The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1881-08-25

olhtlO CouAlNe1S AOA OON0A uOAg III
Bookwalter, had to say in his letter
of acceptance concerning this same
wonderful plank, to-wit:
This, if I understand it rightly,
does not imply hostility to rational
and practical measures for the abRte
ment Of any of the evils with which
society is sflicted. It may be well,
however, to remember that in a free
country the object Of all law is the
maintenance and not the abridgment
of the rights of the citizens. The
attempt to govern too much or too
infinitely in these particulars, must
inevitably defeat its own end. The
preservation of social order, snd the
wholesome restraint and control of
elements OF danger to the communi-
ty which cannot be wholly removed,
are objects immiuently desirable in
themselves, possible of attainment
and properly within tie scope of con-
stitutional legislation. It is much
to BIZ deplored that all well-disposed
citizens, including those at opposite
extremes on this question, cannot be
brought upon a common ground for
the accomplishment of what is, or
ought TO be, 8 common object"
After quoting the ebove Bunsbyan
chunk of wisdom from the pen of the
Springfield sage, the Gazette says;
"That expresses the sentiment of
the Democratic party upon the sub
iect, and the wording of the resolu-
ton is sound Democratic doctrine" ="
The editors then go on to elucidate
and explain the ''sumptuary laws" of
ancient Greece, Rome, England, and
Connecticut, summing up their sin
formation" in the following para
graph:
"Sumptuary Laws are those which
govern, restrain or limit the expenses
OF the citizen inapparel, food, drink,
and household goods that he uses
daily; or, IN other words, says he
shall not buy and use just what be
pleases.
"There are no such laws on the
statute books of Ohio. "
It is TO be hoped that, after all
this painstaking zeal on the part of
the editors, zone of the oldest citi-
zens of the county," who asked them
for information in regard to the
''sumptuary legislation" plank, will
feel considerably enlightened. We
fancy we hear MIN exolaim, eyes, I
understand all that very well, but
,0hat does at mean ?"
No wonder the honest old Demo-
crat is puzzled, and no doubt feels
as Byron did in regard to Goleridge,
Explaining metaphysics to the nation
wish he would explain his explanation"
The honest old Democrat, having,
we will suppose, by this time fully
oomprehended what "sumptuary
laws" are, or what Legislation mere
ly sumptaary" IS, must be consider
ably bothered to know aghy his party
put such a plank into it's platform.
Ifit be true, as the able editors state,
that there are no such laws on the
statute books of Ohio" why should
the Democratic party declare itself
to oil such laws? Who is
seeking to pass any laws in Ohio, to
govern, restrain or limit the ex-
penses Of the citizen in apparel, food,
drink, and household goods? Ger
tainly not the Republicans, nor any
other party that we know of. Alas
we fear that our honest old Demo.
crat, after all, will not feel entirely
easy in bis mind, about the real
meaning of that mysterious PLANK.
In spite of the arduous efforts of the
editors to enligbten his Ignorance,
he will be apt to suspect that the
"sumptuary" plank has some refer
ence ID laws against the liquor traffic,
and that his party is tying to ''pull
the wool over his eyes" (that is, if |
he is Temperance man, as we hope |
he Isl and by using words in its
platform that require to be so lAbOri-
ously explained, is striving to entrap
him and thousands of other honest
Democrats like him, into voting for
free liquor, and against all laws to
prohibit or restrain the terrible traf-
&c which causes nine-tenths of all
he crime, and poverty, and dograd
stion that afljet society.
Let our honest old Democratic
riend beware Of following after
blind guides" lest he "fall into the
Itch p