Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-03

ss,. ade d.ily circulation more than treble
thai Of any ether daily paper published In
washissfen, and much greater than that
Of all the other daily papers here added
together.
The senate District committee has wisely de-
cied against imposing prohibition upon the Dis
tint BY direct act OF Congress without ascertain
ing the sentiment OF the people 70 Be Affected,
though urged thereto BY the petitions OF Tom,
Dick and Harry or 70 Indicate more accurately
SEX and age the petitions OF Jane Maria and little
Tommy in VARIOUS disnterested states OF the Union.
A prohioltory law unenforced curses the COM
munity which IL is called upon to plesA without
the weight OF local public sentiment behindit such
Law II never enforced Not even the opinions of
Jane, Maria and little Tommy, however esimabe
and influential In their own communities these
petitioners may be, should drive Congress TO force
upon the District measure. which win be bless
Ing curse according TO the local public senti-
ment In respect TO IL, without ascertaining In
advance what IA the nature OF that local public
sentiment.
II Il proposed 70 pass local option law for the
District and thus provide q means OF learning the
wishes OF the people and Of ascertaining what
uauor law can and win be enforced. Undoubtedly
n an election were ordered and . majority Of the
people should cast their ballots for prohibition,
there would be encouragement TO expect that the
nuuor rran1c would b TO q considerable extent
suppressed siace the majority making the law
would take certain interest In seeing that its de-
cision was respected. Judging from the expert
encs OF large cities when subjected TO , self.im-
posed pronioisive Law the suppression would even
then be only partial Nevertheless the law would
b applied under favorable auspices would be fair
70 the people In view Of the VIII Of the majority,
and would itself b. fairly tined
n Congress, instead Of assuming that Wash.
ington, like other large cities, would newt
ably prefer high license TO prohibition II the
matter were submitted 20 q vote, shah frame q
local option law for the District care should be
taken TO follow the provisions OF recent statutes
OF this character which require the petition
signed BY certain proportion Of voters favot1ne
a formal vote upon prohibition, before the CON-
munity commits itself to the expense and annoy
ance OF an election. The purpose IL TO avoid
election evils unless o substantial proportion OF
the voters Indicate by their signatures that there
Is some possibility Of the success OF the measure TO
be voted upon The petitioners must, OF course, be
secured among those who would b voters In the
proposed election. This proper provision is especi-
ally necessary IN local option law for the Dis
trict, which has no election machinery and no
available registration list, and In which all the
preparations for an election must be made from
the beginning The flooding OF the city and polls
with colored men drawn here from the farms OF
Maryland and Virginia might be expected as In
the elections OF past years, and the campaign
would doubtless impose upon the community all
the ro~dyism and violence Of former elections
The chances Of success would favor the anti-pro-
hloirionistS Very many OF the temperance people
view high license % the most effective restraint
upon the rum power In large cities The
colored vote would doubtless decide the mat
tel, and In the Southern cities the night
for this vote between ths ministers and rum
sellers has resulted almost always In favor OF the
latter. But however hopeful one may be Of pro-
hibition victory In q District election be win not
with the interests OF the community In view ask
that IL subject itself TO the expense disturbance
and injury OF q special election or this character
until he can show list OF petitioning voters which
VIII give some promise that the evils Of the cleo
ton will not be suffered for nothing.
stephen W. Dorsey is quoted as saying in con
nection with Mr.. Blaine's withdrawal from the
presidential contest, that 'rt h contrary 10 his
tory that defeated man should be nominated
again" IL would be interesting TO learn Just
where Mr. Dorsey nnds the history which be cites
In so sweeping manner. Thomas jefferson was
defeated by John Adams, but elected afterward
Tor two terms as against Mr.. Adams one. Charles
c. Pinckney was defeated BY jefferson In 1904 but
nad to be defeated again in 1908 by James Madi.
son before he would take himself out OF the field
James Monroe defeated John Quincy Adams In
ls,O. Adams In turn defeated Andrew Jackson In
1s,4, and was himself defeated by jackson four
years later. Henry Clay ran for President three
times-in 1924, 1s32, and 1874, and he Is the
statesman to whom Mr.. Blaine is most frequently
nkened by his admirers Martin Van Buren,
defeated william Henry Harrison In 1880,
only to be defeated by Harrison In 1870,
Mr.. Van Buren,, however, was not SATISFIED with
this defeat, but subjected himself 70 another in
1S4S Gen John c. Fremont headed q ticket In
1856 and again In 1864; the rst time he stayed In
the canvass 70 che end. and his vote was counted
when Buchanan led him by sixty electoral ballots:
the second time he withdrew In the midst OF the
autumn campaign, and left General Mcclellan TO
night it out with President Lincoln.
MI Blaine, therefore, would be at no loss for pre-
cedenta and very encouraging ones II he chose TO
follow them and make another run. Mr. Dorsey,s
history must contain some serious misprints or
have enough Of It's pages missing 10 interfere Sc
rOusly with It's value ~ guide TO political pro-
phesy-
Andrew ID. White could not have hit upon q
topic more 70 the point for his discourse yester.
day TO the young men preparing 20 enter Colum-
bian University, than the cigarette habit. No
petty vice, it would be safe TO say has wrought
more havoc with the brains and bodies OF the pres
ent generation Of boys than the consump-