The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-09-11
THE JOURNAL.
CONTINUED fron, 80 Pnne.


cy to deal with this question, and
that absolute and general prohibi-
tion is not the best means to effect
the hoped for result. Let us think
of these propositions moment. Po-
litical parties are formed of men
of widely different opinions on
religion, politics, morals and the like,
but who agree in some common prin
ciples affecting the frame work of
the government or its administration.
From the composition of the Repub-
lican party it DO doubt embraces u
great portion of the temperance men
Of the country, but it also embraces
multitude of other men who may
differ as to the principle or mode of
dealing with the evils of intemper-
ance. Must we abandon all our DO
litical principles and drive from US
those who agree in political topics,
merely to do as a party what we can
do now as citizens? AS citizens we
can vote for temperance men-we
can use our moral, social and politi-
cal influence to make and enforce
wise temperance laws. We can in
woke the aid not only of Republi-
cans but of Democrats for that work.
We can organize societies, lecture,
speak, pray, exhort and get others
to do likewise. 1t is sheer folly, in
my humble judgment, for those who
would destroy intemperance to in
woke the agency Of a political party
to secure the passage Of a prohibi-
law. 1t is far better to leave such a
question to the constantly improv-
ing morals and education of the
whole people of Ohio as represented
in our General Assembly It is
purely a local question to be decided
by local law, and effecting alone the
people Of Ohio. Political parties
represent national questions and
national issues. We are able to
deal with our local questions with
out mingling them with our national
politics.
PRACTICABLE RELIEF.
AS to the measures to be adopted
there is wide difference of opinion.
We know by experience in many
States that general prohibitory
law cannot 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 can be
enforced, and this can be fully ac-
complished by a local option law.
From my observation in different
States and in Europe l am satisfied
much wider distinction should be
made by our laws in the sale of
spurious and vinous and malt IL
quors. Distilled spirits, as now made,
used as beverage, is necessarily a
poison, while beer and wine may be
harmless and in mauy cases benefi
cial. We know that in France, Ger
many and Italy, where wine or beer
enter into the consumption of every
household, as tea and coffee do with
US, a drunken man is rarely seen,
and is promptly arrested as a Grim
inal. While in Scotland, Ireland and
England, and in many of the States,
where whisky is a common bever-
age, drunken men daily stagger, with
the unquestioned right to the public
highway. I give you as my opin-
ion, for which no one elseis RESPONSE
BILE, that a carefully imposed tax on
liquor sellers, yielding to the people
of Ohio not less tEan one million Of
dollars of revenue, and carefully
discriminating against the whisky
seller, with local option law, anG
the enforcement Of the Adair law
would be far better system of TEN
perance laws than any prohibitory
liquor law that can be framed or en-
forced. But above all, contend tha
every Republican of any creed Of
nationality shall be free to vote, be
lieve and act on this question as ht
thinks right, being responsible tC
the public opinion and the law fol
conduct. 1t is not a political ques
tion, and cannot and ought not tC
be made one.
Let the Republican party then
with its honorable record, meeting
fairly every question of the hour
evading nothing, following as of old
its instructive love of liberty and
equal rights, with strong sympathy
for those that labor in every field Of
employment, with a love of country
that will not for a moment listen to
disunion or dishonor, without preju-
dice of race or caste and with the
practical common sense that has
guided it thus far-let this party
enter the lists before the people in
the usual way and the desponden-
cy caused by the partial defeat of
a year ago will disappear like the
mists of the morning, and Ohio
again be, as it has been for years be-
fore, the head of the Republican
column.