Omaha daily bee., 1888-10-17
McShane Swallows Himself.

Grand Island Independent: In the
whole history Of the democratic party,
for half a century, for Inconsistency,
there has appeared nothing more ride
ulously absurd than the attitude of the
democratic party and the democratic
candidate for governor on the present
high license law, which the party OF
false pretense now endorses u%nqualifi-
cdly in its state platform, and which
the candidate for governor endorses
with great pomp in his letter of accept
ance. The remarkable change in atti-
tude in the short space of II little more
than seven years is indeed surprising
to any mar who gives the matter a mo-
ment's thought and investigation.
The following are the exact words of
the democratic state platform in en-
dorsing the republican measure:
"Resolved, That the maintenance and
enforcement of the present high license
law is the best and most practicable
solution of the liquor traffic question"
This is followed by McShane, who
uses the following words in his letter Of
acceptance as copied from his own
paper, the Omaha Herald:
Nearly eight years enforcement and
operation of our wise and practicable
high license law has demonstrated be-
You'd all question that it is the most
fcasable solution of the traffic in intoXi-
eating liquors: the revenue arising
thcrefrom going forth in the support OF
our excellent public schools throughout
the state, thereby relieving the people
oil direct taxation upon the property of
millions of dollars annually"
Reading the foregoing plank of the
democratic platform and words of the
democratic candidate, one would scarce
ly believe that less than eight years ago
both the party and candidate were on
record as declaring the very same law
the most infamous outrage upon the
rights of the people, which must result
in incalculable injury to the state of
Nebraska" but OF such inconsistency
the record convicts both the party and
candidate.
BY referring to page 73S, house Jour-
nal of 1881, you will find not only that
the vote Of John A. McShane was re-
corded against this wise measure" but
| you will find also an explanation OF his
vote recorded, wherein he declares
the wise measure of to-day" to
be a most ''infamous Injustice
injurious to the prosperity of the
state, " and the writer we'll remembers
hearing him speak against the measure
at that time, vigorously portraying the
%iniquities Thereof. A look at the record on
the same page will show also that of the
eight democrats in the house, sever
voted against this wise law and the
eighth, Mr.. Lehman, was absent and
not voting.
We also distinctly remember that it
was this same wise law" which the
democrats now so unqualifiedly endorse,
that caused the foreign elements to
leave the republican party all over the
state; and the desertion from the repub-
lican party of a large body of Germans
in Grand Island, at that time, is
OF that law, which the democratic
party, in its platform, and the demo-
cratic candidate for governor now
declare to have been the wisest meas
urc ever devised by man. The demo-
cratic party having thus demonstrated
that its hind-sight is much better than
its foresight, and the candidate for gov
ernor, having admitted his lack of
state-ship, to foresee the effect of meas
ures OF public legislation. and all demo-
Gratis admitted that the law was a very
good, instead Of bad one; and the cause
of desertion, thus having been shown to
lave been grOundless, it is certainly
proper for them to renew their allie
glance to the party that had the wis
dom, foresight and craftsmanship to
enact a measure which would in so
short a space of time cause the demo-
Gratis to fall at its feet and worship the
wisdom OF the measure. Such striking
inconsistency on the part of the demo-
cratic party and candidate should con-
vince every candid man that it is not
entitled to any confidence, respect or
support, being merely a party of false
~pretense.