The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1880-12-09
Correspondence Of the News.
STATE OPTION.
OHIO TO THE FRONT.

"hlls Otner states are moving Tor con-
s-itutiOnal prohibition Of the Liquor
Crime, by vote of the people, we cannot
have the same form, but we can have prac-
tically the same result, in Ohio, if We can
have the Stewart Bill, now being circu-
lated over the State by thousands for sign
ers, passed by the Legislature, which will
let the people vote down the traffic at a
special election, by law to take effect
throughout the State.
The young State Of Kansas has adopted
at the late election a constitutional amend
ment to forever prohibit the manufacture,
importation and sale of all alcoholic liq-
uOrs, as a beverage, in the State of Kansas,
by 10000 majority. And shall Ohio fail
to come to the front, when she has the
power to do so?
Theday has fully come in our State, for in
dependent prohibitory action. And now
that the political typhOon of 1880 is
passed, we have not a single question of
National politics to disturb US. There
will be no COngressmen to elect, and the
Legislature to be chosen in 1881 viii not
elect a United States Senator. We will
have nothing but State and local matters
to attend to; and highest of all is that Of
State and Local Option, united, if possible,
in one law, giving the alternative to the
people. Of State prohibition, or local pro
hibitiOn. And this is the. purpose and
plan of the Stewart Home Protective
Bill"
The idea set forth in this Bill, is to en-
tirely divorce the vote from the Spring and
Fall elections, so that all parties can vote
for it without sacrificing, as they think,
their cherished party affiliations. And
from the large number Of petitions sent
over the State, and the general awakening
and interest manifested, we believe We are
safe in saying that there will be 100000
signers.
Shall this mammoth petition of the
noblest and best Of Obio's sons and daugh-
ters be again ignored by our Legislature,
and their rights trampled on, to appease
King Alcohol? No! not if we unitedly
stand together, and show our Representa-
tives in the House and Senate Of Ohio,
that we are in earnest-that if they will
pass this Bill, or a law containing, in sub
stance, the provisions Of this Bill, we wiz
see to it that they are reelected, and if
they do not do so, that they will be de-
feated. Give our politicians to understand
that we mean to stand as one man by these
declarations, and they will hesitate no
longer, There is no logic to convince a
politicians mind, so efeetual as the logic
Of an election or defeat.
The Legislature will not help us, be-
cause, they tell us, as yet "public opinion
is not strong enough" Then in God'sname,
let public opinion become strong enough.
What the Legislature refuses now, it can
not, it will not, It dare not, refuse when an
honest, VirtuoUs pOpUlace, knocking at its
door with righteous and imperiOus demand,
tell them that they are there to do its
bidding.
Have we not a right to expect, have we
not a right to demand, that in this strug-
gle the Legislature shOHld take their part?
It is IN the power Of the Christian church, or
a mOiety even Of the sober and moral citi-
zens outside Of it, to shield our youth from
intemperance and to dry up a great share
of the oYershadOWing curse. For this has
been done, and what has been locally or tenn
porarily won to sobriety, can now, by the
same blessing upon self-denying, steady
effort, be more widely and permanently
achieved.
It is no longer a question Of ability, but
of disposition, whether Ohio shall be re-
deemed from the Rum curse. And it is
not a question as to the efficiency and su6i-
cheney Of law to suppress intemperance. /
God has given to this country and the
world grand illustrations of both. All
that is wanted Is, to look the evils squarely
in the face, and understanding their na-
ture, determine to eradicate them. For we
are satisfied that little is known by The
general public Of the villainOns Liquor
League, that manipulates the State and
General Government.
A few days ago the United States Gov
eminent sent a representative to the or
ganized court Of crime at Cincinnati, THE I
Beer Brewers Congress" in the person of |
Ransom, of the Internal Revenue Bureau, |
who asked them "What they wanted the |
Government to DO for them {" They re- |
piled, owe want every fanatical Temper !
ance law, in every State in the Union, re-
pealed."
And the Liquor Dealers Convention,
which assembled at Chicago, Sept ID, |
passed these resolutiOns=
"Whereas, Our foes are daily gaining |
strength, perfecting their organizations, |
and preparing for a new and most vigorous |
campaign. Shall We remain inactive and |
permit them to endanger and ruin our /
business, without even an effort at resist |
ance? A single society or club is of little /
avail, but a grand State organization, ex-
tending into every election precinct in
every county, would prove to be an op-
position altogether too formidable to be
Therefore
Resolved, That this Association viii /
watch with greater vigilance the actions Of
our Representatives in the halls of the
holding them to a strict aC-
count Tor every vote, or neglect to vote,
upon ali laws respecting our liberty and
Just rights, and that we will use our united
power, and that of our friends, as well as
that Of all our resources, to prevent the
election of men either too cOWardly to re-
sist the allurements of. the Temperance
women, or too stupid to comprehend the
vicious effects Of sumptuary legislation"
This COntemptuous slur at the noble ef-
forts of Christian women, to free their
homes from the curse Of Drink, shows that
they fear wOman's power, as well they
may. Thank God our Legislators will be
apt to see that these Temperance women"
will yet represent temperance UOtss, and
heir petitions are not to be ignored.
And now, honest, Temperance voters of
Ohio, in the language Of more than l 800
ministers of this State, in the last go days,
who met in Conferences and Synods, will
We not say, "that we will work and vote
1nly for such men and measures as will |
give to Ohio a complete and prohibitory
.aw?"
Fire to meet frel Let us adopt the
of the Beer Brewers Con-
yress, viz: "That we firmly stand as one
nan by these declarations, and that no
party consideration shall lead US to in
lorse a platform, or vote for any man
whose course will be in the least doubtful
1n these cardinal points; and we hope and
believe in case such should not be inscrib-