Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-27
SATURDAY. .........APRIL q. 1885
Prohibition in Massachusetts.

1ncfc W0lCn IollOWtu lnt ruicDuiu uSut w.
tween the sdv0cstes and the opponents OF
prohibition by constitutional amendment
wss surprise only 10 those who had not
Kept IN with the march OF events In the Old
BAY Safe. The Republican leaders from
Maine 10 California are In doubt as TO what
will he TIE next movement OF the Prohibi'
tiopists. and tremble for the supremacy OF
Their party in the northern States.
But why should the Republican party
rather than the Democratic be held rcspon-
sible by the Probbliionists for The result OF
last weeks vote In Massachusetts,? There
are several reasons. One that the Repub-
lican Prohibitionists who place prohibition
above any other issue that can be presented
TO them feel as II they had been deceived aud
cheated by the Republican organization.
They chsrge that that organization, whilst
pretending TO hold with the hound Of Pro.
bibitlOn was really running with the hare OF
snii.Prohihitlon.
or course what the Republican leaders fear
is that the Prohibtionsts. instead OF acqui-
esoing in the result and excusing the Repub-
candidates Of their own for all offices, State
and naiionsi and thus So weaken the Re
publican party Ms TO insure the election OF
the Democratic candidates. In the northern
States, as a rule. the Democrats are not IA
v0rable 10 prohibition, and so their party
will not ba likely TO lose as many votes as the
Republican party VIII as consequence OF
the rally OF the Prohibitionists under their
own standards.
Bu; haven't the Prohibi,iOnist had caudi-
dates OF their own for wears past? They
have; but they have always hitherto sunk
The. Prohibition issue in favor Of the party
issues, Just rs IN Virginia we have subOrdi-
mated tarin reform and protection to the
question OF the supremacy Of the white race.
In New York State last fall the Republican
candidate for Governor was defeated By over
1900 majority notwithstanding that HAIR
RIsoN carried the State. and though his elec-
tion was advocated by all the leading Re-
publican papers on the ground that be was as
good ProhiOtionist as could be ELECTED.
He fought outside the lines, 1t was said, and
RIsoN. That Ia 10 say. be rallied the Repub-
lean Prohibiiionists to the support OF HAIR
RrsoN, but did not brighten the Republican
Observation-Disclosures from his ranks.
The Prohibitionists Of the North object
10 the double game which the Republican
party has thus been playing, aud do not
hesitate TO "talk out in meeting.' The Chi
cago Tribune, which calls the Prohibltionists
"Drys," .'tor short" explains what the
grumbling OF the Prohibitonists means. 1t
says:
.'This means that the malignant and wins
dictiye Drys, after having been given by a
Republican Legislature chance TO vote for
constitutional prohibition and carry it II they
bad the votes. will now turn in aud beat the
Republican ticket this fail il they cam
Put what do the "malignant and vindlctiye
Drys" saw Turning to their national or
gan, the New York Voice, we read as fol-
lows:
"That IS, 600 majority against Prohibition
ia Massachusetts is no surprise. That result
was inevitable. But why was the defeat in
evitabley IL was non-partlsan light only
on one side. A non-partisan Prohibition
tight on both sides is an impossibility since
the liquOr.men have become aroused and or
ganized. The patienal liquor leagues COM
PEELED the party machines in Massachusetts to
help them-the machines Of both OF the old
parties. Do our Republican temperance
friends who so bravely helped In the Prohl-
bitlon fight In that State doubt that the Re-
publican machine was against them! We
ask them 10 study carefully the vote by
towns and counties. Let them study the
figures which We give on another page"
What are those teii.tals 6guresi Wequote
the Voice again;
"Republican plurality for President IN
Massachusetts,, November, 1873, 32,O3I.
Liquor majority, April %, 1889. 1850.
'Total vote for President, 344, AS. Total
vote on the amendment, 222,0 900. Persons
not taking enough interest in the Pronibi-
ton question 10 this great Republican State
10 vote on the amendment. l22,500
"Total Republican vote. 1888, 1888. 500;
Prohibition plrty vote, Sol; total OF the
two combined, 1872, 500. Total vote for the
Prohibition amendment, SS,5O0-showing
that even II no Democratic votes were cast
for ID, ut least 100000 Republicans either OPP
posed II or failed TO vote"
The "mslignant ana vindictiye Drys"
have put on their wsr.psint. The Voice
asks as 10 the above ngures:
How can such facts as these be explained
except on the hypothesis that the Republican
machine threw It's influence against prohIbi-
tiol silently but efectually In Republican
strongholdsi
"Prohibition must have behind II party
machine. The hand OF Omnipoience Is
driving irresisitbly temperance public senti-
insnt this way. We DO not look for any
more victories along State lines until the
voters Of America are organized around the
liquor question-one great national party in
favor Of liquor end a great national party
against H. This viii give Prohibition one OF
the two political machines"
These murmurings may not foreshsdow
immediate defeat for the Republican party.
They come from men who have Just suffered
crushing defeat themselves. But the fierce
light which is to take place between the Re-
publleans and the Probibitionsts will re-
suit In Strengthening the Democratic party
IN The North, and. better stIll, will cause the
Republican leaders TO "call OF their dogs"