New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-04
THE TWO CONVENTIONS.

The Third-party Prohibitonists and the
Houol-dealers are holding their respective
State conventions at the same time though
not in the same place The former are meeting
at Syracuse the latter at Rochester. Ihey are
,bus divided by space though not by time
Rut the effect Of their labors is the same Inc
most efficient aid the hquor-dealerS ol u"iS
State receive next TO that which comes TOM
the Democratic party, is given to them by 'ne
Third party Prohibtionists. IL IS py lhe ''u
q the prohbitionistS that the hquof-ueaieiS
have been able to keep in the Governors cnalr
man whose election was bought for hlm WIN
saloon money, and who has just lssueu pun
lie appeal to the rum power Tor support III ','o
onnroacbine campaign. 1t is by the ana OF uhe
probibitionists that the Gquor-d dealers nave
beep able to prevent for years past any revision
If the Excise laws in the interest oil stlcter
,ocplation Of the traffic, and the dlmlnuuoh
If intemperance and crime. The prohibition
lists have saved great deal OF money ~ 'ii0
| liouor-dealers in license fees ana 'ne a',o'
couId well afford to pay the expenses oi inc
! Svlacuse Convention many times over 10 ilh'h9
snre that the Prohibition sdeshow snail Dc
kent in good working order. Inc hHuor-
! dealers have reason to show more gratitude az
s,Icb things go, to the ProhlbiuoniStS IMAM W
Tho Democrats The Democrats furnish the
d;roct vote. of course, but it would rarely De
largo enough to insure victory If the Frohioi-
tionists did not draw the Republican vote uo"h
for enouob 10 give the Democrats the leau-
Won ave ant to be more grateful to the men VINO
have turned the tide of battle for you at the
| II! VINO
have horne the heat and burden OF the hght;
and therefore it is that the liquor-dealerS hIsnV
easily feel q Iveher thankfulness to the Pro-
hibitionsts than TO any other pohacal Douy.
Other parties may waver in their at'ltude oil
belpfulness. but the PlOhibtioniSts never.
Our friends Of the Third party may think
+bis is harsh view. They are sincerely OPP
nosed 70 the saloon. They believe they are
working for temperance. OF the honesty and
good faith of the great body of them we have
no question whatever But let them look al
the results of their course. Does 1t make LOT
temperance or intemperance-good order OF
lawIessneSs? Is the temperance cause ad-
vanced one whit in this State through then
efforts? Is it not true, on the other hand.
that it has been greatly retarded? Are there
there would have been if the ProhibtionistS
had not helped to elect Governor who vetoeS
all High License bills? Do we not know
Judging by the experience Of other States, that
if the Prohibitionists had not helped to defeat
high license there would be less drunkenness
and less crime in the community to-day? Can
they claim that they are working for temper
ance when they are really responsible for put
ting in the Governors chair a man whose whole
political capital is the whiskey vote, and wh'
barters State legislation in return for it-wlth
the aid of the ProhbitioniStS?
The ProhibitionistS are fond Of comparing
themselves to the Aud-Slavery people. But
The comparison fails at every point. One Of
the more important is that the opponents Of
slavery fought for any and every advantage
over il they could get. They knew they could
not hope to abolish it at once in the Southern
States, and so they fought to keep it out Q
the Territories or TO abolish it in the District
of Columbia. But the ProhibitoniSts are not
willing to conquer the liquor evil by degrees.
They must do il all ab. once, and in their own
way, or they will give no help whatever. They
are not willing to support severe restrictive
legislation in order to get better control over
the traffic while waiting TO see whether public
opinion can be educated as far as Prohibition.
II makes no difference to them that two Of the
Eastern and Middle States have within few
months pronounced against Prohibition, and
two others have repudiated it. They insist
| that the saloon shall flourish and that its evils
shall multiply, so that the community may be
forced around to their way of thinking. This
is childish and,petty pride of opinion, which
is, unfortunately capable of doing mischief.
The Liquor-Dealers' and Prohibition Con-
ventions should exchange kilograms of SYM
pathy, congratulaton and mutual encourage
| ment.