The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-06
prohibitionist pharisaism.

The state ProhibItionists adopted
platform Tuesday in which they ar
raigned both Democratic and Repub-
llcan parties as false to the standards
of the founders Of our republic, as
faithless to the principles of their early
leaders and as recreant to the higher
law, which is as infiexible In political
affairs as in personal life" THE COM
petition OF both parties In municipal.
state and national politics for the vote
Of the slums and their subserviency
to the baser elements OF our population
Is a confession OF their moral degen-
eracy." they asserted, land precludes
any hope Of legislation by them in the
interests OF public morality. or the ex-
ecution by them of existing laws for
the suppression Of all forms OF evil un-
less approved by their liquor masters"
Even II the standards OF one hundred
years ago are not the standards OF to-
day, II IL doubtful II the 5000, 900 Re-
publicans and Democrats who are to
vote next November will accept as the
only true guides to righteousness and
correct political behavior the partic-
ular doctrines held by the 271 $50 people
who voted for John Bidwell in 1892. the
1870 people who voted for Joshua
lowering In 1896. or the 100000 people
who will probably vpte for John @.
Wooliey In 1900. 1t Is not likely that
these $4,000. 900 Republicans and Demo-
Gratis are willing to make confession
Of their moral degeneracy; and even IL
tiiey are. It Is not probable that the In
terests OF those 100000 people will
be turned over to the tender mercies
Of the 100000 who will vote for woolley
and are willing to subscribe to
reckless and ridiculous statements
such as those taken from the platform
OF the Prohibition party oS the state
OF Washington.
II 1t were possible to turn back the
wheels n time and any one Of the Pro-
hlbitionists who voted for his party's
platform this year could be set down
among the founders OF our republic and
Its early leaders. the thing that would
most astound him would be the pres
ent improved conditions In connection
with the sale and use OF liquor as COM
pared with those existing In the last
century. Liquor was then sold and
drunk everywhere; the tavern and
tap house were freauented by the best
OF the land; no Social function was
complete without punch that had
prodigious enlivening qualities: few
households were without their deml-
Johns: candles were blown out only
when the male portion OF the family
was comfortably sleepy with spirits or
lard cider; not few o. the founders
of the republic set the standards now
exsoiied under the celebrating infiu-
enees Of ale. Jamaica rum and Holland
gin: the leaders Of that time invariably
took their teddy. and not few OF the
cherished bits OF eioaueuee which have
been handed down 70 the present gem
Grafton were sent forth into the world
while their authors were keyed up to
the proper pitch through stimplanis.
As compared with today. II WAS an
age % Widespread drunkenness
Toere Is no more wholesome Improve
meni noticeable In American life
Daring the past century than
in the matter 81 the general
use % liquor. While It's use
Is sam Widespread. Its abuse Is by no
means SIS universal as I, was In the
early days. There Is drinking now
where there was drunkenness then.
Ten men use liquor In moderation now
who. II they had lived one hundred
years aso. would have drunk 10 excess
in order to keep In fashion. Iutoxica-
tson was expected then where now II
Is frownsd upon and receives no tolera-
ton. In every decent walk OF life. in
temperance has had placed upon Il the
stamp Of dlsapproval. and in both pub
llc and private station II VIII be found
that there has been a steady advance