New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-11
4 DISHONEST CHARGE.

The attempt to make the Republican party
out a free whskey'' party is dishonest. Inc
neyspapers which started this hue and cry
have studiously ignored the essential facts OF
the situation. If the Democratic National Con-
yention had followed the long line Of Demo
cratic precedents, in opposing Internal Reye-
nuc taxation, and had demanded the repeal OF
the present system, in that case there would
have been ground for the charge that it was
demand for 81 free whiskey" The Demo-
cratic party has always fought every EFFORT 10
restrict the liquor traffic. Its representatives
in the State Legislatures are always to be
found solidly massed against any bill to reg
ulate the saloon and check intemperance'
Whenever Republican Legislatures pass such
a bill a Democratic Governor can be relied
upon, as we have the misfortune to know III
this State, TO veto it, to please the liquor
dealers. This has been the uniform history
of lauor legislation everywhere except IN
some Southern States. The Democratic party
is always to be found in opposition to such
legislation, Just as it is always to be found IN
opposition to legislation against frauds upon
the ballot. There is nothing in the history Of
the party to suggest that, if it were in posi-
ton to abolish Internal Revenue taxation, it
would apply other forms of taxation to the
traffic. 70 keep it within bounds. On the con-
trary. there is everything in its history to make
it practically certain that it would do nothing
in this direction. This is why demand IN
the Democratic platform for the abolition OF
the Internal Revenue system might, with good
reason, have seemed to be a call for " free
Nhiskey."
But the Republican party stands in an en-
tirely different attitude toward The liquor ques-
ton, and the demagogue newspapers which
have raised this cry know it perfectly well.
There is not the slightest reason to suppose
that the abolition Of the Internal Revenue
would mean easier times for the whiSkey
traffic. wherever the Republican party had
power to control it. That party has always
used the full strength Of its organization to
restrict the traffic, and, in the remote event Of
the repeal of the present Federal tax, an en-
arged system of State and municipal taxation
would follow it, as naturally and as surely as
day follows night. The result would be that
great revenue, which the Federal Govern
ment does not need and does not know what
to do with could be diverted to Tightening the
load Of municipal taxation and deb.-the chief
burden Of the people. But, because the Chi
cago platform diI ,iot project itself far enough
into the dim future to promise this, the charge
is made that the party fav0rs " free whiskey."
There never was a more dishonest pretcnce,
and it was especially unfair, BECAUSE as the
platform shows, the abolition of the Internal
Revenue is referred to- not as an immediate
policy, to which the party is definitely COM
mitted, but as a step which the Republicans
would rather take than give up the Protective
system Every fair minded man must admit
that this alternative is a long way Off
One striking proof can be given Of the dis
honesty Of certain newspapers in their treat
ment of this question. This is the difference
i'm their attitude toward the Republican and
the Prohibition parties, respectively on this
very point. The abolition of the Internal
Revenue system is leading article in the creed
of the ProhibitiOnists and is so simply because
they want to see the whiskey tax removed.
They believe the traffic to be unholy, and OPP
pose any recognition of it in the shape Of tax.
Many thousands Of Republicans share this view,
who still remain in the party, because they be-
lieye it has done and can do and will do more
for temperance than any other. The National
Prohibition Convention in Indianapolis made
most solemn demand for the Immediate
abolition Of the Internal Revenue system,
whereby our National Government is derv-
ing support from our greatest National vice"
We have examined the platforms adopted by
many of the Prohibition State conventions,
held in advance Of the National Convention,
and not one Of them fails to repeat tins demand
in some form. Yet none Of these newspapers
has charged the Prohbitionists with being a
free whiskey'' panty. There would have