The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-02-26
PROHIBITION IN TWO PARTIEs.


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PROHIBITION IN TWO PARTIES
We have before us number of cir
cuIars issued by the Anti-Saloon Repub
lican National Committee, whose office
is at SO Nassau street. New York. No
one can glance over the Deadly Plat
WINGED that THE PALATKA NEWS is correct
when it says no one can be Prohi-
bitionist without being at variance with
one fundamental principle of the Demo
cratic party as expressed by the plat
forms of the party in National and State
conventions. These expressions of opin-
ion and sentiment are in line with
all true Democratic doctrine on the
subject of sumptuary laws as laid down
by the fathers of the party.
More than this, the so-called Deadly
Parallel proves that the Republican
party, wherever it has expressed its sen
timents on the subject is unreservedly
Prohibition, opposing high license and
all other plans of controlling the evil of
intennperance that have been dictated
by the common sense of those who per-
ceive that humanity may be led but can
not long be driven. The only exception
to this rule is in the case of California
where a Republican State convention
demanded protection for the viticul-
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The Democratic National Convention
of 1884 inserted the following in its
platform:
We oppose sumptuary laws which vex
the citizen and interfere with individual
liberty.
The only instances in which State
conventions have departed from this are
in Tennessee and Texas. In the first
named State the Democratic and Repub-
lican conventions took the same course
in asking for the submission of pro-
hibitory amendment to the State Con-
stitution to the vote of the people.
s.Document No g. entitled ''What
Republican Leaders say is another con-
vincing document. No one can read this
document without perceiving that the
legitimate home OF prohibition is in the
Republican party, the party of centrali-
cation, the foster-mother of trusts
and monopolies
When it comes to expressions of opin-
ion on the subject of the evils of intern
perance and the baleful influence of the
saloon in politics there will be found nc
age Democrat and the average Republi-
can. 1t is when the Republican wishes
to knock a hole in the side OF the ship of
state through which to toss the salooa
overheard that the Democrat objects.
He prefers to keep the structure intact
aud take other means of REFRESHING the
nuisance. 1t is not friendship for the
saloon element but opposition to
interference of the magistrate and the
constable in private life, to the multiple
cation of offenses amenable to the law
1t is dislike of ''sumptuary laws which
vidual liberty that causes the Democrat
who is one from conviction and not
merely from Tradition to take his STAND
with the nti-Prohibitionist. When it
comes TO the use of the saloon there is
not any difference in the habits of the
Democrat and the Republican,. When
1t comes to the private jug in the cup
board there is often no difference
between either and the Prohibitionist.
The difference between the Democrat
ON the one hand and the Republican and
Prohibitionist on the other is mainly in
their ideas of the province of govern.
ment. With the Democrat governments
true sphere seems to be to maintain
order in the community, order in its
largest sense. The Republican has
paternal ideas of government. think;
1t should care for, educate and guide the
people which created it as a parent is
supposed to maintain ard rear his child
With the Prohibitionist the idea of gov.
eminent verges on the theocratic-
government should, he think, be mora
educator, a moral governor restraining
the people and making them march
within the lines drawn by those who be
heve themselves called to this mission.
The Democratic temperance reformel
would continue the work of persuasion
fhat has been in progress for Sc Ions
with good results. He would be content
to await the fruits of his toll in tn,
gradual roofing out of the alcohol habi
and to foster the sentiment condemnins
those who drink as well as those who sci
intoxicating drinks. The Republican
and Prohibitionist would rather attemp
TO make revolution in day and abol
lsh the means of gratifying humanity
inherent taste for that which excites a
the risk of arousing all humanity's in
herent stubbornness.