Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-30
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THE EFFECT ABROAD.

The result Of the elections in Penn
sylvania and Rhode Island on the ques-
ton Of constitutional prohibition is said
TO have had depressing influence upon
the temperance sentiment in England.
Strange as it may appear, the advocates
OF prohibition in that country had
counted upon the success OF the prohi-
bition movement in both these states,
and its complete failure was not only n
very great disappointment to them, but
1t has had most decided effect damag-
ing to the movement there.
One Of the principal argu-
mcnts OF the English party was the
success which temperance movements
had attained in the United States, and
the late elections have not only deprived
them of this argument, but they have
put the party In England entirely on
the defensive.
There is this, however,, to be said OF
the temperance movement in England.
1t has been conducted on lines quite diff
ferent from those pursued in the United
States. There it has been n strictly
moral, rather than n political issue.
The English temperance party, wiser
and more practical than the prohibition
lists of this country, do not advocate and
have never advocated making prohibi-
tion constitutional matter. They
have fought the cause of temperance
strictly and solely as moral question,
and as such it is mistake to suppose
that it has lost ground in this country.
The votes in Pennsylvania and Rhode
| Island do not show that the people of
| those states are opposed to temperance.
| They simply show that they are opposed
TO the policy OF Incorporating prohi-
bition in the constitution, for the
| very excellent reason that wherever
| this has been done the result has come
| far short of meeting the promises of the
| advocates of constitutional prohibition.
Many of the staunchest friends of So
briefly In Pennsylvania, says the Phila-
delphia Ledger, opposed the amendment
| solely because they believed it to be
radically defective in itself, hurtful in
what it would destroy. uncertain re-
| garding what it would effect,
and an unwarranted means used
| to accomplish reform which
could be more certainly accomplished
otherwise. There is ground for the be-
lief, says that journal, that great num-
bers Of the sincerest friends Of temper
ance voted against the amendment, in
fiuenced by the firm conviction that a
judioious license system, strictly admin
istered by the authorities. would prove
more efficient to check the abuses
Of the liquor traffic than pro-
hibitory law. Apart from Its
doubtful effectiveness there were
multitudes of voters who were not
satisfied to make prohibition part o.
the state constitution, it being their be-
lief that that instrument should not be
made political vehicle.
1t is mistake on the part of British
prohibitionists to assume that temper
ance sentiment is on the decline in thi:
country, or that our people hold sobri-
ETY. in less regard because those Of nine
states have rejected constitutional pro
hibition. The great majority of the
American people believe in temperance
but they have very conclusively demon
strated that the way to secure 1T is no
through prohibition, which uniformly
fails of its purpose, and besides invites
duplicity and creates contempt for law