The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-11-12

we want the WOflU 10 10 unucr-
stand that everybody in the "Athens
Of West Virginia" docs not drink
Birch Beer, Notwithstanding it was
shown before the Circuit Court of
of this county by scientific ANALYSIS
that it is entirely destitute of alco-
holic principle. The law says no
person shall sell or offer for sale Of
expose for sale without license,
spiyise6us liquors, wine, porter, ale
or beer or any otlHr drink Of like
nature. The witness for the State
says: II bought and drank Birch
Beer and / did not feel the effects in
the hast"-Verdict; I'VE the jury
find tie DEPENDENT not guilty" If
that is sound Inv or an honest adj
ministration of the law, Birch Beer
must soon become a national bever-
age.
The crowd in the NJ. L. Charch on
last Sunday night entered its protest
against this tlimsy evasion Of
the law that regulates the sale of ar
dent spirits, and said that if the
plain letter of the law was to be thus
evaded, give us prohibition.
The meeting at the Church was
held under the auspices of the Dis
trict Temperance Committee and was
addressed by it's Chairman, Hon. G.
c. Sturgiss, Rev. Miller of the Bap-
fist Church, Rev. Hughes of the M.
f. Church, Pres. ID. b. Purinton, of
the University and ex-Sen. w. L.
Wiley. We would drop no word of
Encouragement to the workers in a
good cause and yet we think the
views generally taken up by the
speakers were too narrow and uncer-
tain to impress as they ought to have
imposed the public mind on this
new theme in West Virginia. Let me
illustrate my idea. Prohibition, if it
means anything, means that the
State, by constitutional enactment,
or statute law, prohibits the manu-
facture and sale of spirituous liquors
within its limits, shall have the pow
ct to enforce it's legislation. Where
as every intelligent man knows that
the rights of State of this union are
not absolute enough or sovereign
enough to prevent the importation of
liquors into the State no matter how
severe the penalties may be against
their manufacture and sale within its
limits. The gentlemen who conduc-
ted the discussion at the church be-
ing all republicans ought to know
that States rights arc played out
long ago and that the Constitution of
the United States and the laws made
in pursuance thereof are the supreme
law of the land. Will it do to say
that prohibition by State has been
decided by the the Supreme Cosrt Of
the united States to be lawful. Will
it do say that supreme tribunal has
decided that the Congress Of the Uni
ted States has not the power to reg
ulate commerce between the several
States Of the Union. What boots it
then, if the State of West Virginia
prohibits the manufacture and sale
Of splrituous liquors within its limits
if Congress does not in the exercise
Of its functions in the regulation
Of commerce between the States, pro-
hibit it's introduction therein from
adjacent States or from foreign coun-
tries? Certainly no State of this
Union Except in the late rebellion)
has successfully exercised its sup
posed sovereignty in passing and
maintaining law in violation Of the
u. S. Constitution. Does not State
prohibition simply create a vacuum
that will instantly be filed by liquor
manufacturers from abroad who will
be protected in their rights Of transit
as well as in their rights Of property
in spurious liquors by the National
Constitution and laws now in exis-
tence, and who by virtue of the same
laws can under q U. S. License sell
the same at wholesale or give it away.
make these suggestions not to dis
courage or dishearten the friends Of
prohibition, but that they may think
about this matter and discuss it in
their meetings and get on a broader
platform and commence and prose
cute their glorious work where it
will be backed by 1--WE the people of
the United States" with voice that
will command the admiration of the
world, and bring to this whole nation
that true moral uplifting and prog
ress that comes to stay, because sus-
tanned by the moral sentiment and
legal enactments Of the whole people.
Let prohibition be national, not local.
Let national power enforce it and
then another rebellion will not come
because some of the States may get
it into their heads and hearts to an
null the laws of Congress to open the
pathway of moral popular progress.
If Gladstone can reach the heart of
the British nation in exposing the
iniquity of the Tory Ministry in it's
practical advocacy of the principle
that "might makes right the friends
of true moral progress in the United
States can make their voice heard at
the National Congress, and say that
the peace, happiness and progress of
the people of a single State shall not
be interrupted and retarded by the
overwhelming power of great ma
ton. No man should be protected
in the violation of the prohibitory