St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-07-26
THE TEMPERANCE PLANK.

The Republican platform in this state
does not lack eXplicitness on one point.
1t is squarely for high license, and the
phraseology used would indicate that it
was a local invention, discovery of
the Republican party of Minnesota. 1t
is no more patent nostrum, but tried
catholicon for the evils of the liquor
traffic. Historically, the high license
system is not the offspring OF the party
in this state. 1t has been inaugurated
in various states in times past, but it is
not recalled that it has anywhere been
termed the ultimate solution of the tenn
perance question by the advocates of it..
There is not entire agreement as to its
merit in the speciality for which it is
recommended. It's results have not
been so confessedly bene6cent that
parties have tried to run over
each other in getting a monopoly
oft for their platforms. In very few
other instances have Republican con-
ventionS claimed it as one of the party
policies. Nebraska has had high
license, by the legislation of the Repub-
ican party, much longer than has Min
nesota; and yet at their big state con-
veDtion. in session Oh the same day as
the one in this state, all reference to the
question in the platform was smothered.
This, too, in face of the fact that it is
one of the issues to be voted on in the
election. Had the question been allowed
to come before the convention, the indi-
cations are that it would have been
voted down. The party has tried it
there for series of years, and refuses
to speak in its favor. A large majority
of the Republicans in that state are op-
posed to high license after protracted
trial. The leading Republican daily at
ically in opposition to high license. 1t
was tried in Massachusetts last year
with such popular dissatisfaction that it
was generally repudiated at the next
election.
There is absolutely nothing to high
license but its financial feature. 1t i'm
poses heavier tax upon dealers and
puts more money in the treasury. When
that is said it is all that can be said in
favor. The reduction in number of Sa-
looms is no part of the license system.
1t is becoming the practice to limit the
number of saloons by statute according
to the population, as in Massachusetts,
OF by the discretion of a commissioner,
as in Pennsylvania. The Stringency Of
regulations has nothing to do with the
size of the license. The platform max
ers Thursday presumed upon the ere
dulity of the party when they alleged
that high license had anything to do
with 'the evils attendant upon such
traffic" Prohibitomsts who are sin
cere and intelligent regard high license
as a delusion to keep away from them a
class of people who believe in their
principle, but are persuaded that high
license is long reach in that direction;
as far, in fact, as the popular temper at
present will allow. Then it is in the
direction of the pocket, and it is vastly
easier to persuade a class Of Well-mean-
ing people when the pocket can be kept
just ahead of the Judgment. The dec
laration in favor of high license was per-
haps an eXpedient to divert attention
from the strong demand for the submits
sion of the question to popular vote, as
in Nebraska. 1t will only serve to make
more conspicuous the inanity of Re-
publican professions and the evasion
of real issues. 1t will drive to the Pro-
hibitionists a considerable vote among
those who believe in that line OF treat
ment of the question.