Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-12-25
Locnl ONION LLquor Lnvv.

hibitiOn of the traffic in Intoxicating
liquors. That this monster evil, result.
ing from the use of intoxicating liquors
as a beverage, is increasing in oul
county at fearful rate must be appa'
rent to every man and woman in our
county, and the question is, how are
we to exterminate foe that threatens
the destruction of our social, moral
and political institutions? Laws have
been enacted for the purpose Of re-
straining and regulating what the Con-
stitutiOn of our State terms the evil
results of the traffic in Intoxicating
liquors, but these laws remain on our
statute books little better than dead
letters; or, if executed at all, the PEN
alties assessed by our courts for the
violations are so low that the only effect
they have upon the criminals is to ex-
cite their laughter, and are regarded
by them as indulgenCes in their crimi-
nal traffic at an amazingly cheap rate.
What will be asked of the Legislature
at its next session will be to pass local
option liquor lava law by which the
people may, by their votes, say whether
they will allow Intoxicating liquors to
be sold in their counties, townships,
villages or cities as beverage. While
the Constitution of our State debars
the Legislature from licensing the
traffic, thus virtually leaving the traffic
free to whomsoeVer chooses to engage
therein, it does recognize the right to
engage in the traffic, and that the Cen
eral Assembly may by law provide
against the evils resulting therefrom.
We would prefer that the Constitution
had said the General Assembly may
prohibit by law the sale of Intoxicating
liquors. But it is claimed by good le-
gal authority that the traffic may be
prohibited under the provisions of
what is known as o local option liquor
law, and the passage of such law will |
be urged upon the Legislature this win
ter by thousands Of petitioners from
all portions of the State, and, in obedi-
ence to the urgent appeals of the peo-
pie on this subject, a law Of that char
lCter may be enacted.
We will, however, remind the friends
Of temperance that it is a great mistake
% suppose that all that is necessary to
jlose up the saloons and prohibit the
rafllc in intoXicants is to pass local
option law, and under it to vote by
that the traffic shall cease.
The mere passage of the law and the
'oting Of majority in favor Of its pro-
'isions will not do the work. The
anne old demon will be working behind !
aloon screens and in back allies, always
eady to carry on his internal traffic l
lways ready to fight for the preserva- .
ion Of His Satanic Kingdom, and if $
he friends of local option expect to q
lake it success they will have to :
lake vigorous warfare upon the traffic '
nd upon those who may attempt to a
iolate the provisions Of the law. Pass
ng penal or refOrmatOry laws never Of i
themselves effected any good results. y
hey must be aided by a public senti- t
lent equal to the execution of their +
rovisions. Whoever signs petition 4
} the Legislature for the passage Of a Il
)cal option liquor law should do so &
18th determination that he will use g,
is own personal efforts to enforce the p
Secutlon Of the law in this respect -
henever he sees or knows of its hav- el
lg been violated. Signing ones name 81
a petition and asking the Legislature dhi
pass local option law is a very good h
ling for one to do, yet how little men L
link about what they are doing when =,
icy sign a petition, no odds what the Ii
,ject Of the petition may be. They il
,Ver think, when they afllx their 4,
lmes to paper of this kind, that the br
W, when created, be it never so good, pc
u not have the power to enforce and n
.ecute itself, The 'maohinist may be N
lie to build q flrst-class locomotive, &c
1t 1t will remain stationary unless N'
otlye power is applied to 1t. So with
cal option. Your Legislature may
IS law in accordance with the
shes of the petitioners, but how is or M,
0 law to be exeouted2 The liquor II
alers have such peculiar sensitive er
IS in regard to the violation of indi- r0l To
lual rights that their tender con- ke
ences will not allow them to inter- in
e with the glorious liberties of their ST eT
ipected neighbOrs, or to put in force ~
lat our Democratic friends, in their SO
litical platform few years since, coi eoI
lderly denOminated sumptudry laos. fe9
no, then, are we to expect will enter pa
, complaints and make the war upon me me
,se who may violate the provisions era
the law passed in obedience to the prt
nands of the thousands of petition vi6 vii1