The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1875-08-19
LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT.
BY OUR PORTSMOUTH CONTRIBUTOR.


One of the cardinal doctrines of the
Democracy is 'local self government"
The municipal code, passed in 1869, had
clause authorizing cities and villages
"to regulate, restrain, and prohibit ale,
"beer. and porter houses and shops; and
"houses and places of notorious or habit
"ual resort, for tippling or intemper-
"ance."
From May Sd, 1852, until March 9th,
1867, the law of the State mad authorized
cities and villages "to regulate or pro-
''hibit ale and porter shops and houses,
'and places for significant or habitual re-
sort for tippling and intemperance."
1t will be observed that the law of 1869
introduced the word restrain" included
beer shops, and inserted the word "noto-
rious" instead of Significant" This law
remained on the statute books until
March 90, 1875, when it was amended by
the Democratic Legislature to read that
cities and villages should have the power
"to regulate ale, beer, and porter houses.
The word RESTRAIN" was eliminated;
also the phrase land houses of notorious
"or habitual resort for tippling and in
Temperance" This statute had re-
mained on the statute book % years; it
had been examined. approved and held
constitutional by the Supreme Court of
the State.
In numerous cities and villages ordi-
1 ho1 a1 Re hnP
ity. 1t gave communities the power to
act on the subject as a majority thereof
deemed best, and was one of the best
illustrations of the theory of local self
government carried into practice.
But the Democratic legislature of 1875
saw fit to emasculate the law.
Why was this done? After the citizens
of cities and villages in the State hao
possessed the power for % years to pro
hibit the liquor traffic in their midst, why
was it taken from them2 Were the
Democratic party of the opinion that
the people were not fit for self govern
ment on this subject?
Were they of the opinion that if the
people possessed the power, their use o.
it in cities and villages would be detri
mental to the Democratic party2 Are
we to infer from the fact that the Demo
cratic party deprived cities and Villages
of the power to prohibit houses of no
"torious or habitual resort for tipplinl
cor intemperance" that places of that de
scription are nurseries of democratic
principles?
Are we to understand from this repea
that the Democratic party regarded it a
nice policy to foster and encourage "ale
beer, and porter houses, and places o
, notorious or habitual resort for intem
: "perance p
| Did they suppose that the encourage
, ment of such places would promot
i morality and temperance among tn
, people of this State? Did they max
the repeal because that they had changes
their views on the subject of local sci
government
Democratic orators tell us that tn
principles of their party never change
,, We ask them then why do not thei
practices correspond with their prime
pies, or why have they abandoned thei
principles in this instance
: Is it not the truth that the Democrat
party cared nothing for its principle
or for the promotion of temperance o
morality in the State, but in repeating Q
the law cared only to please body G
) voters in the Democratic party. Th
State Liquor Dealers Association wer
determined that every city and village il
the State should be open and free to tn
liquor traffic, and the agents of this asso
! citation, lobbyists at Columbus, demande,
of the Democratic majority in the legii
lature the change in the law as the pric
of the votes controlled by them. Th
: Democratic majority had not the manly O
moral courage to refuse the demands c
obedience to the command of the liquo
dealers association passed the law.
In the same manner, on the deman
of the Romish church the same majotit,
, passed the Geghan bill
Is it safe for the people of this State
trust party Wnlcn can De controIled o
operated in the interest of any one bus
, ness. or of any one particular religion
sect or denomination?
Do the people regard a party whic
can be used in the interest of the Liquo
Dealers Association or the Romis
> church, as worthy of confidence?
> How did the law operate in prac
e tice2
Westerville is a village of some $50
inhabitants, situated II miles north @
Columbus, in Franklin county 1t is tn
seat of Otterbein University, CONTROLLED
, by the Moravians. No intoxicatin
liquors were ever sold in the village, an,
under the State law in force from 1856
l to 1875, the village council had by ord
2 nance prohibited the sale of intoxicatin
t liquors in the village. The fact that tn
! liquors could not be obtained in the vii
r lage had operated greatly to induce par
; ents to educate their sons at Otterbeil
University, and the reputation of tn
J village for sobriety and morality in con