Morning journal and courier., 1888-09-24
Monday, september "a, 1855.
a Gann RECORn.

The attack on the Republican party by
the Prohibitionists is strange exhibition.
And still stranger is the alliance between the
Prohibitionists and the Democrats. The
Prohibitionists are earnest foes of rum, and
yet they are found working against the only
party that has done anything for temperance.
The attitude of the Republican party tow
ard temperance is well illustrated in Ohio.
In 1878 Mr.. Quinby, Republican me.-ber
of the Ohio legislature, introduced and push
ed to vote local option bin, giving the
voters of all localities an opportunity to pro-
hibit the sale of liquor. The Democrats
were in majority, and they defeated the
measure by strict party vote. In 1881 the
legislature signalized the return of a Repub-
loan majority by passing the Pond bill,
which imposed tax on saloons. It also en-
acted the Smith bill closing saloons on Sum
day. Before these laws were fairly in opera
ton, the Democrats gained control of the
Supreme court, and both measures were, by
purely partisan decision, declared uncon-
stitutional, leaving the liquor traffic abso-
lately free in the State. A Republican legis-
Iature next enacted the Scott tax law, which,
tional by partisan decision of Democratic
Supreme court. In 1888 an amendment to
the constitution of Ohio prohibiting the IL
quor traffic, was submitted to the people by
Republican legislature and received over
300, 600 votes. The action of the Prohibi-
tionists in diverting votes from the Republi
can party had twice installed the Democracy
in power in the Ohio Supreme court, nullify-
ing all that had been done in the direction of
temperance reform. But the Republicans
were not discouraged by these reverses. Un-
der the direction of Ex-Governor Charles
Foster the party went brsvely on in its good
work. The Republicans gained control of
the State legislature in 1885, and among the
first measures introduced were the Owens
Sunday closing law and the Dow tax and
local option law. Both these measures were
passed by Republican votes, and they are the
most effective temperance laws ever known
to the people OF Ohio. Under the operation
of the first, saloon keepers have been arrest
ed, fined and imprisoned until quiet Sun
day prevails throughout the State. The 9TH
or, the Dow law, has greatly diminished the
liquor traffic and brought saloon-keepers to a
recognition of the fact that they are amena-
BILE to law, Notwithstanding their influence in
the Democratic party. Before its adoption,
on May 13, 1886, there were 10000 saloons
in Ohio, and they were open every day in the
year This number has since been reducsd
to Gill, in the face of large increase in
population. The local option clause has up
rooted the traffic entirely in over one hundred
small towns The tax of $3.50 on every sa-
loon In the cities where the temperance senti-
ment is not strong enough to prohibit the
traffic, has closed thousands of the worst
places where liquor was sold. In 1885 the
traffic paid no revenue to the State. It now
pays over two and a quarter million dollars
annually. relieving tax payers to that extent.
Before the Dow tax law Ohio had II, 900 sa-
| looms. each adding to the expense of main
tanning the State, by making drunkards,
paupers and lsw-breakers, and paying no tax.
Now Ohio has 9, III saloons, annually paying
into the treasury s., $50, 900.
This is a good enough record. In other
States the Republican party has made a sim
| liar record. And yet the Prohibitionists are
fighting that party, and helping the Demo-
cratic DartY