The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-02
Tho Prohihifionists.

Our cold-water Prohibition friends. who
havo been In tumultuous assemblago in Gin
cinnati this wcek. arc truly radical. They
do not believe In keeping In the middle OF
the road. or In sailing their political craft
close to the wind. They mean to take the
bull OF Incorporate Indulgence by the
horns. and repeated ovorthrows do not dis
concert them. Twenty years ago they
put their first Presidential ticket In
tho field. That was in 1872. and they
then chose JAMES BLACK OF Pcnnsyl-
vania for their candidate. In 1876. In
touching tribute to wcll-developed
and expanding local industry. and with
the courage which radical minoritics al
ways display. the Prohibitionists went to
Kentucky for their candidate. Tho expert
ment was not attended with much success.
and in 1880 they selected from Maine their
Presidential banner bearer in the person Of
NEAL Dow. the venerable pioneer OF their
cause. In 1884 their candidate was from
Kansas. and in 1888 from New Jersey. This
has boon tho Prohibition vote:
1872. 5.Gos 1884. .o7o
1S76.............. aT5a 1885, SAC, 400
1ooo. ............... 1lo%o
This year. actuated. rs would appear. by q
deep desire to 60 West and grow up with
the country. tho Prohibitionistsh have sought
for their candidate. Gen. B1DwELL. in Cali
fornia. They estimate his aggregate vote
at SOC. 900. but 1t is doubtful IL he will much
exceed the Prohibition strength OF 1888. Tho
Prohibition movement has lost much OF its
force in States where formerly 1t was
potent. Thus during the present week Re-
publican Conventions In two States. Indi-
ana and Iowa. hago absolutely ignored the
liquor question. md refused to in
corporate any plank In their party
platform respecting it. Tho question Of
high license. which q few years ago dis
trncted the Republicans in this State. has
been sent to the rear. entirely overshad-
owed by issues Of greater Importance. In
Ohio. where for years the liquor question
was actively canvassed. and where. indeed.
tho anti-snloon crusade first originated,
the Prohibitionlst vote In last years cleo
ton was smaller than it had been in any
State contest since 1888. In Pennsylvania
where the Prohibitionists polled 80. 900 votes
In 1886. they had but $4,000 in 1891. In Massa-
chusetts the Prohibition candidate for Gov
ernor last year had 1000 fewer votes than
the party polled the year previous, and 5000
fewer than In 1889. 1t is so everywhere.
The chief reason for this change is that
the essential strength OF the Prohibition
movement in q majority OF the Northern
States was revolt against tho refusal Of
tho Republican Legislatures to enact meas
ures which many earnest Republicans de-
manded. OF late years. however. the DEM
ocrats have had control OF the Legislatures
In a majority Of these States. and this iIas
made easy the return Of tho former Pro-
hibitionists to their Republican allegiance.
Again. considerable number Of former
Prohibitionists have allied themselves with
the Farmers Alliance. the strength of
the cold-water party being almost en-
tirely limited to the country districts.
In the Southern States tho Pro-
hibition party never gained much OF foot
hold. and this year, on account OF the men
ace OF the Force bill. its candidates will get
next to no vote at all. Altogether the out
look for Gen. BIDwELL is not reassuring:
but he Is gentleman and scholar. US we'll
as rich man. and we greet his entrance
into the Presidential arena with pleasure
and tho hope that he is o philosopher as
well as q soldier. Philosophy is the first
and most desirable attribute In man who
runs for the Office Of President Of the United
States on tho Prohibitionist ticket.