Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-06-30
TIE REPUBLICAN, P4RTT AND THE
LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

1dE hEftBLIC4H ANU lh6
LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
Much the larger portion OF the members
of the republican party are not merely the
oreticaliy opposed to the liquor traffic, but
actively opposed to 1t. The truth of this
statement can easily be verified. Very few
liquor dealers vote the republican ticket,
and, as a matter of fact, when they begin to
do so and to associate with republicans
they commence devising other methods for
getting a livelihood than those represented
in or connected with the whisky traffic, and
they soon find them and quit the business.
This result follows because they are men
of principle and get into the way of fol-
lowing ont the convictions Of duty. Let
each citizen make canvass of the saloon
keepers in his locality and see whether
what we have said in the foregoing is not
true.
Then everybody knows that the prohibi-
ton Of the liquor traffic has been accom-
plished in the republican states of Maine,
Kansas. lows, Vermont and New Hamp-
shire. by republicans mainly-democrat as
e class, and also prohibition partizans, op-
posing, in at least some instances tits further
known that this result has not been &C
complished in any democratic state, and
that there are no prohibition party states.
and that it is exceedingly doubtful whether
there ever will be any. Then. In Pennsyl-
vania, republican state. high license
law has been adopted and ten thousand
saloons have been closed within q year.
In republican Ohio we have a high liquor
tax, or really fine, and thousands Of
saloons have been closed recently and mil
lions OF dollars collected. Then in this
republican state we have the local option
principle applied to both city and country,
and in hundreds of towns the liquor traffic
has been not simply prohibited, or forbid
den, but it has been actually suppressed
and obliterated.
Indeed, all that has really been accom-
plished In anti-liquor legislation, in this
country, has been achieved by the republi-
cans as rule, with only individual excep-
tions, as we have shown in the foregoing.
and as everybody knows.
Ii was therefore hoped and expected by
many that the republican national conven-
ton, at Chicago. would put an snti-liquor
plank in its platform and large number
Of the leading and influential men in the
party were at Chicago, as anti-saloon
and they and others were
much disappointed because their hopes
were not fulfilled In the resolutions read by
Major Mckinley, and unanimously adopt
ed. Doubtless there were reasons given by
of the committee for the omission
-one of the chief of which was that it was
the duty of the several states to regulate,
control or abolish the traffic on their own
and this was surely strong and
ogical reason.
As q result of the omission, however,
here came an outcry In the religious and
other papers in Chicago, and in some other
places, against the convention for neglect
ng or refusing to make an expression, and
among these papers were the North West
,rn Christidn Advocate (Methodist Epis-
,opaD and the Advance Congregational
The Advance was very fiery, but it had
he fairnes. and good sense to say, in the
of ITS article:
Even In the mightiest of modern steam
ships, passengers crossing the sea are liza
Die to be caught In tempests where it will
seem rs If the ship could not possibly ride
Iafely through, this time. But, even
.hough the men who manage the craft ap-
pear for time to lose their heads, wise
people will think twice before they
Jump overheard. A great historic
party, which won its grand VIC
sories through the dominating inspiration
Of great moral ideas, and humane sympa-
thies and sublime confidence In God. and
which In consequence gathered to itself
noble following, can hardly escape the per-
,istent law of its own life. Tie organiza-
ion is mightier than any temporary man
pulators and would-be leaders. To be
explicit, is there not already, in the enthu-
'iastic nomination for the presidency of a
nan like Benjamin Harrison, of stainless
record, an active and evangelical Christian,
md q thorough temperance man-despite
he blunder OF the platform-evidence of
,etter things? In the placing at the front
If leadership Christian statesman
IF this sort, there is immense meaning and
-eason for Christian hopefulness.
So far, SO good. But all this was in
type before the convention added its temp
,rance" plank to- the platform, with a
xhoop and burrah. Then the managing
DR.. Simeon Gilbert-added the
following slgninc1nt and SURFING postscript:
After the above was written and in type,
It the very last moment of the convention.
Mr.. Boutelle, of Maine, speaking for the
yreat mass Of Temperance men in the con-
Tention, who were disguised with the action
,f the committee on resolutions and were
determined that this convention should not
De allowed to play fools game on this
'eally supreme question. that of temperance
against the saloon, introduced with q speech
Of magnificent bravery and force, the fol-
owing resolution, which was finally voted,
almest unanimously, to be part of the
platform:
Then follows the plank, which is as fol-
ows:
"The first concern of all good govern
,ient 10 the virtue and sobriety Of the peo-
pie, and the purity of the homo. The
party cordially sympathizes
with all wise and well-directed efforts
Tor the promotion of temperance and