The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-07-10
WHO IRE THE BLIND LEIDERSq

HHO IKE THE BLIND LEA DERS.
The Cincinnati Gazette, in a recent ar
ticle on the license question, very broad
Iy remarks:
t'We have yet to find out one advo-
cate of the vote of mo license" in the
constitutional election who has had the
candor to state what would be the eff
feet of that vote and of the contrary, or
to admit the truth when il is stated.
This repugnance to the truth is "A strange
feature in a moral cause Instead of
that they call hard names"
Passing over the fact that the gazette.
in the article alluded to, calls in ques-
ton the intelligence and candor of those
who favor mo license" and that it
calls certain class of ''no license" men
fools" (Which is not very consistent
for journal that complains of others
calling hard names), we pass to the
statement of the ''truth' which it finds
fault with the advocates of no license"
for not admitting, and which We find at
the close of the article in question. in
language as follows:
IF the question were truly presented
no temperance man would vote the no
license ticket, for the whole effect
would be to ordain this: '"The General
Assembly shall never lay any special or
discriminating tax on the seller of in
toucating liquors." He would he
Obliged 10 vote the other way. for tba
effect would be this: The General
Assembly may lay special or discrim-
mating tax on the sale of intoyicatinc,
drinks, or shall have plenary power 10
do with the traffic as it pleases.n
At the risk of having our character
for intelligence and candor called in
question, we beg to say that the truth
Is not presented in the above statement
Webster defines 'license" to mean san
thority or liberty to do or forbea. an
act, and in the case of the Hauor seller
1t means authority or liberty to sell lio-
uor In consideration of a certain sum
paid to the State. This is what If
means, and We prefer to call il bv IFS
proper name. Calling it a tax does NOT
change its nature Again. the Iagisl.
Uure VIII not have plenary power TO do
with the traffic as it pleases" under +bo
license" clause. We doubt worry ,,,,oI,
IL law prohibiting the traffic would bo
sustained by the courts. even if tbo
Legislature were to pass it. But there
Is not a shadow of possibility that tbe
Legislature would pass such n Law =
the face Of popular vote. autbori3;nr,
them TO license traffic. Bv VOTING IL
favor of the license clause tho -
says that he regards license as tine hot
means of regulating and controlling t,,o
liquor traffic, and 10 sane man. aftar
the 18th of August election, will think
of interpreting such vote in any other
way. 1t is only to catch votes that a
few parties pretend TO construe it differ
ent now. In conclusion, We have only
to say that if the Gazette desires mo
license" men to admit the truth of GER
tam propositions, it will do well to en-
body truthful statements in such promo
srtioTs' and since it deprecates the call
ing ot hard names, it will do well to re-
member that the calling in question the
hi1eiilgenee and candor of a certain
class, or designating them as fools. is
not likely to soon convince any ono of
an error.