New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-29
NOT THIRD PARTY ASSEMBLY,


II would have been unfortunate il tho Gen
eral Assembly had diminished the weight Of its
influence for temperance by failure to unity
the two conflicting votes Of Monday upon the
question Of constitutional Prohibition. Tho
primary effect Of this inconsistency would have
been harmful, and tho secondary results still
more So Every Presbyterian would have been
tempted 10 quote as the authoritative voice Of
the Assembly whichever Of it's uttcrances CORE
spondcd TO his own views and sympathies with
little regard to the modifying effect of the other
and the authentic attitude Of the Church would
havo remained a matter Of dispute until tho
next Assembly met. For this reason, among
others, we rejoice that the Assembly declared
yesterday by a unanimous vote that It's deliver
ances must not he construed as the advocacy
Of any political party.
We have no thought Of accusing the com
rissoncrS Of cowardico on Monday. Their
conflicting action was doubtless brought about
by n natural failure to agree as TO what consti-
tutes inconsistency. Many OF them would have
been able 10 affirm that they found no neceS-
Sary conflict between the resolution which dis
tinctly refused 10 commit the Assembly TO tho
third party movement and the resolution which
distinctly rcaflirm;d a previous committal to
constitutional Prohibition. But it would have
been deplorable IL it had remained in the power
Of any man 10 declare with even a show Of
reason that the governing body OF the great
Presbyterian communion did not dare TO make
an explicit and unqualified avOwal on the most
vital problem that now confronts civilized So
ciety. Apart from this, we scarcely need TO
say that, from our point Of view, it would have
been unfortunate If any weapon, however
feeble, had been placed in the hands Of men
who in various parts OF tho country are doing
whatever they can, consciously or unconscious
ly, to tighten the clutches Of the liquor traffic
to extend and perpetuato the misery, tho
crime and the loss which it innctS upon so
ciety. serious misfortune was threatened
when Dr. Howard Crosby, for example found
himself at the close Of Mondays debate In an
apparent minority OF tho commissioners. DR..
Crosby has brought TO bear upon the solution
Of this problem here ut the headquarters Of
observation, keener intelligence, a moro pa
tient and unwearied zeal a higher and more
unselhsh courage than almost any other man
Of his generation He is not at present spec
ulating as to what might follow earnest efforts
TO curtail the number and power Of the saloons
by gradually squeezing the life out Of them.
On the contrary, he is witnessing the positive
and boneicent results II laL.rS in which he has
manfuly shared, aS they are exemplifed in
official records and in the enlightened public
sentiment which he has helped to build up.
When he began the fight, thirteen years ago,
this city had 900, 600 inhabitants and o. 500
saloons On January the city had 900, 900
inhabitants and 6Sll saloons.
DIR. Crosby went to the root Of the tier in
a single sentence when he said thai IL was
mistake to confound constitutional Prohibition
with Prohibition sentiment. The problem viii