The License Question

The character of the attendauce upon tbe Anti Prohibition Convention of Weduesdny, and the nature of its action unquestionably inake it au important body. Originally oalled in the interest of the licuor trufKu, it was so oonducted as to enlist tbe sympathie of a large number ot prominent men, whu have become convinoed of the iutility uf prohibition as a goverument poliey, and are auxious to seo tUi; evils of mteuiperance niet by measures looking towards its systematic regulation, instead of by legislation that is practically a dead letter. It must tkerufore be considored more than as a mere defensiva demonstraron on the part of a special interest, and it may be followed by ome important resulta, if its work of orgauizing the liceuse sentiuient of the State provea to be moderatelj sucSeSStul. There is no doubt that a majority of the people of the State are tired of the experiment of prohibition. They showed this tact unmistakably at the polls on the only opportunity which has been given them to vote upon the matter in the last ten years, and every intelligent obstrver of public sentiment knows that the adverse feeling still Temains strong. Thousands of ardent temperance men in Michigan are ready to give up a policy which they see means in practice free liquor, and to try if a right system of taxatiou will not abate sonie of the evils which prohibition so utterly fails to lessen. The sympathy of the Tribune with this view has been often expressed, and is well known. It is our sincere conviction, aud has boen for some years, that the interest of genuine temperance reform require an abaudojiment of the' present methjd of deahng with this great social problem, and the giving of a fair trial in this State to the systein of regulating the liquor traffic by taxation. There was very mucli in the proceedings of Wednesday's convention that we could not endorse, and some of its features we can only condeiun ; but it will certainly have contributed to the public benefit if by its meeting it shall have hasteued the day when the legislation of this State shall deal with the great evils of intemperance on the practical and not the purely timental basis. -