The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-06
THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.


News writes to the editors in condem-
nation of what he considers the mis-
taken policy of the paper upon the tenn
perance question, which policy, he says,
may be represented so far by large
interrogation point The gentleman
in question is not third party man, but
has voted the Republican ticket for
many years, and wants to see Blaine
elected this year. And he adds "Mr.
Blaine can't be elected without the
votes of the best people of the republic,
and large majority of them are Pro-
hibitionists (not third party. In the
Methodist Church alone are over
million voters among our almost five mil
lion members"
The NEWS wonders, while regretting,
that such careful reader should mis-
understand its attitude because of its
occasional criticisms of the third party
people. They deserve scolding. With
the best motives in the world the third
party men are the foes Of temperance SO
far as their votes go. They do not vote
as they pray.
Take an example. In the State Of New
York the Prohibitionists have for years
worked to defeat the Republican party.
The result is legislature Democratic in
both branches, and Democratic COVER
nor; and OF this, again, the result is the
introduction of bill which, if it becomes
law, will surpass the iniquities of the
Louisiana State lottery. This bill,
which will be passed by solid Demo
cratic vote against solid Republican
opposition, which will probably be signed
by Democratic governor, permits liq-
uor to be sold all night long. 1t permits
it to be sold on Sundays. II repeals the
civil damage act, by which bereaved
or abused relative could by legal process
collect damages from the liquor seller
who had compassed a husbands, sons or
wife's ruin. Most monstrous of all, it
places an absolute bar against the col.
lection of any evidence against liquor
sellers violating what few shreds of re-
pressive law are left. II repeals at one
fell swoop full thirty repressive statutes
framed by Republican legislatures and
designed to curb the liquor power. 1t is
one of the most monstrous propositions
of recent times T; and it is the work of
third party Prohibitionists They left
the Republican party because it did not
push the State up the hill of reform quite
rapidly enough. And now it is rolling
back to the bottom again, with return
TO the hard drinking days of 1880 appar-
emily likely.
Slavery. twin curse of the country
with the drink habit, was not so abol-
ished. Abraham Lincoln was not only
a great and good man but he was a
practical politician. He moved forward,
a leader indeed, but never so far in adj
vance but that he could feel his party
behind him and while abolitionists de-
nounced him for delay the country was
saved and slaverys black blot rubbed
out.
The drink question can best be settled
10y practical politIcians--by practical
political methods, by working within
the party best fitted for such work, not
outside il il will never be settled by
extremists it will only be made more
perplexing 10y working with the party
which has won the support of the liquor
mems organizations everywhere. The
situation i'm Rhode Island is precisely the
same that il is New York. Third party
votes are least mischievous when they
merely prolong local election contests,
and cause useless expenditure of time
and money. When. and in so far as
they contribute to Democratic success
they are reactionary and calamitous.
The Republican party is the party Of
progress not Of reaction. II can best be
trusted 10 deal with the moral as well as
financial and industrial interests Of the
community and the nation. Keep with.
in it. temperance men, and use your
influence as members 10 make il even
more outspoken than il is. Do not get
outside and vote in the air till the
country backslides.
That is the policy Of the NEws on the