Smyrna times., 1888-10-24

The cause of Temperance is passing
through strange political experience
In New Jersey and New York-tbe
eagerness of a certain class of apparent
~ good temperance men in their effort
to head a third party, causing a
triumph to the saloon. In New JERSEY
the Legislature last winter passed a
law granting the privilege of voting
on local option. The Democratic mem
bers did all they could to defeat the
bill and it was vetoed by the Governor.
bat it was passed over his head. An
appeal was then carried to the courts
but the courts affirmed the constitu-
tlonality of the law. Under this law
the question of license has been voted
on in some five counties and "no
license" carried in four, the period for
which it is to run being three years
The local question between the Demo
cratic and Republican parties in that
state Is, shall the law be repealed. -
the Democrats favoring it, and thew
stand a good chance of doing it because
the members of the Third Party give
them half vote by running ticket
that may just take off enough votes to
give the saloons a triumph.
In New York it IS verv mucb tho
same way. Warner Miller has thrown
himself directly against the saloon and
their deleteriOus effects, while d. H
Hill is the saloon candidate, backed bv
their money and powerful influence
The Third Party men are so enamored
with the idea Of a Third Party that
there too they are indirectly aiding the
saloon to triumph. So it is in other
states, but in the two above named If
Is the state issue of the campaign lead
ing all others.
1t would seem, as temperance men
with the single object in view of eradi.
eatlng rum and the dreadful results
from ITS use, they would be ready to
) ON VITA any party that came to their
aia' with the Democratic party. as in
the South where they came to the res.
cue, or with the Republican partv az
IN New jersey where a triumpb had
been gained for them in the Legislature
IL would appear that the Third Par.
ty men are willing to leave the flood
gates open until they get strong
enough to shut them. Thev will ne
stop a rivulet because thew connot
dam up at once a mighty river. e
they saw rattle-snake on the hillside
they would not kill it if thew cou1d rot
at the same time crush the brood dow,
in the hollow.
There never was a more ratiorol -
practical way of getting rid Of the evils |
Of the the drink habit and the Hcense |
system at the same time than the nlan |
in New Jersey Of taking it by popular |
vote, county by county. Yet these i'm
practicables oppose it because It is at |
tempted before the Third Party swells |
to political supremacy.
The following extracts will show |
how some men stand who look at It
from the aspect Of to-day
The Rev. DR.. Haulon. Of Pennington
a. j., writes to Third Party friend AZ
follows:
/, There is no hope that you can elect
Ihe nominee Of your party, but vour
vote given for the Republican nominee
ensures the safety Of this law. am
"ell aware that prohibition bv local
3ptlon falls short Of what Won want
You want constitutional probibition
and SO do J. But till we get that boan
let as unite in holding this local option
aw till it at least has a fair triai. n
las already given us practical prohibit
ION IN the counties Of Cumberland.
Salem and Gloucester. Other
counties are rapidly preparing to vote
m this great question, and it is pr0ba-
pc that within one year from this date,
the law is not repealed, al least three
epfths Of al the counties ia the State