Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-03-03
STAYING I.vTE.uPER.aNCE-
WHIT ~ PR.ECTIC.FHIR


Every good man and woman in the Uni
ted States desires that something shall be
done to check and ultimately extnguish
among the people. If all
whose hearts are with the temperance
cause could only agree among themselves
as to the best means of accomplishing
common end, the battle would be half over.
Experience of various methods. tested in
different localities, is steadily increasing
our intelligence on this subject, and bring
ing the friends of sobriety and order near
or together. Visionary and impracticable
methods of reform are gradually abandon
ed, and we learn, by repeated dsappoint-
ments, what can and what cannot be done.
Probably the most practical and thought
full promoters of temperance are now grav-
itating toward the system of prohibition
which has come to be known by the name
of Local Option. Under this policy a State
enacts general law empowering each
county and municipality to determine for
itself, by majority vote whether it will
permit, prohibit, or limit the sale of spirit
uous liquors within its own borders. The
vote can be repeated, with reasonable in
te rivals as often as demanded by respect
able proportion of the voters interested.
The decision, whatever it be, of the local
majority, is the law so long as it remains
law, it is to be rigidly enforced by all the
power of the State. The theory at the bot
tom of this plan is this: that it recognizes
fully the right of local self-government,
and hence does not array against itself the
prejudices of those who have a morbid fear
of centralized power; it enables every
community containing majority of moral
voters, to adopt and enforce prohibition, if
they will, and the presumption is that in
no other kind of communities could pro-
hibit ion be made effective, even if decreed
by the State.
OF course there are drawbacks. For ex-
ample, If one county, in the exercise of its
local option, prohibits rum-selling, and an
adjoining county permits it, there will be
more or less local smuggling, or of tempo
rary mi grafton across the dividing line!
But this danger can be removed by per-
suading the temperate county to turn mis-
sionary, and convert the incorporate one
to the side of sobriety and good sense.
In carefully studying the subject of tenn
perance legislation, with sincere desire to
arrive at a conclusion which shall mitigate
and eradicate the evil of drunkenness,
without endangering the real rights af any
citizen, we have become much interested
in the provisions and operations of the
present Ohio liquor law. 1t was enacted
III Its present form in April, 1870. 1t
trenches upon no ones private rights. 1t
consumption of Intoxicating drinks. Yet
1t enables every community, which is
blessed with few resolute men or women
to absolutely extinguish the rum-traffic.
IL prohlbits the sale OF liquors to persons
under age, ana TO persons accustomed to
become intoxicated, but the backbone OF
the statute is that it makes every rum-sell-
er, and every real estate owner who furn-
ishes roof for rum-seller pecuniariy re-
sponsible for all damage or loss occasioned
by the intoxication of their ioint-victims.
Every husband, wife, child, parent, guar
dian, employer or other person who shall
be injured in person, property or means
OF support, by any intoxicated person, or
in consequence of such intoxication, habit
ual or otherwise, shall have right of ac-
tom against both the person who sold the
liquor and the landlord who owns the
premises on which the sale was made.
And not only actual but exemplary dam
ages may be obtained. Some of the mi
nor provisions of the bill are these: Any
fine levied upon rum-seller for violation
of the law, acts as lien, until paid upon
the premises occupied by him. in whole or
in part, and said premises shall be sold to
pay such fine in case of default.
Under the provisions of this stringent
law. very MANY localities in Ohio have al