The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-17
TEMPERANCE AND POLITICS AS
ILLUSTRATED IN ASHEVILLE
CITY POLITICS.


there is reason why practical
friends of effective temperance should re-
greet the movement. The sentiment in
favor of the temperance is
strong and ii IS growing, as is evidenced
particularly in the recent elections in
Wilson and Statesville. Ten years ago
nobody would have supposed, so strong
was the saloon sentiment in both towns,
that they would lead in Eastern and
Western North Carolina in shutting up
the saloons This growing sentiment
will be checked If the temperance leaders
ent candidates. The prohibition party as
a political organization in North Caro-
lima is impotent to do good though COM
posed of excellent men. Prohibition has
grown rapidly without resort to political
action on the part of it's advocates Why
check it and weaken the cause by. in
dependent political action?
If there is any city in the State where
the anti-saloon league ought not to take
the question into city politics, that place
is Asneville. The two parties are too
nearly evenly divided to make success
possible without an alliance that would
do the cause more harm than good. The
Republicans in North Carolina in every
city and town in the State are without
policy and without convictions. In 1882
they abandoned their party and organized
what they called an nti-Prohibition
party. They would tomorrow call 1t
Prohibition party if they could make
are ready now as always to turn their
votes to any old thing, good or bad, II
they can thereby hurt the Democratic
party In Asheville now the Mayor and
Chief of Police were chosen by Repub-
licans and others in opposition to the
regular Democratic ticket. They ought
to be turned out of office and replaced
by honest Democrats who will enforce
the laws. The temperance people who
are Democrats will do more for temper
ance inside the party than by endanger-
ing Democratic supremacy in the chief
city in the pivotal county of debatable
Congressional district. The Anti-Saloon
League does not seek to control the ac-
tion of any community. That is wise.
The Asheville movement or suggestion is
local. But defeat Of the temperance
forces there in an effort to elect city Of
ficfals on an independent ticket would
be felt everywhere in the State. Sue
Republican votes-a support that carries
with it the certainty of early reversal
Municipal rule by non-partisan officials
is IAN irridescent dream" 1t has been a
failure wherever tried. The most notable
proof of this is seen now in the affairs
of New York city. AS soon as the peo-
pie can get a chance to vote, the Low
administration will be Overwhelmingly
defeated in the metropolis.
The Democratic temperance forces in
Asheville can compel the nomination of
a man of high character, who will en-
force the law against dives and brothels.
they can secure early closing by de-
handing that the question be submitted
NV crita inp
and keeping everlastingly at it they can
accomplish more than by endangering the
success of the only party that has done
anything practical for temperance in
North Carolina.
This paper has enlisted not for a day
or a year, but for the war. against the
saloon and allied evils in North Caro-
lima. 1t sympathizes fully with the de-
sres of the Asheville temperance forces
in their manly and holy crusade against
the evils that curse that city and every
other city in North Carolina. 1t is nat
ural that all who feel the debauchery of
these evils should be impatient TO stamp
them out at once. But-men and breth-
remit is better to be safe than to be
sorry. The preservation of the victorious
and militant and dominant Democratic
party in North Carolina is essential to
tie cause of temperance, education, pro-
gress. Any movement, however good and
worthy. that at this time tends to Grip
pie or reduce the majority for the Demo
, cratic party is inimical to genuine tenn
perance educational, Industrial progress
Therefore, the wisest temperance men IN
! Asheville and in Raleigh and in every
other city are the men who hold up the
hands of Democracy. This is particular
, ly true at this time when the Republi-
cans are trying to organize the distiller:
and saloon keepers to defeat the Demo
cratic party or to control its policy. The
| temperance men should more than ever
| in the face of this situation, show theil
appreciation of the attitude that Demo
cracy has taken in North Carolina.