The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-10-11
PROHIBITION.

1.-The republican party viewing with
unfeignca regret the growing evils OF
intemperancein our land declares itself
in sympathy with all well directed eff.
forts calculated to suppress the vice.
That we cordially approve the wis.
dom of tho constitutional convention
in providing for the submission to a
vote of the people of the question of
prohibition in accordance with the ex.
pressed wish of the organized temper.
ance association of North Dakota, and
in the event of the adoption by the
people pledge members to- strict
enforcement of the laws, and enact
such legislation as may be necessary to
the same" From the republican plat.
form adopted at Fargo.
Prohibition has been adopted. ant!
the above resolution commits the re.
publican party to 'sl strict enforce.
ment Of the laws" and to '.enact such
legislation as may be necessary to the
same" The democratic state resolu.
tons adopted the week after. in re.
affirming the national platform, took
the opposite view of the question.
The logic of these should be that here.
after the republican party must lie
the temperance party and the dem.
ocrats the opposite. Nevertheless
when we analyze the vote, we discover
that this question has been entirely
distinct from party lines. Strong re.
publican precincts have given large
majorities against prohibition" and
strong democratic precincts have given
large maiorities "for prohibition" and
vice versa. We believe that in the
nature of things, in spite of party plat.
ferns, people will divide on this
question rs suits their own opinions.
and in the future, us well us the past.
vote without reference to party lines.
There can he no doubt that tile vote
just cast, is Il true and fair expression
OF public sentiment. There has been
but little actual political work done
hy either promoters or opposition; inst
enough to make voters understand
that there was such IL question and to
make them think little. The strong
est work for prohibition clause. in this
county. was done Ivy drunken tlrcsl,ing
crews during the stormy weather the
week previous to election.
If changed at all. it will take the
vote Of two legislatures and vote
of the people. AS it is not probable
that the present legislature will do
anything. except to enact laws to Ell.
force the clause as adopted, under on
biennial system it will take ut least
five years before we can possibly get
back to high license. Ibis will make
Il pretty thorough trial of it's practi.
cability in North Dakota and if practi.
cable will never he amended because
thousands of voters who voted against
prohibition believe in the principle
hut doubt the practicability of its en-.
forcement. The local option law was
adopted and defeated by just this class
of people and prohibition will have to
stand the same test, and its future fate
depends on our legislature and the
statutes they make to enforce the
constitution.
II has already been claimed that the
rural districts are for prohibition
while the towns are against; there are
some very notable exceptions to this
in til" present vote. The present re.
suit of the closing of saloons will per.
haps be financial loss, hut we believe
that the final result will lie more pros.
perity. IT. will do great deal toward
inducingimmigration. the money spent
for liquor will go into solid improve.
ments, and though it will take time to
make these influences felt they are
C 'rtain To come.