The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-29
PROHIBITION AND INTER-sTATE CON-
MERGE.
a New Danger ConTronting the Republican
Party In Congress.

n new Danger ConfrontinG the Hepublican
Party In Congress.
WASHINGTON. May 21.-whlle the war over
the Mckinley bill goes on merrily, a conflict
ON another line OF Republican policy has
been inaugurated by the party leaders In
the Senate which bids fair II carried out. to
wreck the Grand Old Party to n far greater
extent than even tho pet measure OF tho ambl-
tious Ohio man should it become a law.
From the date OF the handing down OF tho
recent decision by the United States Supreme
| court touching Interstate commerce, known
as the original package opinion. 1t was a
ioregone conclusion that tho veXed prohibit
lion issue would he carried into Congress and
thus transferred from local or State Issue to
the arena OF national politics.
lie opinion in question. so far at least as
the prohibition States are concerned. was
iar-rcaching. 70 be able to ship beor and
Whtskey in the original package into tho sew
eral prohibition States the decision carrying
with 1t the right to sell in the unbroken pack
age, practically amounted to the nulincntion
OF tho nrohibitory law. Tho devotees OF sump-
tunrv legislation In Kansas and Iowa speedily
saw that long. tottcring prohibition in those
states Ind gone to Join McGinty at the bottom
OF the sea-
Hence tho Wilson bill, which seeks to extrl-
cate the Prohibitionists of Kansas and Iowa
as also their brethren in New England, from
an awkward dilemma by placing the solo con
troll Of the liquor traffic with the several States
Very properly this measure for the relief OF the
prohibition wing of the Republican party
comes from Senator Wilson of Iowa.
Concerning the right OF u state to exclude a
recognized article OF Interstate commerce,
there are probably no two opinions among con
stitutional lawyers. Without regard to party,
leading statesmen would agree that no such
authorityls vested in the state. But a supposed
eNigcncy in n half dozen Republican States
mas had the extraordinary effect OF arraying
me members Of the Republican side OF the
senate In favor OF this proposition.
Judging from the onening debate In the Sem
ate on the Wilson bill, that innovation. which
VIII furnish the most startling precedent ever
vote the Republican side standing aim st AS n
ShIt IN ITS favor The blow inflicted upon inter
SSe oae commerce Is 9ppalent. Liquor. which has
ueen recognized article of inter State COM
d metce from the birth of the republic. once en-
Guided from seven States OF tho Union VIII ut else
may not follow this unwise and fatal innova-
t ti3n IL is iiIuor today: next week it may be
tobacco, while later 1t may be dressed meat,
wool, rice. sugar. or any other product. The
prle Of inter state commerce, it will be seen.
+ b ao pe,5 n, shattered by such departure
would be state sovereignty. The industries
OF tho country would be Impaired.
inc interesting question now is will tho
House follow the example OF the Senate on this
line q legislation viii the qtteranses Of H tair
ana l Edmqnds be repeated by Mckinley ami
two sides to this proposition. The House is
nearer 10 the people. and is therefore much
mere mo e sensitive TO the popular will Moreover
under the direct influence OF the radical wing
81 the party. iS relatively smaller than it is in
me senate. The margin Of the Republican
~ Hthhlorlty N the 1HouSe is also small; On the
are the slaves Of King Caucus. They are under |
ne heel OF despotic. Speaker from a prohibi. |
l t3 state What will be the fate Of the Wilson
therefore, problem. But what will be the res 20 |
suit II the Republican party in the House ar |
avs Itself against the principle OF inter State |
commerce.. and in favor OF the caprlces Of a |
1t will aid IN senling the doom of the Repub-
lean party. 1t will surely give the Democracy |
n an enormous mon majority in tho next Congress
touse. .et her delegation support The Wilsnp
)ill or similar measure. and ii needs no woru
u prophecy 10 predict that the Republicans
vli tb .Ss en- MT less Than tw9 or three members
ION now stands ten Republicans 70 one Demo-
RAJ tat II the House. Let the Republicans from
ne maITkeye state SUPPORT senator Wilson's
iill count majority Of the Iowa delegation in
he noxt House. '''-"''on III
But the demo al!zatfon thereby caused in the
iblon States 1t will be felt to tho dsrnphL Fo
the Republican party in one-haif OF Tia
orthern states; In Ohio. PENNSYLVANIA, Iiii-
tent, that has hitherto been identified With The
eSpbuDmEian PARTY viii 20 over to the Democracy
ShreWd observers In Washington are annual
me blindness Of the Nepublican leaders in
10 radical element in the Republican party,
hch will surely accelerate It's overthrow In
10 republic. WM. 2. ToMLINsoN.