The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-05-30
Local Option or State License Law.

tIransIated)
The Rock Island Neue Tolks Zeitung
of the 29th inst says under the above cap
ton;
The Rock Islander prints our remarks
on its position as to the Temperance ques-
ton and in so doing says, that it did not ex-
press itself in favor of a prohibitory law
but now as before is 10 favor ofthe present
local option law. This was satisfactory to
Us so far, the Rock Islander having previous
ly published without a word of dissent com
muuicatiCns favoring prohibition law,
and thereby creating the impression with
US and others that 1t was of the same
opinion.
We now would state to the Rock Islam
der the reasons why in our opinion gen.
eral state license isw would be preferable
to local option law,
The welfare of the producing and wor-
king classes who torm a majority of the
people is founded on freedom of industry
and commerce. ECerything that tends to
dtDainiSh, TO restrict or to do d1cdu loith the
use Of articles Of consumption injuries The
producer and a0orkangmGn; What aUouId
tie farmer to-day get for has produce, tor
instance barley and corn, how npdRg 10or-
k,ngnlen would be thrown out of employ
mept, if all the. breweries and distiIleries
and Industrial ranches connected with
them should be shut down2
/ If anybody wishes to abstain from use
of spirituous beverages, let him do so, but
the state or the authorities should not
have the power to prohibit the purchase
or sale of such beverages to its citizens.
4 Laws are enacted for the benefit OF the
majority, and if a minority of those using
splrituous beverages are iUtemperete in
F their use neither a right nor a duty
of the state to prohibit or restrict the sale
OF such beverages can reasonably be de-
rived from this fact. Now, experience and
statistics having taught that only small
, percentage of those using such beverages
become subject to habitual drunkenness,
but on the contrary that the moderate use
of spirituous beverages is conducive to
health, it consequently follows that pre-
hi6itOry laws are as unjust as they are un-
; necessary.
This principle is, because closely con.
) Dected with the personal liberty of the indi-
vidual, and of such a general nature that il
ought to be recognized by the state law,
! that it should not be within the option
of any local authorities to nullify it for
r their respective district as is the case under
the present local option law.
r OF course this principle can only be put
into practice by state law or, still better
by an amendment to our state constitu.
ton, and this could only be done By making
il an issue in state election of members
of the legislature, aud by thus elect
ing majority of representatives o.
: : the people that would be favor
: able to q general state license law, il
which the amount of licenses might be lef
to be fixed by the local authorities within
u certain limits, say 800 to $500, as q
present. If this issue fair and squar,
{ could be brought up by either of tb,
:. political parties in a state election, th
! majority of the people would undoubtedl,
declare in favor of general license law
= and we hope that this will be done, if no
;. :. in this, in one of the future state elections
; lf the rational party wish to properl
:, represent the interests of the producer
: farmer, and workingmen, aud the liberty o
: the people generally, it ought to expires
! itself i'll favor of freedom of trade an
!. Industry, for the temperance oppression
= in its whole nature and principle dristocrat
&c non. american, aud an absolute relic O
English puritanism.
e just as unreasonable and unjust is tn
y temperance damage law under which
u saloon keeper who has paid his permit o
!, license to the authorities, can, for blackmai
= ing purposes, be sued for selling liquors, b
: the relatives or the customers to whom b
- - sold any, for alleged damages sustaiue
q :, through the use of such beverages, by sue
,e persons. that Is, for the actious OF a thir
:, party.
~ ~ This law is juridical monstrosity whic
- ought to be repealed.