New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-28
TUE coYEPy0ws AF7ERTHOUGH7.

THE GOVERNORS AFTERTHOUGH1.
1t must be apparent to all now that Uov-
ernor Hill, who owes more of his success I'D
politics to luck than to shrewdneSS, blundered
sadly in his call for the Democratic State Con
vention. His open announcement OF an an
ance with the saloonkeepers was hardly worth
while. They knew all about 1t already ana
did not need to be told. But the Respectable
voters Of the State, and especially those IN the
Democratic party, were startled at the bold
ness of this utterance. 1t may well DC douo'-
ed whether Governor Hill made so much DIS d
single vote by it, and it will be strange II IL
does not lose him many thousands. The alarm
Of the Democrats is shown by the fact that they
are irving to explain the Governors phrase
away. At the time the call was issued, the in
yitation to all "whO are opposed to lnequltaole
and oppressive sumptuary legislation to JON
company with the Democratic party was
universally interpreted to be an invitation TO
all who approved the Governors policy on
high license. "The Brooklyn Eagle" The
Troy press'' and "The Utica Observer are
three Democratic newspapers which so inter-
pleted it, and approved it
But the symptoms of popular revolt are SO
unmistakable that the Albany organs OF the
party apparently at the Governors lnsuga-
ton. have under taken to give the CAL now
reading 1.-The Argus" gravely informs Its
readers that the allusion is to the Prohibition
Amendment, which comes up before the next
Legislature. 1t says that " the adoption OF the
concurrent resolution, submitting that amend
ment to the vote of the people by the RepuD-
lican majority in the Legislature last year, and
the constitutional requirement for its publica-
ton for the information of the voters this
wear bring the question of Prohibition into the
canvass in New York as an issue in the deter
minaGon of the composition of parties them
selves. The State Committee has acted wisely.
therefore, in Ieiterating in It's call the tradi-
tionary position of the Democratic party IN
Ncw-lO ok State in opposition to the s1mptuary
policy of Prohibition. 1t would not have
been the province or prerogative of the State
Committee to assume to determine the course
of the Democratic party in the matter of the
regulation of the liquor traffic by statute"
"The Albany Times adopts the same theory.
TO the average citizen this will seem to be
a very labored and foolish attempt to escape
from a position to which it would have been
better to adhere, having once taken it, The
phrase " sumptuary legislation has been habit
ualy used in Democratic platforms in the very
sense it was undoubtedly meant to be employed
in the call-by way of general protest against
legislation dealing strictly with the liquor
traffic. Still, if the Governor and the Demo
cratic leaders are frightened and are willing
to crawl out of their dilemma in this way, no
one will have The heart to sag them nay. The
spectacle is too enjoyable. But in order that
the process may be effective the Democratic
papers should crawl together. They should
all fix upon one Interpretation of the call and
follow that
But it is not Of great moment after all, what
the call says, or what they say it says. The
record Of the party is made up by its votes in
the Legislature and the vetoes Of the Gov
ernor and the issue is clear. No juggling with
words by the Democratic Convention can alter
it, The question of chief importance now is,
what is the Republican Convention going to do
about it? Will it keep the Republican party
on the high plane upon the temperance ques-
ton where the campaign of last year put it, or
will it by a half-heared utterance weaken the
cause at the very moment when it has gained
most from the indiscretOn of its opponents
great majority of Republicans when say
that now more than ever the party should stand
squarely by high license. The Democrats with
singular cOwardice. have left the initiative Of
the campaign to the Republicans. This gives
the Republicans the opportunity to make the
issue for themselves and force the fighting
They should do so. The position of the party
as reflected in It's votes in the Legislature and
the pledges OF It's candidates, is uncomproms
| ngly for high license. That position should
| be realIirmed without hesitation or qualifica
ton in the Saratoga platform. The party has
ranged itself there and it should no more aban-
don its attitude or paltcr with the question
than with any other moral issue. To do 50
would be surrender of principle, and the Re
publican party has not been in the habit Of
making suIendeIs of that kind. We do not
believe, however that there is any danger Of
a backward step. There never was a time
when the principle of high license was so
strong before the people nor. as we believe,
when the Republican party was 50 earnest in
its favor
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