South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-06-23

der penalty of fines and imprison-
msnt. The next Legislature, chosen
in 1853, also having a democratic
majority Of more than ~two-thirds
over wings and free s%oilers, ia both
branches, repealed that township
trustee law and passed the Act OF
May !, 1854, now IN force, prohibit
ting the sale of intoxicating liquors
t. minors and ~drunkards, and lex
cept ale, beer and native wine) 10
be drank in, upon, or about, the
building Or premises where sold,
giving civil action for damages
caused by their illegal sale, and
suppressIng the places of sale as
public nulsaEces. The democrats
did not again control tho leglsla,
iure unit that chosen "a 1867,
which passed a municipal code giv-
ing power TO cities and iEcorpora.-
eG villages to prohibit within their
limits ale. beer, and porter houses,
and places Of habitual resort for
tipping and intempersnce.
Thus we find that every legisla-
ture controlled by the democratic
party, for the past twenty-five
years, has passed some law as TO
the liquor traffic, either Of local op-
ton. giving to the people the pow
er by townships, cities and villag-
IS, TO decide the question of permit
ting or prohibiting the traffic with>
in their limits, or a statute of regu-
lation as to time, person, place, or
kind of liquors sold. The demo-
cratic party of the State stands by
Its record on the platform OF regu-
iation and local option. The wing
party never had the courage 10 pass q law
defining its policy on the subject. The re-
publican party has merely affirmed the dc
mocratic platform regulation, and has add
ed one Or two PlGnks to il, forbidding the
sale on election days, etc. When republic
can part:ssns tell Us that their party is the
friend OF temperance, we ask what proof
has il given of its friendships during the
twelve years that it held entire control OF
the legislature ? When they tell us that
the democratic party is the enemy OF our
cause, we ask why Is il shat we are In6ebt-
ed 10 that party Tor most of the laws we
have against the liquor traiii ? The truth
10, neither party is the friend OF temper
ance. BOtn elect ~drunkards and d%runSard-
makers to office. Neither OF them cares
whether temperance or injemperanee meu
sre voted up or down, ii the party ticket
prevails. Last year I visited q favored
20 II ff fhfa Sf.ta ~b.ra tho leo pt-ah,n
parties hold sway sEd divide the bonors.-
The republicans control the Judicial dis
Fri t aud they elected = republican drunk
ard for Judge. The democrats control the
congressional district and they sent q DEM
o~crstic d.unkard to Congress. Laughter
For years that judge had disgrzced the
bench, yet there Was no lnw 10 remove him.
A brother lawyer told Inc of Tie troubles
the bar End the people endured from his
inebriety-how repeatedly terms of court
had been broken up, and parties, attOrn-
eys, and Witnesses sent home, because the
jud &c was too drunk TO do business, and
there WIS no other judge TO take bis place.
Once be promised 10 reform, and placed his
written resignation in the hands ola city
en- to he sent u the Governor, If he again
became intoxicated. He broke his pledge
and the resignation was promptly forward
ed, but he recovered from his spree in time
to send by telegraph - the Governor a re-
call of the resignation. We read OF a Mis-
sissiPPi sheriff, who, finding hiS judge OF
she bench trunk one morning, arrested and
put him in Jail for contempt OF court
lLsughter.1 A few weeks since the South
Carolina Legislature impeached g judge
and removed him from ONCE for drunken
ness, and when he undertook TO discharge
the prisoners from jail, the Legislature had
him brought before IL and punished him
for contempt. But here in Ohio, we are
powerlsss against drunken officers, and the
Two dram-shop parties do not care whether
they ara voted up or down. Yet We Rave g
law, just passed by our Legislature, which
declares that druuksrds are imbeciles, and
provides for guardians Tor their children
and property. Imsgine the scene of some
poor drunkard. brought before the drunken
Judge. to have q guardian appointed for
him J Yes, we by law declare the drunk
ard sn imbecile, incompetent TO control his
family and property. and vet we elect him
to the Judiciary, the Legislature, and Con
gress, and commit to his hands she destiny
Of State ana Nation.
1t is only when men come out o! their
party shsckles and vote independently we
eau hope for better laws. When the Leg
~islature was a political triangle of wings,
Democrats, and FreesOilers, neither party
Aah y WI - olA hChH ~ 40 %
were passed. Blu; when g party rules, its
members are afraid Of the responsibility
The present Legislature is another political
triangle, formed of republicans, democrats,
and retormers, and, as the result, il has
gwen Us two good temperance laTs-sne
providing for guardians for the children AID
property Of drunksrds. and smother Impro-
wing that pert OF the democratic Law Of
May, 1854, which gives compensation by
civil action for damages caused by the Ii
quOr trafir. At the next October election
we will try ard form another triangle in
the Legislature, with one side for Prohibi-
tion tAPplause.l
FAITH AND VICToRY.
The party lines are plainly dra IN for the
next political contest on tins question. On
the one side, stand the republicans with the
democrats, upon the same platform of per-
mission and reguls:ion, which declares
that the liquor traffic is fundamentally
right, and that only the abuse of it il
wrong. Against them both we stand on The
broad platform of Total Prohibition OF the
manufscture and ira fife Of Intoxicating lii
quors. as high crimes sgainst God and man
As we approach the ballot box, our oppos-
ers teem many, snd We seem few in rumb-
er ; but We believe in the inspiring adsge,
"O9e with God, makes . majority" On
this memorial day of the Father of his
country, we are surrounded BY great and
solemn auspices. From millions Of graves
all over the land, the graves OF our murd-
cred eountrymen, pale lands are liftei that
beekon us on ! Heaven smiles upon u.s.
The spirits Of our fathers are whispering Ia
our souls Let us 60 on, trusting in God
as Washington did, and like him we will
grandly triumph. tGrest apPlause.l