The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1881-02-25
THE NEW LAW AND IT'S
CRITICS.

For some days past our exchanges
have been furnishing the public with
the praise or censure Of the new temper
ance law, and where anything like criti
cism of its provisions has been attempt
ed, censure seems to take the lead. We
are not lawyers and do not presume 10
he wise above our day and generation.
That new elements of public policy
have been introduced was 10 be antici-
pated. The old dram shop act was Ii
cense law, and in harmony with the pro-
vision of many OF the other states. The
people decided to try prohibition sd far
as the sale of intoxicating liquors were
used as beverage and amended the
constitution in that respect. 1t seems to
be conceded that oyer nineteen-twen-
tieths of all liquors is used as beverage.
The people decided they could
d. without this luxury, and
In framing this bill the leg
islature do not seem to have
legislated entirely in the interest of
this small remaining fraction; and such
neglect seems to have raised q serious
storm.
This law will doubtless be before the
supreme court at an early day, and il
there are serious defects they will be
discovered. Until then we will assume
what all courts presume, Wig. that the
law is constitutional.
II is no longer a debatable question
that the legislature, unless restricted by
the constitution, has absolute control
over this traffic.
The constitution haA said to the legis-
lature that they must not annihiiste the
traffic where legitImately carried on in
the interest of medicine, science or me-
chanies. The legislature decided TO not
utilize the SalOSas As the agency for car
ryiag out this law. As wa 10 be appre-
hended. this 10 not altogether satisfaGtnTy.
But saloon keepers and pot house pOliti-
clans are less exercised on their own nc
count, than that Of the churches. They
can close their doors al the bshesl of
the law, but To see Intoxicating liquors.
flor none others are effected by this lsw)
denied to the communion table is more
than they eau endure.
As one Of our lawyers said when
pressed to interiors 10 the interests OF
this additional exception. it Tss GER
tainly a healthy sign 10 see 80 much
anxiety and fear manifested by those
who could not distinguish the Lords
supper from free lunch if they met it
in the street.
The Leavenworth Times. with its usu
al enterprise. whetted by its oppo-
sition to any temperance legislation,
has interviewed many doctors and
preachers. and finds a majority of the |
ministers do not use fermented wine at
the communion table, and also finds
many physicians Who are not inclined |
70 take the oath required by law; also |
that we are 40 be deprived Of Cur cam
phor. Trivial ~ these matters appear |
TO US, we venture few suggestions on |
them:
Isl, This law is only intended 10 pre-,
vent the use of intoxicating liquors as q |
beverage. The object and intent of
the law and the evils intended to |
be remedie6 may seem unimport-
ant TO the average item maker,
but we understand they aze potent
in courts in arriving .at construction.
We have yet to learn that csmphOr is |
an intoxicating liquor, or that any one |
ever got drunk from its use.
ID. Wine may and may NOT be intoxi-
eating Ifitis not, the law has no con-
Germ about it; no matter which kind is
used for sacrament, no friend Of temper /
ance will interfere. But it is suggested |
that the liquor interest will seize upon