of votes was expected
from the Republicans One town that is often
considered Democratic cast its ballots for pro-
hibition in the proportion of about 230 to 1.
The Republican candidate for Attorney Gener-
al caused some disaf1ection in his party He
had filled the position several years and had
given forth that he should not again accept the
nomination; but upon the agitation created by
a rumor that he had been too friendly to rum
men while administering the laws pertaining to
his Office, he rcconsidercd the decision pre-
viously announced and sought for vndication
at the hands of the people. To his dismay they
pronounced against him. Hon. Edwin Metcalf,
lawyer of superior abilities, was nominated
by the Prohibitionsts for the office of ATTORNEY
General. The Democratic Convention likewise
named him for the position and gave him capi-
tai support. Disatfected Republicans made the
matter sure by free use of lead pencils. Mr..
Metcalf is said to have been formerly Il Demo-
crat, though of late years he has acted with the
Republicans.
1t is of course useless to write anything for
Maine people regarding the virtues Of temper
ance. The arguments for prohibition in one
state are those used in all others. Empty
purses are to be filled, arders rcplenished, in
mates of jailS and reform schools released,
work houses and asylums abolished, state penal
institutions nearly all discontinued, churches
filled to suflocation until they are enlarged; in
short everything that is good is to triumph
while all the evils that crowd upon the heels of
drunkenness are to be known no more. Sup
pose, then, in order to continue this topic, the
writer abandons his own views and gives some
of those urged, or that can be readily by the
opponents of Prohibition. The extinction of
the license system furnishes no employment for
those with or without dependent families who
have hitherto found renumcrative labor under
such system In the city of Providence alone
$500 men will be without occupation on July
1st. AS these men begin to cast about for
work in an ovcr-crowted city they will meet
with friends who voted for the amendment.
but who now regret that they have helped to
impoyerish those they are powerless to aid.
The temperance speakers promised that taxa
ton should be reduced, but when taxpayers
look at city treasury deprived of over $133, 900
that came to it yearly from license fees, when
they contemplate that for long while less
money will come to traders hands, that land
lords will lose over one-third of million dollars
from lack of yearly rentals in places to be
vacated July 1st, they wonder how such thing
as lesscned taxation can come to pass. The
interest on bonded debt of some S10,00O,0 900
must be paid and provision made to meet the
maturing bonds; the various departments of
the city must be kept up, and the expense will
probably not be less than usual besides this,
the introduction Of a more complete system of
sewerage is at hand, and the cost promises to
reach to millions of money. Faith in the
words of temperance people will not meet
demands that call for hard coin. 7uration
arW not be re0uced. Some prophcsy that in
one year the streets of Providence will be as
bare as Goldsmith's Deserted Village" Gen
eral traffic will sympathize with the closing of
433 places where liquor is now sold, and scared
landlords are searching for tenants and to some
extent circulating petitions for signatures re-
bukng the incoming order of things. Some of
the hotels will be closed. That palatal pile
known as Hotel Narragansett, whose seven stor-
les of noble architecture, luXuriant furnishings
and immaculate service are sources of justifable
pride to Providence people, must sllccumb it
is said, from this act of voters. The complex
establishment has long been managed at Il loss,
i'll fact has never been otherwise than a source
of expense to its owners. The revenue from
wines, ETC., furnished to guests has been the
prop on which reliance was placed to decrease
large deficits. This is now removed and the
principal owner says the house must be closed.
When this is donc none but the extremely
radical can regard it other than misfortune.
One very justiiable complaint against the
new law is that it tears down established Gus
toms and leaves to chance the supplying of
equivalents. This is against Natures rules.
Nearly half thousand places in Providence
where men congregate to spend ''social eve
ming" will be closed on and after July 1st.
What has been done to provide attractive
substitutes? Nothing as yet, and few will like
ly be furnished. What course will the stream
of humanity take when driven from its old
channel? The dam will be erected and the
flow stopped, but so hastily will the work be
done that soon, after twisting around the
barriers up-reared by voters, the old bed will
be rcgained. Temperance workers admit that
the ease with which the cause has been won at
the polls will prove drawback to complete
realization of their wishes. They well know
that inclination to rigidly enforce the amend