The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-01-25

THE II use OF Represen q ives Tues
day says the Harrisburg Patriot. passed
! the amendment to the constitution pro-
hibitiug the manufacture and sale OF
alcoholic. vinous and malt liquors as a
beverage within the limits of the Com
monwealth. Doubtless the Senate will
also pass the amendment. So far as the
action OF the legislature Is concerned
The Republican managers have made
the matter a party measure. When il
shall come before the people Of the State
for ratification they will hold of their
hands, hoping to cheat both the Proh.-
bitIonist5 and liquor dealers. 10 the
event OF its rejection by the people they
will say to the Prohibitionists I'VE
did all we could for your hobby We
submitted it TO the people but the
Democrats and small portion of our
party whom we could not control de-
feated IL at the polls. You see we are
innocent of the murder" Should 1t be
adopted they will claim from the Pro-
hibitionis's their applause and support
on the ground that they made il party
measure and at the same tine they Will
say TO the liquor men "Seei the
Democrats failed you in YOUR time of
need. II they had stood by you the Re
publican votes we gave you would have
saved you" But the feat of carrying
whisky on one shoulder and water on
the other so often performed by the Re
publican managers il this State will
hardly be successfully executed at the
special election for the adoption or re-
lection of the prohibitory amendment.
There are too many rough places in the
road over which the load is TO be car
ried.
The prohibi:Ory amendment having
been made a party measure in the legis>
la.ure by the Republican managers
must be regarded as a Republican par
ty measure at the special election.
While many Democrats will not vote
against it on that account and while
some Democrats will vote for it because
their party has been betrayed time and
again at the polls by the Republican
managers of the Liquor League, many
Democrats will cast a negative ballot
because they are opposed to sumptus-
ry laws and because the experience of
the people of States In which Prohibi
tion prevails has demonstrated that
while drunkenness is quite as prevalent !
in those States as in others which have /
a system OF license the sanction OF law |
in general has been greatly weakened /
by the open violation and defiance of !
the prohihitory statute. Again there |
are both Democrats and Republicans |
who will oppose the amendment because |
its effect will be TO destroy property to I
the value OF many millions Of dollars |
and will affrct taxation and the reve- |
venues to the serious injury of tax |
payers in general. But the apparent /
OF the matter is on the side of .
the Prohibi.ionists and thousands of 1
well meaning persons will support the
amendment because they imagine that
its adoption will te in the interest of
good morals.
From political pom. OF view 1t
would appear that as the Republicans
have undertaken 20 boss this prohibito-
ry JOB they may as we'll be permitted 20
have the whole business TO themselves.
They would no douot be glad to have
the Democrats pull their chestnuts out
Of the fire for them at the special cleo
tion, but they may as well understand
irst as last that they cannot calculate /
upon anything of that sort. They will 1
be held responsible for the fate OF their /
measure whatev, that msy be. Men /
who are Democrats from principle will !
will vote according TO their principles
the Republican chestnuts burn
or not.