The Portland daily press., 1890-04-05

There Is no doubt that the convention of
Republicans of Iowa opposed to the pres
ent prohibitory law represented quite a
large element in the party. 1t is not the pur-
pose OF this element, however, to demand
the repeal OF the law, in case the prohibition
amendment is taken out of the constitution,
but modification of 1t in the direction of
local option. First Assistant Postmaster
General Clarkson, who is Thoroughly ac-
quainted with the situation in Iowa, states
the case thus:
"In perhaps So counties of the State it is well
enforced, and has largely emptied the jails in 80
or 60 counties; and the people in such counties
are very devoted to it, and would not surrender
in support 81 the measure As many as 50. 600 or
$4,000 Republicans have been opposed to it, but
nave gone along with the party, willing to see the
seven years, and has failed in part, they insist
that the law should be amended, so as to give
prohibition TO the 80 per cent. of Iowa where Dub
lie opinion favors and enforces it, but that some
otDer methods OF regulating and REFRESHING the
trafic should be given to the 20 per cent Of the
state where experience shows that it never can
be enforced: This convention OF Wednesday was
representative of these Republicans. They want
AZ r mGey me me law making prohibition the
ton OF license. My own judgment is that some
such modification should be made.
1t will be seen that the difficulty with pro-
hibition in Iowa is the same in kind as the
difficulty with it in Maine-that is to saw.
in the large places, where there is considera-
Bile sentiment in opposition to 1t, thorough
enforcement has been found to be impractic-
able. The difficulty is much greater in de-
gree than in Maine, because there are
more places where this opposition exists.
The first gun for Australian federation
appears to have been fired. A convention
held In Melbourne Consisting of delegates
from all OF the provinces agreed with Sir
Henry Parkes that the development of the
colonies since 1888, when the federal council
was founded, justifies the union of the
Australian colonies under one legislature
and executive government. The convention
took no definite action; but next year an
other convention will meet, composed Of
seven members from each of the independent
colonies and four from the crown colonies
Tor the purpose of drawing mp a formal
scheme OF confederation. The desirability
Oh confederation is conceded; but there is
one large and fierce lion in the path,-the
tariff question. So long as they are separate
colonies it makes little difference, if New
South Wales and South Australia enforce
protection, while Victoria INDUCES in the
luxury of free trade. But when they come
to be part OF one whole, division on the
vital question of financial policy would be
fatal division. So long as Australia re-
mains dependency of Great Britain, even
though federation, some vestiges of free
trade will probably hang round its constitu-
ton. But Australia is a large country and
is growing In population and prosperity. Its
people are intelligent, and enterprising far
beyond the limits of English conservatism.
1t would not be Surprising If at the time
federation came, independence would come
too. And with independence and federation.
the wisdom of protecting and building up
its industries and possibilities would make
itself felt from one end of the island CONT
nent to the other. Australia is from all ac-
counts land Of promise in many particu.
lars, and solid federation based on the rock
OF self-reliance and self-help would develop
1t into glorious reality.