The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-02-12

vote declare that no grog shop can ex.
ist within it's limits, and empower its
officers to make prompt execution OF
the law, they will be effectually sup
pressed. There will be the moral, the
political, the legal, and the physical
power united in defense of law and
morals.
Let us now look to the practical
effect of local option. In this many
Of its friends will be disappointed of
their sanguine hopes, but not in a
reasonable expectation that it will do
good and be effective in preserving
peace and order in large part of the
State. We can not suppress intem-
perance by law any more than we can
any other vice. If we could suppress
liquor selling, gambling, thieving,
fraud, hcentiousness, by law, have
no doubt that the whole moral and
political power Of the State would be
united to attain this object. But be-
cause you can not entirely suppress
them, is that any reason why you
should not suppress such glaring in
decencies as the variety shows? Be
cause we can not prevent some men
from getting drunk, or committing
suicide, is that any reason why we
should not take away as many tempta-
tions as possible? | am not in favor
of violent measures upon this or any
subject. In great democratic COM
munity where all classes, kind, condi-
ton, and opinion of men are politically
on the same level, society can only
reason by what may be called the av-
erage opinion, and therefore, must
move slowly. | have learned to look
with compassion upon many whom |
would have once regarded as social
enemies; men whom ignorance, social
darkness, temptation, or want have led
into practices, from which their better
nature would have shrunk. Surely if
there are any who who are poor and
weak, and who need help, these are
they. But no compassion, no sympa-
thy, should prevent reasonable men
from defending the peace, order, and
decency of society, and especially from
suppressing, as far as possible, the
temptations in the way of the young
and weak. Local self-government
should be given to every local COM
munity to govern itself in all that
regards the peace, order, and morals
of the people, who, by social arrange
ments, are compelled to live together.
1t belongs to the State, to the county,
to the city, each within its own prov
ince; and is the making of roads and
water works of more importance than
the peace and morals of society?
If local option should be adopted
the great cities, such as Cincinnati,
Columbus, and Dayton, will probably
be in no way affected. In the vote on
the license question they gave large
majorities in favor of license, and they
will no doubt continue to nourish and
cultivate the cause Of crime and taxa
ton. Their Representatives need not
be afraid to vote for local option, for
their constituents know it is, as to
them, a harmless measure! But, on
the great principles of republican and
democratic government, they ought
to vote for it.
In the rural counties, however, it
will be different. Hundreds of towns
and villages will then be enabled to
defend themselves and save their
youth from temptation and their prop
erty from taxation. There is no con-
ceivable reason derived from either
right or expediency why they should
be denied the power Of self-defense.
If such law be enacted its friends
should see that it is so drawn as to be
effective. Half our laws are practic-
ally worthless. because they are so
loosely drawn that, to use the language
of an English Judge, you can drive a
coach and horses through them. Most
of our legislation is disgracefuk to the
legal mind and intelligence of the
State. E. d. NJ.
YAMoYDEN, Jan. 20.