Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-06-27

OF Literary work, but Weak in It's Deal-
Ing with the Great Questions of State

Tho Prohibition Document . Fine Piece
Of Literary work, but Weak in It's DeaI-
Ing with the Great Questions of State
craft.
As a literary performance the Prohibition
platform is admirable. 1t is terse, incisive,
clear-cut, free from antiquities and equiv
ocations, and altogether a model Of pre-
cision, directness and force. Whatever
criticism it invites goes to its matter and
not its manner.
Upon the main question the platform, Of
course, takes radical ground. 1t demands
that the manufacture, importation, exporta-
uon and transportation or alcoholic bever-
ages shall be made ''public crimes" 1t de-
clares that this must be ACCOMPLISHED
through amendments to the National and
State constitutions enforced by adequate
laws. flaws do not enforce laws 1t de-
nounces every form of license or regula-
tion of the liquor traffic as contrary to good
government, and it ''arraigns" the political
parties which support such policy as
'foes TO the States welfare
These declarations are sufficiently en-
phatic and explicit, it would seem, to salts
fy the most relentless enemy of King Al
cohol The convention, indeed, could
hardly have gone farther, except by de-
manding that the drinking of liquor, like the
making and selling of it, be treated as a
public crime.n No doubt, il the committee
had Incorporated such demand in the res
olntions, the convention would have given
its hearty approval For those good people
have devoted themselves so long to contem-
plation of the evils of liquor, that their sense
of moral perception and proportion has be-
come perverted, and TO their distorted
vision the drinking of glass of beer or
wine is a mortal sin, not much if any, above
the grade of theft or falsehood or adultery.
People of one idea are prone to such incon-
gruities. Perhaps, considering the morbid
frame of mind which if chronic with the
Prohibitionists, they should be compliment
ed upon their moderation in not insisting
that the drinking of spirits should be made
capital offense. 1t is to that complexion,
however, that they would bring US at last,
if they had they power.
The salient feature of the platform, next
to the liquor planks, is the woman suffrage
clause. This was the occasion of an earn
est contest, but the suffragists were in a
large majority, and despite the arguments
and warnings and entreaties of the minori-
ty they insisted upon going the full
lengths. Here they made serious blunder
and one that viii cost their ticket many
thousands of votes. Their action can not
be justified either upon grounds of princi-
pie or expediency For il they are sincere
in asserting that the oae vital issue of the
day is the liquor question, and that in it are
involved the welfare and very life of so
ciety, they are clearly un faithful to their
cause in complicating it with an entirely
distinct issue, and thus increasing the diff
6culties that surround it, The strenuous
opposition to this course that was manifest
in the convention was of itself conclusive
as to its inexpediency. The convention
certainly displayed neither consistency nor
sagacity in this matter,
In demanding the repeal of the internal
revenue system the convention BETRAYED q
singular incapacity to grasp the proper
relation of things. The mental processes
by which the Prohibitionists arrive at the
conclusion that they would deal the whisky
interest heavy blow by relieving it of tho
heavy taxes it now bears are incomprehen-
sible to the average mind. We Will not at
tempt to fathom them.
Taken as whole, says the Indianapolis
Sentinel, the platform is a unique piece of
political literature. 1t is very elaborate
dehverance for party that was ostensibly
organized for the accomplishment of q
single object, and we can but think that it
would have been infinitely more effective If
1t had been devoted solely to this object.