The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-07-17
BELL.puNOH AND SUNDAY LAWS.

Inc eneHles Oh DemOcThcy ChulBo bhos
they are responsible, as party, for the ex-
isting beli.punch and Sunday laws. This is
not true. 1t is not true because, as general
thing, the members of the last Legislature,
so far as the Democrats were concerned, were
not elected as party nominees. On the con-
trary they were generally elected as individ-
uals. This WAS true in Dallas and all the
surrounding counties. Had the party made
nominations it could DO held responsible for
the acts Of its elected members-not other
wise and SO it will be in the future. Viz
GINA, two years before, had adopted the bell
punch, and after u year or more of trial, 1t
was pronounced grand success, popular
with the people at large and also
with liquor dealers. Such was the under
standing when our legislature met in Janus-
ry, 1879. The state was in debt and the rev.
enues falling behind, annually increasing the
public debt. Among other devices, though
with much opposition, the bell punch law
was enacted as means of relief. Soon after
it became known that public sentiment had
been deceived in Virginia, great reaction
had set in, and last winter their law was re-
pesled by an almost unanimous vote of both
houses. In Texas, it is universally conceded
that the law has been an utter failure, and
there is not shadow Of doubt that the next
legislature, so far as the Democratic party is
concerned, will repeal it, and in its
stead pass fair and reasonable
license law, We apprehend that no nom.
inee of the Democratic party, Tor either the
senate or house, will occupy any other plat
form. The bell punch was tried as an ex-
perime n land has failed. The license principle
has been long and often tried, and is proven
to be tho best method yet tested in our state,
as well as in many Others. We are not dis
cussing the principles but stating the facts.
The Sunday law, as 1t now stands, is purely
al accident. The commissioners TO revise the
laws, in performing their work, introduced
the changes from the former to the present
law. Their work, in large volume, was re-
ported TO the Legislature, in the form Of one
bill, covering every subject embodied in the
laws. For convenience and great saving
of time, it was passed us whole, when prob
ably not one.tenth Of the members had ex-
amined one-tenth of its contents, with the in
tention of awarding its parts afterwards in
the way of ordinary legislation, an action
wise in itself, and justified by similar course
IN almost every state in the union under sim
liar circumstances. 1t ia more than possible
indeed it is probable-that not single
member had discovered the changes made
on this question when the code was thus
enacted. But when discovered, doubtless
many members preferred to try it for two
years, to SEQ its effects and lot the people
judge. The point we wish to make is that it
was not passed by the legisla-
ture in any puritanical, dog
matte or tyranical spirit, but purely as
an accident. Its modification in harmony
with the voice of the country, is now prsc-
teal question to be considered in the election
of members of tie legislature. The people
have the right to select men who represent
their views on this as on other subjects. Its
consideration is delicate and serious matter,
as it, to a considerable extent, bears upon the
religious opinions, convictions and rights of
large classes of people in this state points
too grave to be- discussed in this brief arti-
Gle. 1t appeals to the higher. points of
craftsmanship and individual liberty tor
thoughtful and dispassionate conviction. A
law which goes beyond the point of
protection to life, liberty and the free eyer-
else of religious opinions and worship, in so
far as it exceeds those points, must be con-
sidered ss trenching upon the rights of con-
science and individual liberty. To meet the
requirement-to protect all and to tyrannize
over none--is the mission of craftsmanship
in free government; and it the right rs well
as the duty of the peoplein the selection of
lawmakers to vote for mon who represent
their views on this and all other material
questions.