The gold leaf., 1910-03-17
W hmington Star.

Wilmington Star
lU must be confessed that what we
conceive to be the desire of the large
majority of people in the State with
respect to the matter ofliquor agita-
ton seems in n fair way to be dis
regarded at the Democratic prima-
ries for nominations to the next Leg
islature
In Henderson, the Hon. W. A. Self,
OF Catawba, is heading n movement
looking to the organization of u
local option party within the party,
pledged to support no man for the
Legislature who does not express
himself as i'll favor of the repeal of
the prohibition law.
This meeting is reported to have
been largely attended and TO have
aroused considerable enthusiasm.
On the other hand, the Rev. II.
l.. Davis, active agent of the Anti
Saloon League, in violation of the
spirit if not the letter of the resolu-
tion Of the Leagues executive com
mittee, states that he has been tour
ing the State in the interest of farous-
ing sentiment against the 'near
beer saloon,' and in the prohibition
organ issues u call to the forces of
temperance and Righteousness" to be
"truIy vigilant" and to see to it that
"thO>e men are nominated who will
protect the present prohibition law" "
We take it that both OF these ap-
peals are unwise, dangerous to the
party, and pernicious to the morals
and the cleanliness of the forth
coming election. 1t is significant
that both these factions are sailing
under the banner of Temperance"
and it is the truth that both are
drunkenly playing with IL sort of
liquid fire that, as it must inevitably
affect all the electorate, is far more
to be feared than the ''fire" of liquor,
even though it come from a "blind
tiger You cannot hope for clean
election; you cOnnot hope for a
reasonably united party; you cannot
hope for anything except further
strife and bitterness and waste OF
time in any election in which the
question of liquor is a matter of di-
vision. The men who would reopen
this question at this time by pledg-
ing candidates to vote for the repeal
OF the prohibition law, are only less
dangerous than the men of contrary
view, who, having seen their views
prevailing in an election the wounds
of which are not yet closed, would
seek gratuitOusly y to reopen those
wounds.
With the prohibition law enacted
in the State by heexpress command
OF over forty thousand majority,
what hope is there except the passion
for strife in at this time starting a
campaign for the repeal OF that YER
dict? On the other hand, what ex-
cept desire to make of u sordid issue
O continuing political sore can ac-
tuate such a course as Mr.. Davis
recommends?
| We submit that there is something
in this State for the Democratic
party to do except to go into epilep-
tic fits over liquor. We submit that
it is an affront to the intelligence oi
the voters to ask them, after long
and heated campaign, to select can
didates with reference to.whether OF
not they favored or did not favor the
prohibition law The election was
supposed to be nOn-partisan, and
certainly many thousands of Repub'
licans voted for it. To keep liquor q
political matter among Democrats
is to slash at the throat of the party
Evidently referring to the editorial
of the Star OF some weeks ago, Mr.
Self at Henderson is reported to have
said that the editorial in question
had stated that the meeting would
be detrimental to prohibition
and that the movement should be
"squelched" We have never stated
that this meeting would be detri-
mental to prohibition. Prohibition
must prove itself, survive or die Of its
own weight. Agitation either way,
with liquor or prohibition as an il
sue, we believe at this time TO be full
Of germs OF passion, unrest and un-
reason. We are for the status quo,
because it holds a measure OF peace
from the activity OF fanatics on botl
sides OF a question that We conceive
to be OF far less importance either
than the good OF the party or the
better and higher interests OF the
State. Knowing that the Republican
party is preparing, after its COW
ardice, to attempt a liquor issue, we
. do not fear for the Democracy az {
party; We do, however, look will
suspicion upon "a program by pro.
hibitionist and local optionist for
liquor which may make the success
} of the party a success OF discordan
: instead OF harmonious elements.