The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-12-23
Friday, Dec. 2S, 1892
The Status of the Prohibition Party

The prohibition party vote at the iate
election was about 100000, rather under
than over that number, an increase only OF
ff,v tbonsapd over the vote of four years
ago. IF the prohibition party was new
par,y the more enthusiastic members might
catch hope from such result ou' ior an
o,a nartv which has stood three or four
presidential canyasses, what can any SEN
sible person hope for of the party's future
The fact about the prohibition party IS that
il is composed of two Numerically oppos
mo interests. The gold ring monopoly
interest of the eastern States ana wan
street and the the rural element OF Inc
country. AS small 10 numbers as the vote
shows the party to be, 1t is pretty evenly
balanced between these two an'agon's''e
e,smenta This was shown at the last
national convention, when the silver piank
was offered for place. The wall s'fee'
mower raised warning finger and the fipe
of es:lver bell was silenced.
TIE worst sign for future prosperity u
the party was shown in the total inoiner'
ence and neglect by the two old part'es' o.
the nrohibition party in the last campaign
Formerly they fought it viciously. In 'ns
last canvass it was only mentioned occa'
sionally in playful manner showing 'nes
no longer fear it. Cleveland even s'epPeo
aside to give it slap IN his letter oil accept
apce. so utterly futile has the organiza''ol
become as a political factor. There are
millions Of prohibit 'nists in the country
but the proof is PLATA enough that tney
never will join tie present organizs''oi
known as the prohit ition party. We nave
pointed out one goou aud sufficient reason
There are several others. The question If
how much longer can contingent be kep'
out of the reform ranks by this one of the
many monopoly schemes to divide and dis
tract their enemies? The prohibition party
on its present lines of work has degenerated
into a mere fad, aud is not advancing the
cause of prohibition at all
The liquor monopoly is one of the four
great monopolies which are crushing the
life out of the American people. These are
the Money monopoly, the Railroad monop-
oply, the Telegraph monopoly and the
LIQUOR monopoly. There are many col
lateral evils which have their source in
these four tyrannies. The government
taxes and protects the liquor monopoly,
which without that tax-protection would
fall to pieces, and be exposed to the assaults
of the public in detail. The leaders Of the
prohibition party are silent on the subject
of repeating this protection government tax
They expend all their energy banging al
the saloon door. Their bakers dozen OF
leaders are now heartily congratulating one
another on their great gains at the last
election and the bright promise those gains
give the party for the future. Their farcical
hllarity is laughable. Quite number are
suggesting change of name. This would
only hasten the party's dissolution. The
party cannot select better name. The only
sensible thing for it to do is to fold its tent
like the Arab and as silently steal away.
1t has the ground pre.empted and no other
party is going to swear allegiance TO so
small party or endorse its platform. A
large per cent of the members will go TO the
monopoly parties when the prohibition
party dissolves and the true men will join
the Peoples party which is the true prohi
biiion party of the future.