The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1874-09-17

opinions OF religion, politics, morals
and the like, but who agree in some
common principles affecting the
framework Of the Government or its
administration. From the compost
ton OF the Republican party it no
doubt embraces a great portion of the
temperance men of the country, but
il also embraces a multituds of other
men who may differ as tO the prinei-
pie or mode of dealing with the evils
OF intemperAnce. Must We abandon
all our political principles and drive
from US those who agree with Us in
political topics merely 10 do as party
what we can now do as citizens. As
citizens we can vote for temperance
men-we can use our moral, social
and political influence to make and
enforce wise temperance laws. We
can invoke the aid not only Of Rspub-
lieans, but OF Democrats for that work.
We can organize societies, lectures,
speak, pray, exhOrt and get others 10
do likewise. II is sheer folly, in my
humble Judgment, for those who
would destroy intemperance to invoke
the agency of political party to Sc
cure the passage of a prOhibitOry law.
1t is far better to leave such question
to the constantly improving morals
and education OF the whole peo-
pie of Ohio as represented in our Gen
eral Assembly. 1t is purely a local
question, to be decided by law, and
affecting alone the people of OHIO.
Political parties represent National
questions and National interests. We
are able to deal with cur local ques-
ton without mingling them with our
National politics.
PRACTICAL RELIEF.
As to the measures to be adopted
there is wide difference of opinion.
We know by experience in many
States that a general prohibitory law
can not and will not be enforced. 1t
has the form of law, but not the force
of law. In communities where
strong sentiment exists against the
sale of liquor, such a law may be en-
forced, and this can be fully accom-
plished by local option law. From
my observations in different States,
and in Europe, am satisfied a much
wider distinction should be made by
our laws IN the sale of spirituOu5 and
vinOus and malt liquors. Distilled
spirits, as now made, used as a bever-
age, are necessarily 8 poison, while
beer and wine may be harmless, and
in many cases are beneficial. We
know that in France, Germany and
Italy, where wine or beer enter into |
the consumption of every household, |
as tea and coffee do with US, a drunk |
en- man is rarely seen, and is prompt
ly arrested as a criminal. While In |
Scotland, Ireland and England, and |
in many OF the States, where whiskey |
Is a common beverage, drunken men |
daily stagger, with the uuquestioued l
right to the public highway. 1 give /
you, as my opinion, for which no one
else is responsible, that ! carefully i'm ]
posed tax on liquOr-selleGs, yielding to /
the people of Onio not less than one I
million of dollars o: revenue, and care |
fully discriminating against the whis-
with local option law, and |
the enforcement of the Adair Law, |
would be a far batter system of tem- |
perance laws than any prOhibitOry |
liquor law that can be framed and en- !
forced. Bat, above all, contend that |
every Republican of any creed or ma
shall be free to vote, believe |
and act on this question as he thinks |
right, being responsible to the public |
opinion and the law for his conduct. |
1t is not a political question, and can
not and ought not to be made one