The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-03-04
m ellaneu11s.
For tile 1Fgis and hteAEgencer.
The Temperance Reform Movement.


The communication of Temperance, in
| last weeks issue, in which the plan proposed
by Local Optionist" is reviewed, commends
itself to all thoughtful friends of temperance
reform as worthy of the most respectful con-
sideration. These two plans, now before the
public, are exhaustive, perhaps, of all meth
DDS at all practicable for the attainment of
our object without party complications. If
then, we are to keep the temperance question
out of party politics, the choice must lie be-
tween these plans. Each, therefore, should
be well weighed, and the best chosen
Temperance" whose pleasant and candid
way of putting forth his views, is an assur
ance that we are in no danger of an unprofi-
table controversy makes two points of OBJ
lection to the voting plan;
1st that 1t requires two temperance cam.
paigns. I'd, that it hazards, to IL needless ex-
tent, the great temperance cause.
How is it possible to avoid two campaigns
There are two distinct questions viz: sub
mission by the Legislature and ratification by
the people. The one must be determined be-
fore the other can arise. There must be two
canvasses of some sort, the one to determine
whether the question shall be submitted, the
other to determine whether the law submitted
shall be ratified. The method which ITEM
perance" himself proposes involves a can
vass, the object of which is to obtain petI
TONERS. And if his canvassing be thorough"
will not the people be called to assemble, will
not the question be discussed, and must not
every voter be applied to personally for his
signature? The real difference between these
two methods is that the one uses ballots, the
other petitions the one instructs, the other
prays, where prayers, hitherto, have been I'M
availing; the one relies on the ballot box, an
instrument that measures the earnestness and
potency of popular sentiment, and forewarns
the public servant of his doom, if he disre-
CARDS its sovereign commands; the other
relies on petitions and pledges, which prove
nothing as to popular sentiment, and in this
connection, have been so generally disre-
garded, when not associated with stronger
measures, that they have ceased to be n
ground of reliance. We must elect temper
ancc representatives, or we must prove to
politicians that they serve their own interest
or at least do not ieopardize it, in serving
ours, before We shall find solid ground of re-
lance. The vote affords this proof, the petit
tions do not A man may say of the latter
that he does not know how many of these
names represent legal voters, which he can
not say of the former.
The second point ofobjection which ITEM
perance" makes to the voting plan is that it
needlessly hazards the cause. But to show
this hazard does he not have to Imagine" or
suppose what the plan does not for mo-
ment contemplate, and what is justly fatal
to any method-his no less than that of Lo-
cal Optionistp Will not the lack of thor
ough canvass, the lukewarmness of temper
ance voters, &c, affect the force of the petit
ton and the vote alike. In either case it
would express our weakness and unworthi-
ness to succeed. Even "strong temperance
advocates" elected to the Legislature would
not be justified in sending the question to
the people after such an expression of their
indifference. Nothing could be more hazard
Gus than to submit the question of prohibi
ton before the people want it. If they will
not ask for it, because of lukewarmness or
anything else, it may be regarded as certain
they will not ratify law if submitted. The
vote will show exactly what the voters want,
and is, for the present, justly decisive. To
suppose that the canvass will be so lukewarm
and imperfect that the importance of the
preliminary vote" will not be understood, is
to suppose Il condition of the public mind on
this subject which is fatal to any hope, based
on the principle of local option. 1t is uni
versally admitted that prohibition, in advance
of popular sentiment, is worthless
| think if Temperance" whose only OBJ
ject, am sure, is the adoption of the best
method, will carefully note list, that the vot-
ing plan puts the question in every voters
hands, and relieves him of all obstacles aris-
ing out of political relations, to the casting of
his vote on the question of submission ; I'd,
that it avoids all conflict with politicians and
political parties; 3D., that the nature of the
campaign is likely to excite more thorough
agitation and canvass, and result in more
temperance teaching, than campaign to OBJ
-. a.. IN. a \
instruction authoritatively given and public
ly accepted, he will conclude there is more
hazard attending his, than the plan of
LOCAL OPTIONIsT.