Daily Republican., 1881-03-30
LOCAL OPTION.
Senator Bay yaPd nc the Bottom Of
the Imposition 70 IL.

Senator Bayard nc che Bottom O
the Opposition % IL.
/: is q matter Of record that the Del
awsrs House Of Representatives somt
three weeks ago pas sed local option
bill by . vote Of II to s, after which
the bill was sent to the Senate. II was
then that John Manz, Secretary OF the
liquor dealers association Of Whining.
ton, wrote to the editor of the Wash.
ington %. c. Sentinel, asking him 10
exert all his influence against the pas
sage OF the bill, by the State Senate.
The editor OF the Sentinel referring to
the matter says:
"In duty bound, we laid this matter
before Senator 7. +. Bsyard, knowing
that be would come 10 the rescue, as
he had done 30 often before. Other
gentlemen Of his State having also sd-
dressed themselves to him in this mat
ter, the Senator has written to one of
the latter, a resident OF Wilmington, a
letter, Of which the following is an ex
act copy, kindly furnished to US by
our honored friend at our request"
The result Of the Washington EDITORS
exertion in the cause Of the Whining
ton liquor dealers is long letter from
the Senator which would I'LL column
OF the RErUBlrCAN. A few extracts are
given below:
WASHINGTON, March S, 1881.
Ny DEAR SIR:--I DO not Ike TO iu-
trude my opinions unasked for upon
OF the Legislature.
agree with you in thinking "looal
option" laws of very dou btiul constitu-
siopality, and positive nexpedieucy.
AS understand them they submit a
law to popular vote, in local districts,
and this defeats the principle Of oug
which is representative in
It's character aud places the whole law
making power and discretion in the
Legislature aud not in the people i'll
their mere numerical torcs and primary
capacity.
punishment OF criminals was to be
sdjudged and inflicted by "lccal
option, " instead OF through acts Of Leg
alature executed byiudges and juries,
it would be held wholly at variance
With our theory of government, and yet
10 apply such arule to so widespread
and daily habit as the uss Of alcoholic
,r fermented beverages is in my jadg-
nent quite as unsafe.
So far as my experience goes, well
'egulated system Of licenses, whereby
,svenues is largely brought into the
public treasury, coupled with severe
penalties for illict sale, has proved the
most Efficient check upon the abuse OF
he liQa0r traffic.
In many respects the question is
umptIary one, and laws attempting
0 establish sumptuary regulations
ecome iaquistorial and impossible OF
xecutiOn, so that in tLose communities
n this country where thOy have been
nacted, they have either aggravated
be evils they were intended TO prevent
r have fallen into contempt and use,
sssuess, and been repealed.
The statements | have seen Of the
cal condition Of those communities in |
Ihich total prohibition has been at
9mpted, have impressed me very strong |
? in confirmation OF these views.
Personal influence and example and |
receipt and the recognition of the great
-uth that intemperance in the use Of
.imulants Of all kinds is morbid ply.
cal fact both in cause and effect, is,
! my judgment, the proper view tn
>mmence with. Statistics abundantly
rove that the attempted suppression
y statutes Of the use Uf alcoholic stimu
.nts, is accompanied by an increase 10
te use CT opiates; and that open drink
Is bsiug storl ed, secret drinking eu-
les.
| do no: believe that any mRu has a !
reater horror Of intemperancs than l.
nd my appreciation OF It's dangers and
vii effects grows With my experience
human affairs; but the grsver tae
I'll, the more essential to apply the
eht principle to its cure, and for the
,asons ! have stated, and many others,
hope the experiment Of local option"
i'll not be tried by our Legislature. bat
creased checks under the license sys-
In be continued.
Yours sincerely,
I. +. BAYARD.