The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-27

the end of loading it, as thew termed il
upon the Republican party in the state
The many thousands of Republicans who
voted against the amendment then have
manly voted TO sustain the party and in
cidentaliy prohibition ever since. There
fore, following these loyal Republicans in
their course ever since in sustain
ing the party despite of prohibition. and
IN oeing willing to see the new policy
or moral theory fairly tried we are left
with nothing but admiration for their
loyal party spirit, for their broad-minded
action and for their lieerality of thought.
lt Is time 10 show better spirit TO these
men, ana TO make them feel that their
loyalty Is both understood and appre-
ciated, and that they are vested with as
many rights as any other Republicans.
In the coming year especially, l hope 10
see broader and more liberal action to-
ward these faithful Republicans. and I
trust that they may be given representa-
ton on the next state ticket, and on many
OF the county tickets.
The straightedge against Republicans
who are not Prohibitionists NAV well be
laid aside. In my Judgment there are
fo,Vv Republicans in Iowa today who are
either not IN favor of prohibition, or who.
having gwen II some years of patient trial.
now believe that ii ought to be modified
III the estimate is wrong it is in being too
low rather than too high. These men. as
CONSCIENTIOUS Republicans and as good
citizens as any In the state, still place party
interest and success above their personal
opinions and are going to stand bv it. con-
ndent that the wisdom will soon come
and by the action of the pronounced
Prohlbltlonlsts of the state them
selves, to settle the temperance cues
ton so as to conserve and save
to this state and people the largest pos
slole maximum of prohibition, and vet
not carry the Republican party over the
dam into permanent defeat. The temper
OF the state and the discussion of this CUES
ton In press and elsewhere since the No.
vember election and the Illuminating
lesson OF the result has been admirable and
commendable because of their GOODNESS.
dignity, good humor, respect for other
peoples opinions, and the apparent COM
mon desire to reach the end best for the
state, and for the two good causes of ITEM
perance and Republicanism" The will of
the people Is the political decalogue of
Iowa. Once it is made plain what that
Will Enthusiastically Is, and all good men
and all good Republicans will respect and
obey It. Ii was obedience to this will that
gave prohibition trial in Iowa, and
the trial has been as sincere, as thorough,
and as fully reinforced by all moral power
ana law as was ever given 10 a statute
made by men. The statutes of God NAV
not be altered. The statutes of men are
human in their wisdom. and are all expert
ment, and SO may and very often must be
changed. A majority was gained for prohi-
bitlon in Iowa, not by any claim that it
would infallibly succeed, but that it should
be given trial. The bold claim that il was
known to be right and known that it
would succeed would not have commanded
$4,000 votes in Iowa. No man
or woman comes now from any
quarter to say that it has not been
given an honest, thorough, determined,
courageous, even prayerful trial. 1t must
stand, fair and noble as it is, the same test
as the other statutes of men. If it has
been shown that it has failed in making a
100 per cent. success, and if the people of
Iowa, after giving it such a trial as they
have done, say that it cannot be enforced
in its entirety, then both in response to
the will of the people and still more in loy-
atty to prohibition itself-to the end of
saving the state the highest maximum
possible of total prohibition, and next the
highest maximum of partial prohibition
the law will be modified.
obedience to the will of the people of
Iowa in 1882 cannot be preached up as
duty on all good men, and disobedience to
the will of the same great sovereign people
in 1889 and 1891 preached up to be also
duty. 1t all comes to this, among US as
good neighbors and good citizens, alike
anxious for the good of the state to analyze
the result clearly and then when the will of
the people is made plain to obey it. |
believe from what l see in the press
and hear from the people that