Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-07-11


This is absolutely all we have in the
shape of law to protect ourselves from
this great enemy. When we consider how
hard it is to execute law, how diaicult TO
procure evidence when the witness is in
league with the culprit, and when the
plaintiff is the poor and friendless wife.
while the defendant is rich, having not
only the property which he has taken
from her, but has rich association of
liquor Dealers behind to give them aid
and support. When all this is considered.
| it makes one almost warm with suppress
ed indignation to hear politicians say, as
we often do: ssOh you have laws enough
if you will only execute them. They sup
pose that we women know not how to
answer, else they dare not say it. Stung
by this taunt I, some time ago, sought to
know the truth for myself, and cheerful
ly give the result OF my search to you,
hoping that all women who are engaged
in the temperance work, may become so
acquainted with temperance law, that If
men do not fear, they shall not despise
our knowledge of what We ought to re-
ceive at their hands. After thus review
ing all the temperance laws, viii be
pardoned in telling what seems to be one
good line of work for the futureP
1t is now plain that our duty for the
present is to educate; as soon as the peo-
pie demand law they will get it. The fault
is not with legislators, they only repre-
sent the people who send them, and ought,
perhaps, to do no more. Then our surest
way is to advance step by step. Prohi-
bition is, of course, the standard which
should be set far in advance of the peO-
pie, but-we must reach it law by law.
1t has been here shown that the Nation
can do nothing until the States adopt pre-
hibition, or at least two-thirds of them,
enough to ratify an amendment to the
Constitution. It is also seen that the State
of Ohio, through her Constitution, viii
not sanction the prohibition of the liquor
traffic until it becomes nuisance. Then
let us step down farther, to the large
cities. 1t only needs half an eye to look
at such cities as Cincinnati and see that
| they are not yet ready to call liquOr-sell-
ing a nuisance, and their Legislators only
represent the viii of them who elect
them. So we are still too high. Let US
come to the rural homes of the people
Here, and speak with assurance, viii be
found the needed temperance sentiment,
and it is every day growing firmer. Now,
| if the Legislature, by suitable laws,
would allow this temperance sentimenttO
| find expression, instead of leaving it, as
| it now is, bound hand and foot by small
number of saloon-keepers, we might be-
| gin a temperance work which would soon
| reach the Capital
The villages. decide for themselves
whether they will allow tippling shops to
continue their work of death in the midst
of Ghier homes. Why should the city Of
Cincinnati, with her great beer-brewing
interests, say that one of our villages
shall, against her will. submit to have
sold within her corporate limits that
which she thinks diminishes her wealth,
fills her jail, crowds her poor-heuse, and
burdens her with taxes, to say nothing of
the untold anxiety which the mothers
alone know? The only answer is that she
may sell her beer, and by Spreading this
stream of death over our fair villages
may preserve that FEgreat beer interest,"
which Mayor Moore so eooingly patron
| ICES, at the expense of all that is dear to
| us. 7i
The line of work which suggest is
that while all temperance organizations
continue their peculiar, Distinguishing
manner of work in producing this public
sentiment, allowing no interest to flag,
let all join in. demanding this peculiarly
| American privilege, the right to govern
| ourselves in so important PARTICULAR
I mean nothing more no less than local
option law for villages. A corporation
has its own law makers, the council, and
| it is the only law-maEdng power below
| the Legislature. Give these village coun-
ellis the power to drive tippling shops for
beer, ale and porter, (these excep-
tions made by the criminal laws from
their midst, and do not leave tito the Op-
ton of the council to pass such q law, as
the MeConnellsvi1le ordinance was left.
But take the responsibility even from
their shoulders and place it on the people.
Let them, by vote of qualified electors,
require the council to pass the necessary
law and secure its observance. @
It surely seems probable that we can
secure this permission from the Legisla-
ture, as self-government is in accordance
with the principles of both the great par
ties, but especially so with the one now in
| power. Besides it would be an eminent
| ly just law, working harm to no one, but
bringing inestimable blessings to many.
Having laid our foundation we could be-
gin to build, and as our country boys be-
come the future business men ofthe cities,
such a healthy Iife-blood might be poured
into our cities as would soon require their
representatives to consider the entire Hqu-
or traffic not only nuisance but mon
strous crime, and change the Constitution
of Ohio if necessary. Ohio would then
be ready to join hands with Maine and
ratify Blair's proposed amendment to the
Constitution of the United States. Thus
building up our work from families to
communities, to States, to the General
Government, may finally have our hearts
most earnest desire, the entire suppress
sion of this traffic, the cause of almost all
crime, s'the sum of all villainies."
ANNA WARE SABINE.
bread VS., Wine.