New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-12
RESPECT THE VERDICT.

Abuse OF lnt0AlcanJS ana monopoly Vi idnu
arc two grave evils. Beyond dispute each does
great harm, and there are persons who think
that each is the chief cause Of human misery.
Both opinions cannot be right But for the
moment let the question of public duty In
volved be considered as if the profound con-
vctions of sincere ProhibitiOnists were well
grounded, and also the profound convictions OF
sincere land reformers. The evil being granted,
and the importance of some remedy for each,
and the sincerity of men who hold
each reform the foremost duty OF
tho time. who shall decide which shall first
be made the paramount and controlling object
Of political endeayor?
If our Government were despotic or mon
archical, the ruler would have sole power to
decide. fit ere aristocratic, or under control
OF a limited and privileged class, the few in
vested with responsibility for the welfare of
the many would have power to decide. But
Americans have put behind them these forms
of government as radically bad, because they
believe it infinitely safer. in the long run, to
trust the decision of a majority than to trust
the decision of privileged class or single
monarch, and also because no great and good
opinion to sustain and enforce the law. With
solemn deIiberation Americans have chosen
the will of the majority as their source Of
authority, and the experience of more than a
century has proved that the best and most
progressive Government the world has ever
seen springs from that root. Fidelity to this
fundamental principle Of self-government is
therefore the duty of all. If the majority de-
cides that temperance reform ought first to be
made the paramount object Of political en-
deavOr the duty of the intelligent self-govern-
ing citizen is to make that reform his imme-
date aim. If the majority decides that land
reform ought to como first. that decision must
be obeycd
Temperance men look upon the land re-
former as crank. They are sincere. but it
is his right to appeal to the people. and the
majority must decide The land refOrmers
look upon the Prohibltionist as a crank. They
also are sincere, but he has a right to appeal to
the people. To ask verdict. however, one
must consent to respect that verdict when
rendered The land reformer has no right to
appeal to the people at all if he docs not intend
to bow with respectful loyalty to the decision
of the majority when rendered His private
Judgment remains unaltered, but his duty in
political action depends upon the will of the
people, who determine which of many reforms
is now practical or most needful. So of the
Prohibitionist; when he appeals and the YER
dict of the people has been rendered, he sets
himself against the fundamental principle of
sclf-govcrnment if he insists that the question
which the people hold paramount must be
thrust aside for immediate action upon the
other question which he thinks more important.
Both have appealed to the people. and The
great majority have decided, not in favor of
either but against both. Out Of 1,O45,OOO
voters in New-York, 10000 held with Mr..
George that the land question should be first in
thought and action, and AZ 900 held with Mr.
Huntington that the question of prohibition
should first be settled. But $4,000 voters
decided that the issues between the Republican
and Democratic parties could not safely be put
aside; that the tariff question, for
instance, must first be settled. The
verdict has been asked and it has
gone against both Of the factions. There
are several hundred thousand earnest support
ers of prohibition who deliberately refused to
make prohibition the paramount issue in politi-
cal action at this time and the decision Of the
majority ought to he respected by those who
anpealed to it, Not onc-third Of those who
heartily sympathizcd with the object of Mr..
George consented to make labor reform or land
reform the controlling issue in political action
Having respect for the fundamental principles
of self-govcrnment, he goes back to the Demo-
cratic party and fights for free trade first.
The Prohibitionists are equally bound to- act as
loyal and helpful members of a self-governing
community The people have decided that
other issues must first be met and settled.
Prohibitionists will command more of public
respect and confidence hereafter if they now
accept the verdict. and help to just decision
Of the issues which nine tcnths of the people
want to have settled first