Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-05-25
THE ISSUE BEFORE US.

the election returns Of a number Of
J states that the third party vote is
not Onc-tenth that Of the friends Of
prohibition, thus showing that those
who have renounced party allegi-
ancc and gone out on a sort Of moral
crusade, determined TO have all or
nothing, are mere knot Of extrc-
mists who can never win over the
majority Of our fellow citizens.
Our correspondent pleads with
these prohibition disciples as one
neighbor would counsel with an
other. But many editors and plat
form orators transcend this modera-
ton; they cannot see the sense or
reason Of this secession, 50 they lose
temper and scold like very drabs.
II Is very clear this will not reclaim
the erring; hence the only correct
thing is to accept the situation as we
find it, and adapt our policy to the
conditions that exist
Any observer Of human character
who has mixed with prohibitionists,
must have been struck with their in
tense earnestness. They are men
Of middle or advanced life, Of more |
than average intelligence and pa
tient under reproof TO argue with |
them Is prohtless labor; the case is
closed in their minds, and they have
the tirmness to bide the issue of
events. Cromwelps division of Iron
sides we can understand to be Just
such men. They were God fearing
and immovable, but filled with
such unutterable scorn for the roy
alists, that their zeal amounted to
fanaticism.
There is a useful lesson in this his.
toric instance. In the Century
Thomas Kennan Is pub
fishing series of articles ON Russian
prison life. He shows such terri
BILE exercise Of despotic power in that
empire, men and women, of high ,
and low birth, imprisoned for years
On the mere suspicion of crime, and
hose who survive their tortures, dis :
at length without accusa-
lion or trial. that the intelligent and
active forces of the Russian people
have rcvoltcd against such tyranny, /
md the hate and desperation of the /
'evolutionists are 80 intense as torob 4
hanger Of all terror and deprive life
# all charm. The iron has entered
nto their souls.
And such has been the brutal
.omination of liquor during the
.ast ages. II has profmed God, OPP
rcsscd man and furnished daily tri- d.
ute To the devil Our homes have |
cen invaded, our brightest boys
ragged down toR life of infamy,
omen betrayed and sacrificed, and \
ar annals rcddcned with blood and ~
rimc. This has been continued
'om age to age, until the misrule of
am became iutolcmhle, and now I
acre Is spontaneous movement I'm
'cicty, reaching from Maine 10
lorlda, 90 eNtirpatc il from our -
hdst state and local elections
low that nearly onehalf Of our
opulation take part in this revolt,
ut they arr willing 10 bidc the -,
rowthof this reform feeling, and to r.
strict and regulate the rum traffic
means 20 It's ultimate suppress
N, But among these is u small in +
Ision of intense souls, who, like,
ne abolitionists OF an earlier date,
III enter into no league with Satan.
hey want King Alcohol dcthroned sh
nd hauishcd Now; they will listen 10
no terms of accommodation, un- tS
surrender is their de
and.
And We have TO bear with the in "a
mity ~ this people. They arc
'od citizens, they are travelling the r,
sht road. Only they are In ad- IN
mcc of the main column; and
neither the cNigvncics or the cam-
.igu will compel them to halt till
q army comos up, ar whether the N'
ain torc must double quick to ~ D
ny and maintain their position, is u
10 ot those things which, as Dun
cary would say, mo fcllah can tlnd
C. An the much enduring citizen <,
n do Is to hvar chahRbly with the
lings az his fellow mortals, put his
Ist in Providence and keep his . 4
WIDER dry.
.iIDNR nFMpFR Eanartt