The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-11-07

publican States in the Union to pfae.
tically Democratic State so far as
State officers are concerned, is one
pregnant with interest to tho people.
Many recollect that Iowa. not many
years ago. led the column of Republi-
can States with big najoritles ranging
anywhere along from $4,000 10 10000,
above the latter figures. When was
this2 1t was before the Prohibition |
exeitemeut rose to fever heat. The Re- |
publican party Of iowa, and indeed, OF |
all the States, was, and still is, the
party OF conservative moral reform,
but it was not Prohibition party. No
party, however went so far as it did
TO cireumseribe and il possible. 10 pre-
vent the terrible evils OF intemperance.
Wherever public sentiment would
admit it adopted either higher re-
strictive licenses, Local option or pro-
hibition. 1t is the only party that
gave prohibition to State since the
days the Maine law was passed in that
State by Democratic legislature with
the exception of 1854 when the Ameri-
cen party passed prolibitory law for
Delaware. The prohibitory laws of
Iowa, Nebraska and kanas are due to
the Republican party. The moral
sentiment OF those States was strong
andin sympathy with it was the senti-
ment OF the Republican party. As an
abstract sentiment the Republican
party is still in sympathy with the re-
strietion of the liqaor traffic. but as a
pollctical factor the party hesitates to
ieopardize its existence by adopting
1t. II all Republicans were Prohi-
bitionts and would remain so, then
prohibition would be source of
strength to the party instead OF
source of weakness.
Let us look at the condition of af-
fairs in Iowa as it relates to the Re
publican party and Prohibition in a
plain matter OF fact manner, and as
tine case Is in Iowa SO it is In Nebraska
and Kansas. The overwhelming Re-
publican majority Of Iowa strongly
imbued with temperance sentiment
left Prohibition to vote OF the peo-
pie and it carried that a prohibitory
law should lie passed. In that vote
was included large number Of TEN
perance Democrats who voted for Pro-
whenever Prohibition interfered with
their party they ere Democrats first.
In response TO the vote of the Stale
the Republican party passed pro hi
bitory law, and right there commenced
its downfall
The large Republican vote not In ia.
vor OF Prohibition slumped over to the
Democratic party, without brin ging
any force from that party to tho Re.
publiaens. To add TO the disgust Of
the Republicans, the Prohi5it.onis ts
ungratefully ran pr, hibi ton tickets
and now between Republicans not il
favor of Prohibition going over to tn,
Demo cIaiic party, and Republicans il
favor of Prohibition going over to the
Prohibition party, tho Republican par
~ has been stranded.
The great lesson to he learned from
the defeat OF Prohibition or tho inopera
ton of prohibition laws is that mora
sentiment has not attained force
eaough even in su.A moral states as
Iowa and Nausas to enfor2a Trouioi-
ton, and hence prohibitory laws being
Imperative is worse than il no prJhIB
itory laws had Leen passed.
Even In Della ware, where majority
ef the voters OF the State are charcl
members, prohibition iell Hat til your
1t was adopted, and tha Dem 3cratlc
Legislature Of 1866 repeated it befor
it had moral sentiment enough in til
State TO sustain it, and This is what i
the matter in Iowa and Kansas. I
enforce prohibition moral sentimen
must be manufactured and trained I
duty heiofe IL is put in front Of ia
battle. The duty of the Republica
party is plain. 1t cannot supper
measures, the people will not support
1t cannot lead where public sentlmen
will not follow.
By its attempt TO support prohibi
tion in Iowa IT has wellsnigh los
entire control OF State that was one
the most loyal OF States. When pre-
hibitionists themselves will not stan
by the party that gave them prohib
ton, the Republican party is absolye
from all allegiance and Obligations [
prohibition as party, and the soone
it gets Strengthened out in this matte
the better it will be for the party, III
better for the country, and the bette
for moral reform. There is no us
trying to enforce prohibition where
cannot lie enforced, no use flying
the face OF sure defeat, While the r.
publican party OF Iowa should ey,
stand ready to further the interests
good morals and good government /
all the means in its power 1t Is no IL;
60 frltter away its strength by tryin
TO inforce prohibition where it cannt
be enforced.
THERE Is no good reason why Del
ware should not be made to break III
solid South in 1872 ma aha a ii IN 1872