The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-04
POLITICAL PRoHIBITIoNIsrs.


as It Is in this State we do no want to be
misunde stood as making any reference
whatsoever to the prohibition sentiment
that exists among the people, since we will
hardly be able TO mention the prohibition
party In terms of respect whereas we have
tie profoundest respect for prohibition
sentiment as for any sentiment honestly
held by fellow citizens who command
our esteem by their standing in the com
IN unity and their good works.
The political organization known as the
prohibition party, as it is in this Site
today, bears much the same relation to
the honest publ C sentiment that is OPP
posed TO the liquor traffic that pump
handle bears TO the water of the well that
its operation draws to the surface. The
pump handle may be so operated as 10
draw the water from the well and make
use Of it CT it may worked only to fetch
the water to the surface and spill it use
lessly about. rhe pump handle, however,
bears no relationship TO the water, and
what il accomplishes with the water de-
pends only on the man that works it.
The politic'l prohibi ionist uses the pollti-
cal prohibition pirty only to uselessly
draw out the prohibit on sentiment among
the people. Under the manipulation of the
prohibition politician, prohibition senti-
ment ID prohibition interest a'e wasted
and spilled. The political prohibitionist is
satisfied with the little political gloriaca-
tion that he acquires from working the
pump handle, and except that the well
contributes to that it's water goes to
waste.
There is evidence, however, that the
pump handle Is not so powerful as 1t once
was to draw up tso well water. For 60
years, more or less. there has been pro-
hibition party OF one kind or another in
this State, and never was it so impotent,
so lacking in favor in the community, as
II is today. 1t has deservedly lost the con-
fidence of the prohibition sentiment
among the people. 1t represents nothing
except the petty purposes OF the prohi-
bition politicians The political prohibit
ZIONIST in this State today is usually a
small politician with grievance, a dis
gruntled Republican who finds in prohi-
bition politics some chance to injure the
men and the party who, when he was
affiliated with them, neglected to take
him at his own valuation. He cares for
the principles of prohibition about as
much as the pump handle does for the
water in the well. He can use the prohi-
bition party organization to "work" pro-
bibitionisis and Republicans who hold
temperance sentiment just as the pump
handle can be worked to draw up the
water. And through his operation of
the pump handle prohibition sentiment
is abso utely wasted.
Annually, the political prohibitionist
goes through the farce of devoting great
deal of bis physical energy and emotions,
and some OF his supporters finances, to
the holding Of CONVENTION to the nomna-
tion OF a Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
Secretary Of state, Attorney General and
Genearl Treasurer, conscious of the fact
that there is no earthly chance of secur-
In the election of such nominees and
conscious, too, that the expense and energy
devoted to the farce will be wasted except
SO far as II mayu ontribute, as aforesaid,
to the self-glorification of the political
prohibitionist and mayhap serve to rob
some other party against which griev-
ance Is held, of few votes.
When the political prohibition party
Is honest, when it works honestly TO
secure such legislation as prohibition
sentiment demands instead OF wasting
That sentiment on a farcical attempt to
elect officials that IL pompously nominates;
when it practices virtues and ceases to ar
rogate to itself all the virtues; when It is
'nything but a wranging, quarrellng,
oud-talking agglome-ation OF men with !
grievances, then the political prohibition
party organizati will command the sup
port of the prohibition sentiment in this |
community, and & e respect of all PARTIES |
Ind good citizens OF whatever belief.