New-York tribune., 1890-03-22
and honesty, of final development into sell
supporting independence and citizenship.
uIGH LICENSE or WHATl


The Rennblcans of this State, like all other
intelligent men who desire to promote the
nublic welfare are convinced that some ad-
dtional checks ought TO be placed upon the
Gonor traffic Hence through their representa-
tiycs i'm the Legislature they are la0orng ior
tho massage of High License law. They be-
lcye that such Il measure as the HendrlcKS piii
would secure genuine REFORM that Whlie 10
would not cure the evils which result from III
tcmperancc il is in the circumstances, the DeNO
attainable measure, and would Substantially
mitigate such evils. That is the Republican
position. What is the Democratic position
Rcputable Democrats arc ready to concedc that
the lawmaking power ought to do something
to imnrove the present dcplOrable condition OF
things: but what do they propose TO do? 1t Is
understood that the Democratic leaders from
Hill down are mfrcndy TO the llendnckS blil.
Very good but how does it happen, II their IN
tcntions are honorable, that they have not
brought forward an alternative Temperance
bill? Il certainly looks as though Democracy
rs an organization however II may be with IN
dividual Democrats. is too much afraid OF the
saloons to do anything for the Advancement OF
an urgently needed reform.
High license or what? That is the ques-
tion. and the Democrats in the Legislature and
ont of it cannot escape it, In his last annual
message Governor Hill says that the people
"bclicyc in the regulation Of the liquor traffic
by lust and equitable excise laws rigidly en-
forccdr Precisely: but if the llendrlckS bill
is not "juSt and equitable in the opinion OF
Democratic Senators or Democratic Assembly,
men. then they owe il 10 their constituents. they
owe il to the cause of good morals, 70 draft a
measure which they do regard as just and
couitahic and which. consequently they can
snpport. Why was the Linson Ballot t-Rciorm
hill introduced? Its promoters explained that
they felt the need existing for ballot reform,
and since they were unable 70 vote for the
-axton bill they regarded themselves aS in duty
hound 10 introduce a measure Of their own.
Bnt if the Democracy takes this view Of ballot
reform. why does il take a different view OF
TEMPERANCE reform? II certainly will not be
prc.ondcd BY any of it, members that temper
ancc reform is of less account than ballot re-
form
IIirh license or what? The last Democrat
ic Convention adopted platform in which
il wa, resolved that the liquor traffic should
lie restricted and regulated ly just and cqul-
table excise laws. . which laws in their
oncration should be substantially uniform
throughout the state" The Hendricks bill is
the making Of precisely that sort Of a law. It
j. lust and cquitahc"; in lis operation 1t
would be- substantially uniform throughout
tho state Consequently if that platform is
~ binding force with the Democrats who were
,c,.i 10 the Legislature. how does it happen
,ha, they have not come ont for the Hendricks
bill? DO they lool, upon the liquor plank OF
the platform a, fraud?
We assure our Democratic friends a Albany
that they cannot dodge this momentouS issue.
II they fight the Hendricks bill without max
inga stand for an alternative ono. the >ignili-
cancc Of their conduct will bee generally under
stood b., sensible people. Voters who keep
their eye, open will feel warranted in conclud-
ing tha, the Democracy OF this State is essen
tally the tool Of the rum power; that Hi Is
di>inc'iyoly Nhskcy'S Governor