The Placer herald., 1874-07-25
LOCAL OPTION.

There are many strong advocates of tenn
perance not alone in tie use of vinous, malt,
or sprituous liquors, but in all things, who
oppose the Local Option law, because they
do not believe its enforcement will bring
Der Of places where, from the result of recent
elections, it is now in force, and it will take
but short time to ascertain whether its en-
forcement is having the good effect that was
anticipated by the temperance peoI lie or not.
If it is having the effect of checking ntem-
perance, and raising the moral standard of
society, and that fact can be made known
generally, it will find many friends where
now are none but enemies. But on the
other hand, if the result is, as reported gen
erally by the press III such sections where ii
is in force, TO cause contentious, chickering's,
strife hatred and trouble generally, while
in,emperance is rather aggravated than
lessened and the morals of the society low
cred, by the participation of its most sacred
and purest members, rather than increase | J;
what is the use of holding more elections?
If the effects of law proves to be evil rall-
er than good, why not drop it until such
time as it may be repealed If "a law proves
good, and its workings effect society in
way that proves benefcil to a majority, at
the same time working no injury to the few,
then we would say, cling to it, and defend it
as you would the apple of your eve. There
is one thing certain, though, in regard to
this Local Option law that is gaining ground; ;
that it is not going to work as well as it was
hoped it would, and many Of the leading
moralists, and moral journals, now oppose
it, as a measure calculated to have an effect
contrary to that so much desired. One Of
the leading journals on this coast, with a
moral standing unimpeachable, in an article
entitled ''Better than local Option, makes
the following suggestions, which no man can
pronounce other than reasonable This
paper has been noted for its strong stand in
favor of temperance, saying good words for
the societies when ever opportunity offered j,
but it thinks there are other and better ways
to make people temperate than arbitrary
measures, and as one way suggests the fol-
lowing: cit is very evident, now, that the
Local Option law is a dead failure, for the
repression of intemperance, even if the Su-
preme Court pronounce it constitutional
| More effective measures are within the juris-
dlcton of the municipal authorities in every
portion of the State. We, in common with
all right-thinking people depore the evils
resulting from the excessive use of alcoholic
beverages. No journal in the State has de-
nouuced the vile habit of drunkenness more
earnestly; but we cannot go to the ridiculous
extent Of urging the ent ire abolition Of the
| iquor-traiiic because comparatively limi ed
number of those who drink WHISKY, wine
| beer, ETC., become intoxicated. Almost as
sensible would it be to advocate the dsuse
| of food because some men make gluttens OF
themselves and die fiom over-teeding. God
has created nothing, nor do we believe he
as permitted his creatures to create any
thing all bad. rhe very air we breathe,
and which sustans life, if it come in the
shape Of whirlwnds and hurricanes, is de
sructive to the existence of men aud animals
to whose being it is absolutely essential.
Water, without which mankind would cease
to nhabit the earth, when it is too literally
dispensed, by the hand of the Almighty,
destroys human life and property. Nor is
there any other element or article which hui
manity requires for the purposes of IFS con-
tnued duration which, when it is appropri.
ated Or supplied in excess, will not be as de-
slrucive to our race as any pure vinous.
+piriluous or malt liquid.
The proper and only way TO remedy the
evils that afflict men from their ab Sc of tht
right to use stimulants is to regulate the
traffic SO that no adulteraled decoctions shu
he sold and, by personal persuasion and ex-
ample, induce relatives, friends, and acquaint-
ances to abstain from injurious indulgence il
their individual liberty in that direction.
We favor all propositions which look to
wards the moral elevation of our fellow-men
Consequently we favor every legal restric-
ton to make men better which does not III
lerfere with personal liberty. But when the
ma ajority of any community seek to tramplt
under foot the legal rights of the minority o
that community, we are to be found in oppo
siton to the movement. Such we consider
the present antagonisiic position of the liquor
dealers and their adversaries; and while earn
esily opposed to iatemperance we are equally
adverse to coerced abstinence"
IT seems from what has come under ou
Obseryati that some new editors on