The Monitor., 1888-05-11
'ghe zsrnhtI,ffIunEsfS.

The best of men-the best among them
who best understand the subject of the
liauor traffic in all its bearings disa-
gree as ia both the expedieneY and practi-
cability oi prohibition laws, but those who
regard the liquor traffic from the stand
icy will have no reproaches 10 east upon
the people who are III convention assern-
bed at Harrisburg with the intention of
making their influence distinctly felt in
connection with both State aud National
affairs at The November election. That
the intrusion of the liquor question III this
shape as political issue is Il serious exas-
peraton to the men who do the managing
IN connection with both the great parties
of the country is, Of course, well under
stood; but the country doesn't exist for
the sake Of the Republican and Democratic
parties, and their aggravation because a
great moral issue intrudes itself against
their lkings and cnnyenienoes is some
thing Of absolutely 10 consequence what
ever. On the contrary, the intrusion OF
such an issue, and by people who believe
in their profession 10 the point of (anati-
cism, is distinct moral gain, and the pro
hibition movement has certainly done
good deal more TO keep tie Republican
party up to the mark of it's high calling,
and TO make il in these latter days what it
was in the beginning, party of moral
ideas, than amy influences inside Of the
party. The High License Legislation in
this State and the serious efforts that are
being made 10 exert an enforcement Of the
spirit aid the letter of the law enacted at
the last session of the Legislature are due
vastly more to the presence Of the Prohibit
tionists--many of whom, by the way,
heartily denounce lIigl License as a com
pact " it'll Satan than they are to the de-
sres or sentiments of those who control
the machinery of the dominant party.
This may not be a comfortable way for
old-fashioned partisanA 10 view the pro.
ceedings of the Convention now in session
at Harrisburg, aud the prospect is that the
Prohibition vote in November will more
than at any previous election compllcate
the political situation and make the caleu.
lations of the knowing ones of no account; :;
but this is the way it will have To be look
ell at. The men aud women who are insist
ing that The moral issues which they have
brought to the front shall be kept at the
front are not merely within their legal and
their moral right, but they are doing ex-
actly what it is the plain duty of men and
women to do, when they are Of the opinion
that the strong arm Of the law should be
used uuilinchingly for the suppression of
of acknowledged evil Whether the pro
fessional politicians of the Republican and
Democratic parties know it or not the
Prohibition party Is evidently going to
play a much more important and imposing
part in the coming Presidential contest
than it has ever played before, and it will
not be wisdom for either the workers or
the organs of the great parties to ridicule
or abuse. Calling the Prohibitionists
saint Johnnies in 1894 did not cost the
Prohibition ticket a single vote, while
there is good reason for the belief that the
use of this and similar epithets Intended
To be opprobrious by the Republican or
gans and orators cut the Republican ticket
good many votes. IAaadelpha Eeeaing
Telegraph, (Repu6lieda).