The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-09-26
HFNR YSC4EL1N'S LETTER.

dressed by Henry Seaman, Esq, deln-
ocratic candidate for Assembly, to Mr..
Charles Nowinkel, of JohnstOwn, on
the question of a repeal of the Local
Option law, and also in reference to
amending the Act for the collection of
taxes il this county. 1t will be seen
that Mr. Scanlan meets the question
Of the repeal of the Local Option law
squarely and explicitly, and without
the use of any red tape.
The position of the democratic party
on what are known as prohibitory laws
is plain and easily stated. 1t denies,
for various reasons not necessary here
to mention, the right of the legislature,
whether by a majority, a two-thirds,
or a three-fourths vote, to dictate to
the people what they shall eat, what
they shall drink, or what they shall
wear. Hence it may be assumed as
undoubted truth, that if the democra-
cy had the Executive of the State and
a majority in each branch of the legis-
lature, neither a Local Option law nor
any kindred measure would now be
found OH the statute book \ bill
may be offered at the next session for
the repeal Of the law, but with a radi-
cal Governor and q radical legislature
it will fail of success. 1t is 4 species
of paternaI legislation which has be-
come a speciality with the radical par
tv-a business which it will never
relinquish until the people deprive it
of all political power. ProhibitOry
liquor laws, wherever they have been
tried, have resulted in disastrous fail
ure. Massachusetts has experimental
with them in all their depths and all
their shoals, and her legislation has
utterly failed to accomplish the in-
tended purpose. Hon. VIM. CASTOR,
recently nominated rs the democratic
candidate for Governor of that State,
in his letter of acceptance, uses the fol-
lowing emphatic language in reference
to the practical operation of prohibit
orv legislation in that strong republi-
can commonwealth: 'tAn experience
of twenty years under what are known
as the prohibitory laws has proved
that they cannot accomplish the great
and bencfcent purposes for which they
III ISh
ed the evils which they were designed
to destroy, but they have brought with
Them or with the attempts to enforce
them, a train Of attendant evils which
have disgraced the administration of
justice and have tended to corrupt the
public morals"
That the Local Option law of this
State has signally failed to accomplish
the purposes of its most earnest advO-
Gates in counties where it exists, seems
to be conceded 1t will run its brief
race, and will then give way to some
new and untried experiment by the
party now in power.
The views of Mr. Scanlan as to
desired amendment to the present tax
law, which he specifics, Will meet with
general concurrence. The proposed
change would not affect the general
details OF the law itself Here is Mr.
ScanIan'S letter:
CARROLLTOwN, Sept. -, 1878.
Mr.. VowINKEL-Dear Sir: On my re-
turn home on Saturday found your letter
of Sept. 10th, 1873, awaiting me. You de
sire to know whether, if elected to the
Legislature, | will vote 'for the repeal of
the Local Option law now i'll force" Be
Ieving in the right of every voter to inter
rOgate candidates as to their views, | cheer
fully reply. And as my views have been
asked on another question in which all the
people Of the county are interested, pre-
fer making general reply. 1t is my de-
sire That, to prevent ,misapprchenSion and
misrepresentation this reply be Published
i'll the Johnstown and Ebensburg papers,
as wish to deal fairly by all the voters Of
the county. Not having sought the NOM
ination, | can well afford to be defeated, if
my views do not accord with those of the
people whose candidate | am.
First, then, if elected, / ShuH rOte To re-
peal tie "LOcdL ODtiOH' lao. Like Thos.
Jefferson, ~ have sworn upon the altar of
my country eternal hostility to every form
of tyranny over the mind of man." L trust
my life has been temperate, but / am not
willing to lcgislate temperance upon others.
As well might l oppose the smoking and
chewing of tobacco, or prescribe to my fell
low citizens what they should eat and wear,
or what church they should attend. hon
eStly and sincerely believe that our present
license law, If carefully and fully enforced,
Is better than any sumptudry law that can
be devised; and my information from sI,o
cal option counties strengthens that be-
/ lief.
/ secondly, | have also been questioned as
10 whether will vote to repeal the law for
the collection of County and State taxes by
the Treasurer of the county. ! answer,
no But | should vote for extending the
time of payment to later period, when
the farmer upon whom the burden of tax
+ alton falls heaviest, shall have time to re-
alize from his crops the means Of discharg-
in% them As the law now stands, the fl We
per cent. gained by corporations and wealth
must be paid by the farmer
| thus address you puJEicly, having little
faith myself i'll pricate pledges. They are