St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-21
ARID DILEMMAS.

lNefe Is strung eI~uGul. pTOOdUlg
decided majority of the Republican
party in Iowa, that is in favor of pro-
hibitiOn as matter of principle, and
with higher regard for that cause than
mere party success. The representa-
lives of this class met at Des Moines
this week and resolved to stand by pro-
Iibition, not exactly in the spirit of the
Republican politicians. but heroically
aud in the inspiration Of the legends of
RoDERICK DHU. They will not only
Insist that the party shall refuse to re-
peal the present law, but amend it
where it is weak and make it even
stronger than legislative ingenuity has
yet been able to do. The editor of the
state organ of the party, the Des
Moines Register, listens to their de-
mands. and, with the November voting
fresh in b mind, rises up and ejaeu-
lates: There is limit to all things.
1t is folly to ask or expect any more
stringent and arbitrary legislation on
this subject With mixture of indig-
nation and pathos he then recOunts the
sacrifices of the party for the prohibit
tiOnistS, ana adds this portrayal of the
character of the law it has given them:
The Republican party has given the state
the most arbitrary law which any civilized
community in modern times has possessed.
Not even Kansas with its metropolitan
police system. has any such powerful law. 1t
has practically abolished trial by jury. 1t
has transferred a criminal proceeding to the
rourts Of equity. 1t has armed the officers of
the law with the powers of q car, and given
them authority whose unjust exercise in
other nations and in other times has sown
The dragon teeth of revolution.
That is, 40 doubt, as truthful as
graphic. 1t is not surprising that the
dragon teeth should show vitality even
in Iowa soil. The convention pro-
nounced this the crucial period of that
legislation in Iowa, and it involves a.
grave dilemma for the policy Republi-
cans. If they cling to the prohibitionists
they find the result presaged in the late
election, but if they lose the prohibition
vote they have still less left. 1t would
BE relief TO them if the Democrats
had control of the legislature and should
repeal the law without their aid, but
they have six majority in the senate,
ana the prohibitioniStS will hold the
party responsible if the law is repealed.
The normal, honest mind will presume
that after the depletion of the tyrannical
character of the law given by the paper
81 would demand its repeal. but it does
not. 1t does not intimate that it was an
outrage TO so tamper with the rights of
the citizen. 1t knows that extraordi-
nary legal measures are requisite to
50ree prohibition upon unwilling com
muuities. 1t seems from the statement
that Iowa is in the van of the states
that have adopted stringent prohipitory
measures. 1t has virtually abolished
trial by jury and made the officers
of the law cZaTs, and still the grand re-
form does not shine out in the glory of
perfect fruitiOn. If the policy is the
lie one for the protection of society,
the PrOhibitionists are right in
demanding additional Vigor. The
car sends people who are suspected
of not admiring his ways to Siberia, or
The Quietude of a speedy grave. Prohi-
btion has driven a good many people
out of Iowa, but it is possible there
could be graver calamities. To secure
effective naturalization of the objects
of the prOhibitiOnists, there must be an
enlarged cOnstabulary, with bloodhound
instincts and relentless zeal. constantly
DIGGING every suspect and free to in
spect pockets and houses. Then there
must be the legislation urged by Sena-
lots WILSON, of Iowa, and MOODY, of
South Dakota, TO prevent the passage of
any sort of irrigrant into prohibition
states. The state line should be
guarded constantly, if it takes half the
lnen in the state. If it is a good thing
TO have. compel people to take it for
their personal good. 1t may be des-
potic, but men have believed that it was
right 70 burn people who did not think
right. The law just adopted in North
Dakota is said to be still more stringent
Than any former ones. 1t is quite
thoughtful in Senator PIERCE to be ask
ing an appropriation for new peni-
Tertiary.
The same issue of the Des Moines
paper quoted from las report of the