The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-11-25
Local Option.

cal papers In this State that "local option"
as it is called. vas leading question before
the people in the late political campaign,
and that an affirmative verdict having been
rendered, it will be the duty of the approach
Ing Legislature to give form and effect to
the decision by its enactment into law
Thi- is an afterthought. "Iccal option"
was 10 more an issue in the late State cleo
ton than was the question of compulsory
education" or that other question, ''compul'
sory vaccination" If the question of ''local
option was made distinct issue in any one
county Of the State we would like to know
its locality. If the next radical Legislature
sees proper to pass "local option" bill. it
may do so, but We deny its right to say that
in SO acting it is merely registering decree
of the people. The temperance agitation
has heretofore been and still is rich and
fertile field for the display of the low arts Of
political demagogueism, and the "local ep>
ton" experiment is the newest and most
attractive form in which it has been pre-
ssnted. We have never been able to bring
ourself to the conclusion. however, that this
particular attempt at reform possesses any
substantial merit, or that it will ever real-
izs the beneficial results claimed for it by
it's advocates. In this borough. for instance,
there are three licensed hotels in the west
ward and one in the east ward. If the pro-
posed local option law would submit the
l., -
in each of the wards of borough, the strong
pro6s bilities are that the three hotels in the
west ward would be permitted to continue
the sale of ardent spirits, while the one in
the east ward would be ostracised aud COM
PEELED to stop the business. The result
would be that the three hotels in the west
ward would then sell just as much liquor
as had previously been sold by four. A
mans appetite for whisky is not controlled
by street separating one ward from another.
and if persons in the east ward who desire a
drink, or several of them. will only have to
cross street into the west ward to be ac-
commodated, ths morals of the east ward are
as much debauched as if the liquor had been
sold within its own limits. The same result
would be produced in two adjoining town
ships, the court being authorized to grant
licenses in one and prohibited from doing so
in the other. This half way legislation will
prove abortive, and although for time it
may amuse and tickle the "local option
enthusiasts, it Will soon prove to be a disas~
trous failure and its repeal be demanded
Its only possible effect, in our Judgment,
would be to limit the number of places where
liquor conld be procured, but not to decrease
the quantity consumed.
The present license law Of Pennsylvania
is as comprehensive in its purposes Of repres-
sion and as stringent in its provisions as it
could we'll be made. It's penalties are Sc
we're, and few hotel or saloon keepers will
lightly incur the risk Of their inflictiou. If
the law is not properly enforced. as is cons
stanty asserted, who are to blame? Ger
taiply not the courts, for they will always
discharge their duty when proper case is
brought before them Like all other crmi>
nal statutes, the license law will not execute
itself, and if those who clamor the loudest in
favor of just such expedients IS the "local
option" law will not enforce it and avail
themselves of the remedy it affords them,
their own proposed substitute for the same
reason will prove in the end to be equally
ss imperative.
To attempt absolutely to prohibit the use
of Intoxicating liquors is visionary and alb
furd. for the history of the world proves
that as long as they continue to be manu-
factured they will be used in defiance Of the
most rigorous legal enactments. 1t is to be
wished that it were otherwise, and that men
would cease "to put an enemy in their
mouths to steal away their brains," but such
is the frailty Of human nature, and it stands
confessed that although you may pile statute
upon statute as high as Pelion upon Ossa.
you cannot legiSlate mankind into temper
auce.