The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-07-22
A SIGN OF THE TIMES.

be only an incumbrance.
SIGN OF THE TIMES.
One OF the political surprises of the
time is the recent great majority of the
popular vote in Iowa by which the fol-
lowing amendment to the Constitution of
the State has been adopted
NO person shall manufacture for
sale, or sell or keep for sale as bever-
age, any Intoxicating liquors whatever,
including ale, wine and beer. The Gen
eral Assembly shall by law prescribe
regulations for the enforcement of the
prohibition herein contained, and shall
hereby provide suitable penalties for the
violation of the provisions thereof"
That drunkenness is the cause of
vast proportion of the crime with which
every community has to deal, and that it
increases taxes enormously, were facts
universally known, and the long crusade
against intemperance and liquor selling
is familiar. The Maine law, the local
option law, various forms of prohibitory
and license laws, have been adopted in
various parts of the country. Reports
OF their efficiency have differed, and the
debate has been constantly renewed,
stimulated by praying bands" and
damage acts. 1t has been very difficult
to estimate accurately the effect of this
various agitation upon public opinion.
But the recent vote in Iowa shows how
profoundly the public mind. in that State
at least, has been stirred, and the result
is unquestionaby the most important
event in the history of the temperance
agitation.
The amendment is an absolute prohi-
bition both of the manufacture and sale
of all sprituous and malt liquors. 1t
forbids not only the sale of glass of
whiskey over the counter, but of box
of claret at a store. 1t closes the lager
beer saloon as we'll as the office of the
wholesale dealer 1t is measure more
complete and radical than the most tee
total prohibitionist probably believed to
be possible, and the majority is reported
to be very large, so that there is no
doubt of the public determination.
The population of Iowa is /. G24, G15, of
which only 161, $50 are of foreign birth.
OF the foreign born, IS, 26S are Germans
and 44,061 are Irish. The number OF
pen of voting age in the State is 416, 15S,
and of these there are 126, 103 who are
foreign born. Iowa is essentially rural
State. Its three largest cities have an
aggregate population of less than 20, 600.
These facts and figures largely explain
the result. The cities, excepting Des
Moines, voted for it. The liquor inter
est is understood to have struggled siren
uously against the measure, but it is the
deliberate opinion of one of the most in.
telligent of American communities that
the traffic in Intoxicating liquors should
be abolished.
1t nov remains for the Legislature to
pass laws to carry the amendment into
effect. and it is here that an effort will
be probably made to modify in some way
the stringency of the prohibition. But
the decided feeling that has been shown
will affect the election of members Ofthe
Legislature, and unless there should be
some reaction from the very complete
ness of the present success, the senti-
ment of the State will be so strongly rep.
resented in the Legislature that the trial
of prohibition will be made. 1t will be
watched with universal interest through
out the country. and the result in Iowa
gives new interest in the election in Ohio,
which will turn largely upon the temper
ance question.
A glance at the figures shows that in
Ohio. of total population of 3, 1913, 062,
only 394, 943 are foreign born, and that
of this number 1872, 591 are Germans,
and IS, OPT are Irish The men of voting
age are S25,51I1 Of whom 191, 1856 are
foreign born. Upon these figures, and
considering the force of the temperance
feeling in Ohio, Republican success
might be confidently anticipated in that
State, if the native Democratic vote,
which is large, were not always to be
reckoned against what is known as a
temperance policy. The result in Iowa
and Kansas, however. and the situation
Ohio, show that the question has now
become one Of political Importance.