New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-02
PARTIES AND THE LIQUOR QUESTION:

The Iouor interest gave the control of this
States to the Democratic party for dennlte
purp6sc and upon definite pledges. Those
Hedges have not been kept. The lquor-dealers
now resent this bad faith, show that the Dem
ocratic marty has never made an effort to settle
the ouestion in harmony with the promises en-
bodied in the State platform Of 1889, and main
tain that the party deserves rebuke and de-
feat for its dishonesty. Thereupon some Dem
ocratic organs cry out that there has been bar
gain, that the Republicans must have bought
nm the liouor interest, and they hope to catch
the votes of temperance men in that way.
But the facts warrant no such pretence.
Long ago it was predicted by The TRIBUNE
that the Democratic party, being combination
of spoilsmen who use every issue without con-
viction or conscience and only to get votes out
of it, would never dare to carry out It's pledge
in the platform Of 1889, and that the liquor
dealers would sooner or later get tired OF empty
words and resent bad faith. So "The Wine
and Spirit Gazette says:
The lIouor plank of the Saratoga platform has been
the sdbboleth OF the Democratic platform on this
question since 1889 Was such law as this plank DC
cribed ever framed by the Democratsl 1t VIII not 90
for them to say that they have had no chance 10
demonstrate the honesty Of their intentions IN this
rerord Last year the Democratic party had good
working majority In the Assembly How did they
redeem their pledgesl What bb'e uies W STU" @"
proof Of good taithi
These significant words are quoted by DEM
ocratic organs as evidence that the Republican
marty has in some way made terms with the
liquor interest But they only prove that the
Democratic party has acted so long in bad faith
loe o.
publicans have done is simply this They nave
adopted a platform which looks to legislation
after the Ohio plan, and is frank and manly
endeavor TO settle the question In harmony with
the wishes and convictions OF the people IN
various localities. This comprehensive and
efficient excise legislation for giving local option
by counties, towns and cities, and restriction by
taxation in such localities as do not by option
exclude the liquor traffic" appears to some OF
the LIQUOR dealers preferable to the fraudulent
promises Of the Democratic party, and the con-
slant agitation thus produced and 1.-The Wine
and Spirit Gazette" says:
The substitution Of single tax in place OF an ex-
pensive and complicated hccnse system would be
decided Improvement the present regulation OF the
uouor traffic The Ohio LquoC Tax law was
passed by a Republican Legislature. 1t must have
worked to the satisfaction OF tc Wnolo Proplo' io Vo
Democratic Southwest" says that no effort should be
made 10 change It's general features Of taxation and
local option.
The paper quoted is not the organ OF the
retail liauor-dealers, as some Democrats flaudu-
leptIy report. and its utterances cannot be taken
as committing that organization or its members.
But it is evident that some of the liquor deal
ers themselves have come to prefer the kind of
settlement manfully proposed by the Repub-
lican party to the trickery and bad faith of the
Democracy, and are tired of being used as cats
paws by the Democratic monkey in every pO-
litical campaign.
Is this reason for suspecting bargain
On the contrary, it is strong evidence that none
exists For without any the natural resentment
at Democratic bad faith, and the hope that
law like the Ohio act would give satisfaction
here as it does there to all classes and so would
terminate agitation. naturally calls forth exactly
such expressions of opinion as have been quoted.
The Ohio law satisfies the people 30 thoroughly
that no party can now be found to repeal or
radically change it. Is there not some reason
to believe that similar legislation in this State
would be equally satisfactory in resuks?
Here is an illustration of the old truth that
straightforward honesty and upright dealing
win more in the end than bad faith and trick
cry. The Democratic party has tricked all in
terests on this as on every other issue until men
Of definite convictions have become disguised
with it. The Republican party has sought an
honest settlement, the best that the people them