New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-26
A RRdVE ACT,

In this cynical and snecring age, genuine
hcrosm and brave fidelity to duty are rarely
appreciated until the brave and heroic are dead.
Over Garficlds grave multitude OF Democrats
found manhood enough to speak the truth VINO
had been utteiing malignant falschoods ap"uo
him while he lived Creatures destitute OF
courageous fidelity themselves always attribute
the brave deeds of others TO selfish calculation,
and so the action of the Republicans OF New
Jersey on the temperance issue is certain to bo
insincercly attributed TO some hope OF present
gain il not to less worthy motives. Yet tho
truth is that the passage Of the Option-ilcense
bill deserves high honor, as an act OF brave
and heroic fidelity to duty.
Opponents Of this measure have threatened,
and sincere friends of the Republican cause
have warned, that the bill would cost the party
thousands of votes. The very men who have
voted for the measure probably had that cx-
pcctation. They have learned that fanatics
who profess to seek prohibition will not be
Won by bill which gives the people power TO
prohibit wherever prohibition can by any posi-
bilty be enforced these fanatics insist upon
a. law prohibiting everywhere. which IN c0un-
ties where there is a majority against prohibi-
ton would be a dead letter and disgrace To
The State The threats Of liquor-dealefs and
their instruments, that they would crush any
marty If it dared to impose high license or to
give the majority in any county chance TO
prohibit, have not been rcckOned meaningless.
Sensible legislators know that the opponents
Of any restriction Of the liquor traffic can com
mahd many votes. They know how the
enactment of the Scott license law by Rcpub-
lcans swept into power the Democrats under
Governor Hoadly in Ohio, and they expect that
the same forces will with more or less effect be
concentrated against the Republican party in
New Jersey.
But the Republicans know that the existing
statutes on the subject are so Inadequate that
they have proved imperative in a large part of
the State. They know that the public welfare
demands some measure OF restraint for the
traffic everywhere and that the traffic ought to
bear part of the expense which it causes. En-
percnce in other States has taught that the
dealers who have to pay considerable license
for the privilege of selling become interested
to prevent sales by thousands OF unlicensed
shops, and that the worst evils of intemperancc
spring from the multiplication of grog-shops OF
that measure of high license for every county
in which The people do not prohibit the ualllc
has become public duty. On that conviction
they have acted, with courage which deserves
high praise.
The Republicans also remember that they
have pledged themselves to give the majority
of the people opportunity to decide whether
they want to prohibit the liquor traffic or not.
Whether prohibition is practicable or wise III
their own county, or imprarticabe and unwise,
they hold il right to give the people who deem
IL practicable and wise, wherever they are In the
majority, opportunity to test the matter In
MANY of the counties Of South Jersey, espe-
cially. the advocates of prohibition believe that
on the naked issue, apart from questions OF par
tisanship or Of National interest. they have
sufficient majority to carry and to enforce pro-
hibition. The Republican legislators hold ii
duty to give the majority power to settle that
question in each county for itself
Governor Green proposes to make all the
political capital he can for his party by veto.
That is the Democratic policy on this issue; to
feht and denouncc each and every measure OF
legislation and restriction on one plea or an
other. The Republican members do not count
upon any political compensation for doing what
they hold a duty to the State. Some of them
performed that duty with the expectation Of
defeat in their districts. Probably most of
them apprehend that in performing this duty
they put behind them the hope of carrying
Ney-Jersey in State or Presidential elections
to come. but if that is to be the result, never
theless they face their duty and perform it
faithfully. If there were more of such courage
and fidelity in public life, this country would
ha hotter voyprncd