Shall The Saloon Go?

A movement eeems to be well under way toteat the local option law in this ooaaty, and we are not at all sure that üt wouldn't succeed if brought to a vote. 0f course it will not be holiday work ; there is a large majority to overeóme ; bat so. much more earnestly will the ■wort go on. Several pronounced demoerates and republicana have recently sxpressed themselves as feeling confldteat of success. The fact is, the American people are becoming exceedingly weary of the saloon. It is a nuisance, dangerous to public health and moráis. It is becoming a political power for corruption. It is a sort of anti-climax to mention it here, but the salooo oflfends the taste of refined peopTe ; it is offensive to the eye and to noee of the passer. Of course the fcuteher shop is not remarkably beautifal, and we would not abolish that ; but It is useful, and henee its homeliness is lot thought of. The law, however, says to th bntcher, you must carry on your business so that it shall not endanger public health, and often the butcher is jt to considerable loss of time and atortey in complying with the law. The saloon is not useful; it is an unmitigated nnfsance. The old argument about the prohibitory law not being enforced is a " chestnut" which we hope will induce no one to. vote against prohibition. The Regis. tkk toes not expect that liquor-drinking and selling will be stopped by success at the polls. Laws against prostitution do not prevent open enticements on the street; but no one would do away with the laws. The liquor business can be driven to some sort of cover,- a great step in advance. All who have read The Register conttly know that its course on this question haa not been fanatical. We hare never supposed that prohibition was the greatest question of the times. But when there íb a chance to hit the I saloon power a blow, give it a hard one ! I If 8UCC6BB is met, then other questions I will be more easily solved. At least, I áeek will be cleared for action in a largwr Btruggle. When it comes right up t the point of Yes or No, concernmgthe saloon, it is a mystery how any well-wisher to his country can fail to tote against the saloon. The amendment was defeated in Waahtenaw county by a majority of S89. Is there any hope of winning; now ? No person can teil positively ; but we thinlc the chance is reasonably good, and for the following reasons: 1. The vote against the amendment vas probably the largest that can be brought out. The saloon men were thoroughly scared and brought out their full vote. 2. Yet the majority in this county was much smaller than was expected ; and there were nearly 900 who didn't yote on the amendment at all. 3. Disgust at the saloon has been steadily growing. 4. The supremo court dicision in the Kansas case has spiked one powerful I gun of the enemy ; there is no danger I of having to pay for buildings rendered I iseless by the law. Let the movement be strictly nonpartisan, and depend more on personal I work and a thorough canvass with distribution of documenta, than on speechmaking. A majority of the people of both the large parties desire to see the open saloon go. Let them now work for that desirable end. All men are not called upon to make martyrs of themselves ; and henee those business men who might suffer loss of tra de if they should openly advocate local option can keep quiet and vote straight. But clergymen, public men, newspapers, and all whose duty it is to stand for ideas and to teach, cannot be pardoned here,- and hardly hereafter,- if they don't come out squarely and honestly take a decided position for or against closing the saloon business.