West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-03-23

lSlatOr. w orSe yet; the speech con-
tradicts itself, for in one place it
opposes all legislation upon temper
ance, and in another place it OBJ
jects to the amendment asked for,
because if it "were adopted a sale of
liquors for medicinal, scientific and
mechanical purposes would be ex-
copied" The speaker wants no ex-
ceptions, yet he speaks against all
legislation.
But, as already intimated, the
question for the Legislators to decide
was the question Of submitting the
matter to the people. Had they
not a right to settle it for them
selves? Are not the people sover-
eign? Have they not the right to
say what shall 60 into the Consti-
tuition and what shall not? Legis-
latures do not 60 wrong when they
allow the people to settle such
questions. 1t is when they assume
to determine for the people what
the people can properly determine
for themselves that trouble arises.
No one could claim that every friv-
ilous or trifling question should be
made matter Of issue at the bal
lot box, or that local matter, or
one with limited advocacy, should
be brought before the people; and it
was to prevent such an event,
doubtless, that the two-thirds rule,
or the provision requiring a two
thirds vote Of the General Assem-
bly, in order to submita question to
the people, was enacted; but when
more that 10000 people, represent
ing every portion Of the State, rep
resenting theintelligence and piety
Of the State, representing the best
society and influence, respectfully
petition their representatives to
permit the people to determine a
question that effects every interest,
social and industrial, and runs
through all the avenues of personal
and domestic happiness, | submit
that in the presence of such a call
and before such a question, tits the
duty of Legislators to put aside their
individual notions as to temperance
methods or temperance plans, and
let the people speak for themselves.
Totalk of expenses at such time
or to discnss the question of reye-
nue., or divorce, is not only to beg
the real question. but entirely to
overlook it.
One or two facts in conclusion;
list. What Divine law has made
wrong, no human law can make
right; therefore the whole license
system which allows the manufac-
ture and sale Of intoxicants is
wrong and should be abolished.
ID That which makes it unsafe
for women and children to 60 upon
the highways; which fills our jails
and penitentiaries with criminals;
which is the occasion Of enormous
expense to citizens which saps the
foundation of social and domestic
comforts, is rightly matter for leg
islation. Drunkenness does this;
therefore drunkenness should be
prohibited by law.
Sd. 1t is better to cut a snakes
head off than its tail. Therefore the
liquor traffic should be attacked at
the distillery. The manufacture
should be stopped. We must go to
the source and fountain Of this evil.
Therefore, we need a prohibitory
amendment placed in the Constitu-
ton.
4th. The best way to cure the evil
Of intemperance is to take away the
temptation to drink. An ex-Gov-
ernor of Illinois once said, $50 long
as there is liquor | must have it."
He remarked that if ever the ques-
ton of prohibition were before the
people, and he could but crawl to
the polls, he would go and vote for
it. | remember a temperance lee
turer who declared that, though he
had not touched liquorfor ten years,
such was the power of old habits
upon him, he could not pass a sa-
loon without feeling an alqdSst ire
sistible impulse to go in aWdrink.
That which so easily grows into
controlling passion, which lures old
and young to destruction (which be-
comes as fire in the bones, should be
put an end to as speedily as possible.