Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-19
PROSPECTS FOR LIVELY AGITATION
In NEW YORK.

eral Harrison as against all other candi-
dates. But combination was made TO
defeat Mr.. Miller by the liquor-dealers of
the State, which organization swept into
its arms a very large number of Republi-
cans who were rallied by plea of loyalty
to their business interest, but who will not
remain true to the new alliance This
combination of business class, which con-
tributed very large sum of money, and
had secret alliance that worked with an
energy amounting to desperation, was sup
plemented by the aid of the Prohibition
lists. The situation was a peculiar one
Mr.. Miller stood forward as the champion
of regulation of the liquor traffic by the
interposition of high license. For this
reason the liquor interests, great and small,
united for the sole purpose of defeating
him and re-electing Mr.. Hill, because of
the bold advocacy by the former of meas
ures to regulate and circumscribe the
liquor traffic, and because of the open ami
mostly of Governor Hill to any regulation
whatever. The Prohlbiticnists Iabored
against Mr. Miller, but for widely differ
ent reason-because his party would not
put absolute prohibition into its platform.
Thus two apparently opposite interests la
bored to the same end, and both drew off
Republican votes. If the Prohibitionists
can get any comfort out of the result, we
fail to divine the source, or in what the
satisfaction consists. If the Prohibitionists
can stand defeat of their cause, the people
of New York viii manage TO get through
another term with Mr. Hill at the head OF
affairs, and the Republican party in New
York can indulge in feelings of pride over
the gallant fight made by Mr.. Miller
against a secret combination to defeat him
that extended to every village and cross
roads tavern in the great State, and was
backed by unlimited funds and system of
operations, though secret, known to be
powerful
1t becomes now very interesting matter
for observation as to what will be the fu-
ture of the Democratic party in New
York. While by solidity of the liquor
men it elected Governor Hill, it was una
bic to save to itself the Assembly of the
Legislature. 1t cannot, therefore, claim
that Hills election was a pro-liquor
triumph that can be relied upon. 1t has
also to face this possibility, that the unity
of the liquor interests may bring about
unity of all opposed, and thus make
alignments in which the popular strength
will shift places. Unquestionably the di-
vision of the local Democracy had some
thing to do with Mr.. CIeveland's defeat in
New York, but it was not the only factor
and alone would not have accomplished it
the evidence Of this fact being the legis-
latiye result. 1t will, therefore, be, as we
have said, most interesting matter for
observation when the Legislature and the
Governor again lock horns If the Demo-
cratic party then concludes that its alliance
with business interest for one specific
object, defeat of regulation, gives it strength
sufficient to defy the future, there will
develop an issue before which the New
York Democracy, united or not, will GER
tainly go down, and three years hence
Republican Governor will as certainly be
elected as that the sun rises, and next year
a still stronger Republican Legislature
will be chosen.
The Republican party in New York had
the courage in this year to take position
with the Regulationists. The recent result
will not discourage it. On the contrary.
the liquor alliance is certain to strengthen
the opposition. No one in New York.
with the recent gains in the lower house of
the Legislature in mind, looks for any
thing else than renewal of the high
license agitation, and that will be carried
into the legislative election Of 1889, when
both a new Assembly and new Senate
are to be chosen. Governor Hill is pledged
by his election to veto all regulative meas
ulOS liAC i-SSiSidttli4c may piss. ii Ills sup
port is wise, and releases him from that
pledge so far as to permit of some restric-
tive measures being adopted, and the Leg
islature yields that much, the Democratic
chances of holding the executive office
will be considerably improved. But the
Hill interest on the one side, and the re-
strictionists in the Legislature on the
other. can be trusted to prevent any such
adjustment. We may, therefore, look to
New York State this winter and the next
for the liyeliest local political excitement
of which the country has yet been wit
ness an agitation that will extend over
period of three years, up to and including
the next gubernatorial election The for
tunate thing will be that the fight will be
over before another Presidential election
comes on