The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-06-16
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY.
The Dominant Issue.

not only assailing our national platform
because of its last plank, but also de-
nouncing as disloyal candidates and
campaign managers and editors who
stand by that platform.
What makes the suppression of the
liquor traffic the dominant issue? Is
it because it is "moral ISSUE and
other issues are not? By DO means
every issue is moral issue that has for
its purpose the overthrow of injustice
and the Fighting of wrong conditions,
commercial, monetary, industrial, social
or political. Is it because of the
pecuniary waste of the liquor traffic ?
Not at all; the currency question may
involve greater pecuniary interests than
the drink issue.
The principal reason, it seems to US,
for the dominant nature of the drink
issue, and q reason which ought to
appeal to every one who desires reform
of any kind, lies in the relation of the
saloon to politics. Every legislative
reform must come through the chan
nels of legislation. The power that
controls those channels controls the
fate Of all reforms. If the currency is
to be reformed, it must be through the
channels OF legislation If the system
Of land tenure is to be reformed, it
must be through the same channels. If
the present relations of the public to
systems Of transportation are to be
reformed, it must be through those
channels. If trusts and mouopolies
are to be throttled by law, it must be
through those channels. Those who
lock with eyes Of longing for the ad-
vance toward Socialism, can have their
hopes realized only through the chan
nels Of legislation.
Now here is the stupendeus fact that
confronts US all The liquor traffic is IN
control ofheSe channels OF legislation.
If this be true. and few who have
studied the question and who have had
opportunity for observation will dis
pute il, the situation resolves itself TO
this: To effect any lasting reform, the
political forces that are represented in
the 240, 900 saloons Of the land must
be propitiated and won over as allies or
al least dissuaded from any active oppo
stion. The first question a practical
reformer must ask himself nowadays is,
Will the slum aud saloon element be
hostile; if so, how can they be won over
to my side?
Now we are very far from saying
that the liquor interests are so totally
depraved in all respects that they will
necessarily fight every good reform.
There are liquor dealers on all sides Of
the tariff question, Of the currency
question, Of industrial questions. They
are in all parties but the Prohibition
Party, and, for aught we know, some Of
them may vote with US on election day.
We do not say, therefore, that the
liquor interests as a unit will be thrown
against every reform that is worth any
thing. But here is our point Every
reform that seeks to uproot powerful
but unjust institutions, must expect to
contend against the money power vested
ia such institutions, must expect to
contead against the money power vested
in such Institutions, ani in such a fight,
so long as the saloon forces control the
channels Of Legislation. any unjust
moueyed power that is Sighting FOR its
lite has al enormous advantage over
the reform forces.
Go to our legislatures and strive to
enact law against powerful corpora
ton. The mopent that there appears
TO be any prospect Of success, the cor
povation, it may be assumed. will dis
patch its lobbyists to the scsas with
pockets we'll lined with gresnbaeks %
yon have your pockets equally vel
lined. aud you sTe ready 10 bride year
reform through to success, yea may
combat on equal terms. But q reform
that is worthy of success will rot come
to it by aay such eoTrapt route a.
bribery. And yet with a lrrisisisse
controlled By msmbers who owe their
election to their popularity witb the
saloon element. the lobbyist vita . tf.bs
is almost certain 10 defeat tbe refefmeF
with conscience. Why Beeaass 10
10 eases out Of 20 the slsm polifsian
is 10 the Legislature Cor "what be can
make" and an appeal 70 tis tessa Of
duty is yaluelsss as against 90 appeal 90
his eupidiiy, The political poser e.
this saloon element becomes, therefore