The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-05-04
PROHIBITIONISTS, ABOUT FACE.

After so many futile attempts
IN this prohibition movement, 1t is
indeed strange that thinking men
will longer insist on foisting it ON
the country. Is 1t not plainly ap,
parent to them that they are
working right into the hands of
their worst enemies? Every pre-
hibitionist vote is a vote for the
democratic party. That party has
never favored prohibition in any
| way. In fact, it has always been
antagonistic to every movement
looking toward a reform in the
liquor traffic. On the other hand.
all the favorable legislation that
has been had OH this line has been
secured by the republican party.
Since they. have not seen fit to
carry the matter to the extreme
that is advocated by lot of the
oretical reformers, they turn like
dog and bite the hand that feeds
them. II this is not ingratitude,
where do you find it? The most
sanguine leaders of this move
ment must see that there is moth
! ing in store for their candidates
but defeat. The paramount issue
at this time is not the abolition of
the liquor traffic, as they are en-
deavoring to make it appear. 1t
is a matter Of far more impor-
tance. 1t is a m tier. of bread
and butter to starving millions.
When the country is almost in
the throes of bankruptcy, and
men are without labor and money
with which to buy even the nee
essaries of life, it is no fit time to
bring up questions which are now
comparatively of minor impor-
tance and which will in measure
divert the public mind from the
main issue OF the campaign. The
democratic party has shown con-
clusively that it is wholly incom-
petent to manage the affairs of the
government. They threaten US
with the passage Of the Wilson
bill-a measure which has already
paralyzed our industries, made the
rich dependent and the laborers
paupers. Our object now is to
wrest the reins of government
frolna the enemy and restore to
power the repu lican party, that
during thirty years proved thor
oughly capable OF managing the
affairs Of the government econom-
ically and in the interest of all the
people. A United States senator
will be chosen by the next legis-
lature. 1t is essential that he
should be a republican, and to &C
complish this it is necessary that
that body have republican ma
jority. Fifty or a hundred prohi-
bition votes will not elect their
legislative ticket, but it will de-
feat the republican nominees, and
turn the Benton county delegation
over to the democrats. Gentle
men ponder this we'll. Do not al
low this silly twaddle about pro
hibition to influence you to sacri-
flee your interests and the welfare
Of your wife and little ones.
Vote the republican ticket and
never fear that that party will,
whenever practicable, advocate
any reasonable temperance move
ment. 1t is and always will be
party Of reform, butit cannot go
too far in advance Of public sem
timent. Witness lis terrible de-
feat in Iowa in 1888. Temperance
was as important then as now, but
public sentiment was not ready
for prohibition. You must under
stand that reforms come slowly
and parties which have any care
for their own safety dare not 60
too far, even in the right direction.
nntil the people are ready to fol
low.