New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-01
4 PERS0N4L RFSPONSIBILIrr.

A PERSONAL RESPONSiBiLII1
The worst elements in this country hope ID
elect President Cleveland for another term by
the aid Of an element which thinks itself the
best No sneer is intended; let it be granted
that the great body of those who support Pro-
hibition tickets are conscientious men, VINO
act from sincere belief that it is their duty,
and who necessarily conclude that others who
support the Republican or Democratic party are
not doing their duty. They will not sloop to
deny that the worst and the most Of the saloon
vote, of the degraded vicious and criminal
vote, is with the party which supports Mr.
Cleveland, The fact that exceptions may be
found in most cities does not make the large
prepondeance of Democratic votes in that
class less important. Most Of the criminals,
most of the outcasts, most Of the disreputable
and degraded men who suffer their votes TO
be controlled BY ,1uor-sellers, usually support
the party which has no hope of winning this
year except in the waste Of Republican votes
On a Prohibition ticket.
This fact will not he disputed by those who
arc intelligent enough to read any newspaper
For it is by all admitted, and by the Pro-
hibition leaders affirmed that a large proper
ton Of the f., 900 votes cast in this State last
year, and Of the II 600 cast in New-Jcrscy,
and Of the 4, 700 cast in Connecticut in 1886,
were the votes of men who had been Rcpub-
licans, and who long believed it their duty to
uphold Republican principles In every one
of these States the return of these wasted votes
to the political duties which once were recog-
nizcd would have defeated the Democratic
rarity at the latest State election or at the last
Presidential election. The loss Of either Of
these States, with Indiana, would defeat the
Democratic ticket, and restore to power those
who were the defenders of the Union and are
the defenders of protection The people Of
Indiana gave 1920 plurality in 1886 to secure
the reelection of Benjamin Harrison to the
Senate, and the Democratic party robbed the
people of their will by crimes for which the
perpetrators have been indicted and in part
convicted. The probability that the State will
punish these crimes by supporting him for the
Presidency is recognized by all Thus the in
dividual responsibility comes home to every
voter in New York, New-Jcrsey and Connect
cut; either one of these States, with Indiana
viii elect Mr.. Harrison and defeat Mr.. Cleve-
land
That responsibility will not be evaded by
the conscientious men who have supported
Prohibition tickets in these States. They will
meet it, no doubt, with a clear understanding
that single vote thrown away upon candi-
date who cannot be elected in either of these
three States, may elect Mr.. Cleveland. Nor
are these voters SO ignorant as to suppose that
the influence of Mr.. Cleveland in the White
House has been on the light side of any moral
or religious question. They know what his
life and associations have been. They know
that lie is to-day the candidate for whose cleo
ton the entire liquor interest will work harder
and spend more than it has ever worked or
spent in any Presidential campaign. But the
triumph of The liquor interest the defeat of
a Christian gentleman Of pure life, spotless con
duct, and sound principles, can only be brought
about by deliberate waste of votes formerly
Republican in the support of a Prohibition
ticket.
The men who take this responsibility cannot
do it ignoiantly. If they, claiming to be the
most conscientious voters in these States, SO
vote as to elect the candidate of the saloons
and the Sums they will do it with their eyes
Open They have been taught long ago that
we have no right TO do evil that good may
come. They know that the reelection Of
President Cleveland, and the continued success
Of his paty-.the party of crime against free
suffrage at the South and against honest suf
fagc everywhere, the party that now gathers
all its strength TO break down the protection
of home industry and to expose American Ia
Dor to increased foreign cOmpetition-will be
evil beyond question or measure. What right
has any voter who knows this to throw away
his vote upon a candidate whose election is
confessedly impossible?