The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-03-10

would suppress the liquor traffic, if
they were enforced. They are quite as
radical and sweeping in their provisions
as any that have been proposed during
the sitting Of the present Legislature;
and their enactment didn't hurt the
Republican party or any other party
to any appreciable extent. But when
a proposition comes before the Legisla-
ture to submit the question to the peo-
pie whether they want laws to restrict
the whisky traffic enforced, there is a
howl Of anguish from small potato
machine politicians and large potato
newspapers and warning that such
action will ''hurt the partyr' This is
an old story. It has been repeated
thousands of times, for years and years.
But how is it? What sort Of party
is it that is hurt when an attempt is
made to suppress public disorder, vice,
crime, excessive taxation and their
sources? Thepersons belonging to the
class referred to insult all decent Re-
publicans by loudly and impudently
asserting that it is their party!
The Republican party is not that kind
of an organization! There are hun
dred iquor-sellers in Springfield and
more than seventy-five per cent. Of
them are Democratsi Will these per-
sons look about a little, throughout
the State Of Ohio, and try to rake up
a couple of hundred Republican grog-
shop keepers? We don't believe they
could find that number in the State.
Then, what is all this hubbub about?
Nobody desires to pass law for pre-
venting a German from drinking as
much beer as he pleases Or any other
man from drinking that or any other
kind Of liquor Nobody has even sug-
gested that anybody's personal rights
or liberties Or privileges shall be inter
fered with! Under any or all bills
which have been presented German
or any other man who is thirsty may
take a bottle, or dozen bottles, or
keg or a dozen kegs of beer, or Of
whisky or brandy, to his house, and
consume it to his hearts content, and
nobody can molest him.
The open grog-shop has long been
known as a source of public disturb
ance, vice and crime! The man who
owns and manages it is not carrying
on business that is either wholesome
or lawful! Selling whisky at retail,
as the business is carried on, is not
what the Cincinnati Commercial asserts
it to be-''a legitimate business" It
is universally known to be an illegiti-
nlate-an unlawful business. The
laws of Ohio do not prohibit the sale
Of liquor, which is carried off and con-
sumed on the street or in the house Of
the purchaser; any man may sell in
this manner without molestation; but
they do prohibit man from selling
whisky, by the glass, over the counter,
to be drank on the premises. And
yet there IS not a saloon IN Cincinnati
or 5n any other city or torn IN Ohio
achere achisky IS not sold by the glass,
oOey the counter, to be drank on the
pFenlSeSi Even the editor of the
Commercial, who declares the retail
liquor traffic Legitimate" will not dis
pute SO plain fact. We may say,
further, that it is not a reputable bus
mess. Public opinion-with all its
defects-pillories the saloon keeper as
disreputable; and still further, the
narrow gauge statesmen" are simply
obeying the expressed voice Of the
great mass of their constituents in
taking the course criticised and de-
nounced by persons referred to. These
constituents-who are not fanatics or
zealots, but plain, solid persons, Of in
telligence and sound, practical sense
largely Republicans-who reason from
cause to effect-and from effect to
cause-who condemn bad tree from
its corrupt deadly fruit, and who sim
ply ask that the general question as to
the retail sale Of liquor shall be sub
mitted to the people, to be decided
upon its merits, by popular vote! A
more reasonable or sensible demand
was never made!