Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-06-10
Liquor Laws - Why
they were not Enacted i'm Ohio
as in NIaSsachuselts.

ProhibitOry Liquor Laws Why
they were not Enacted i'm Ohio
as in Massachusetts,.
| The party opposed to the Democracy in
Ohio made spasmodic efforts at temperance.
The last Legislature had half a dozen pro-
jects of the kind before them, but some
how or other after passing one House
they failed in the other.
One of these was to make the selling of
liquor to any person, evidence prima facia,
| that the person was minor, and unless he
could prove his innocence was liable to the
penalties of the law.
| Another proposition was to make every
corner and other groceryman give bond
that he wouldn't sell liquor. If he did
sell, the house in which it was sold, no
matter to whom it belonged, was liable to
be sold to pay the fine. This precious law
was to operate all over the State except in
Cleveland and Cincinnati. These cities, at
that time, being Republican it was thought
it would operate badly on the Germen side,
and hence the exclusion. Since then Cleve-
land has become Democratic, and if passed,
no doubt session of the Legislature would
have been called to put that city, as Re-
publican member did Columbus, under the
law.
Another attempt at Temperance was to
disqualify every drunkard from holding
office. During its tendency in the House,
it was found that it would, if passed, un-
seat several members, and thus reduce the
majority below the: :three-fifth necessary to
pass the Negro Suffrage Resolution. To
their surprise the majority found that
every member, without single exception,
who drank to intoxication, and was in the
habit of appearing in his seat in state of
intoxication, belonged to the dominant
party in the Legislature. 1t was the fear
of ousting some of their own men from
power, and reducing their majority below
that necessary to pass the Negro Suffrage
Resolution, more than the fear of the peo-
pie at the polls, that prevented the ultra
Temperance Republicans from enacting
the latter bill into law.
The Cincinnati Gazette, in an article on
the prohibitory liquor legislation of Massa-
chusetts, has the following in relation to
Ohio:
I'm this State prohibitory laws are easi-
ly enacted. because no one expects them to
be enforced. 1t is probable that a deter
mined attempt to enforce prohibition would
change the government of any OF the large
towns, and the political control of the State.
In other words, that any city government,
which enforced prohibition, would be
turned out at the next election, and new
officers put in whowould abandon the law;
and that the party which enacted prohibit
tory laws, and tried to enforce them, would
be turned out OF the control of legislation.
Tbs, then, is the reason why these ultr a
Temperance men-Temperance men but in
name-backed down from their position on
the subject. They feared the wrath to
come from their constituents. The Gazette
adds:
"This is not because the majority of the
people are bent on drinking. But there is
a large and respectable class who regard
such legislation as an Infringement on their
natural liberty. There is political party
that would be glad to secure the support OF
these by giving them all they ask, and that
would seem restoration to power at the
cost of any social, as they have of Irrational,
destruction. And in the division of par
ties, they who oppose this invasion of their
liberty would make balance of power.
Thus we should have great public calam-
ity, besides the failure in prohibitory leg
islation." .a -
Anxious to make stringent laws against
intemperance, these patriotic Republicans
dare not do so for fear it will inure to the
benefit of the Democratic party and put
from power the party that enacted them.
This is not saying much for the principles
of the party the Gazette supports. Enough
of its members love liquor better than the
principles they advocate, to vote the Dem
ocratic party into power. Then the party
IN power Is put there by the men who prize
their whisky more than they love Negro
Suffrage, or the men of the party that up
hold it. In this admission the Gazette is
more honest than wise.