The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1882-09-21
IN. Y. Tribune.1
Liquor Rebellion.

otherwise be impracticable, are some
times brought about by feeling of
resentment. 1t is in some measure
an excuse for the excesses of Granger
legislation that they were prompted
by the strong Indignation that high
handed and defiant conduct on the
part of railroad officials had aroused.
A still stronGespilustration may be
found in the oserthrow of slavery. A
large majority of the people of this
country had been opposed to abolition.
But the insolent and domineering con-
duct of pro-slavery politicians, and
their aggressive acts, led to earnest
efforts to resist the spread Of that in
stitution, and when these were resist
ed by rebellion and war the people
were reused to exterminate the system
at any cost. 1t is a question whether
the liquor interest has not been pre-
pairing for itself new illustration of
this principle. The remarkable growth
of the Prohibitory sentiment at the
West is certainly due, in no small
degree, to the aggressive, insolent and
law-defying course of liquor manufac-
turers and liquor dealers. For many
years they have been bullying, politi-
cal parties, threatening the slaughter
of every public man who did not agree
with them, domineering over State
and local Governments, resisting every
reasonable effort to restrain their
traffic within such limits as the public
welfare demands, and defying and
generally multiplying every law for
that purpose. In short. their behavior
has been exactly like that of the
Southern slave-drivers, and, like the
South, they have arrayed themselves
in open hostility to law. In effect
they are in rebellion against the civil
authority, and have thus reused feel
ing which has passed an abolition
amendment in Iowa.
In Missouri, Notwithstanding it's
Democratic majority, the same ten
dency appears. A strong body of
voters demands opportunity to settle
the question by direct vote. Ex-
Governor Brown, a politician who
has more than once anticipated the
drift of public sentiment, has address,
ed letter to the leader of the Prohi-
bitionists in which he strongly urges
the submission of a constitutional
amendment to the people. A strong
element in the Republican party is
demanding a State Convention for
the purpose of urging this measure.
The senseless intolerance Of the liquor
interest has been shown nowhere else
more frequently or Extensively than in
that State, and the Republicans may
not unnatarally conclude that they
have nothing to lose by insisting that
the people shall have an opportunity
to vote on the subject as they please.
In Indiana, also, powerful tendency
in the same direction has appeared.
Meanwhile the conduct of the liquor
interest in Ohio in the political cam
paign now pending, is eminently cal
culated to kindle the same feeling.
For that whole interest is not merely
in active rebellion against very mod
crate laws enacted for. the regulation
of the traffic, but threatening, if it
can, to defeat the Republican party
merely because it is not in favor of
untaxed liquor and abolition of the
Sabbath.
It would be we'll for the liquor man.
ufacturers and liquor dealers to con-
slider calmly to what end they are
drifting. Already their extraordinary
insolence has made hosts of enemies
among those who have no theoretical
or practical regard for temperance.
There is no other kind Of business
under the sun that has so persistently
and indecently dictated to political
parties. and no other lawful business
has so constantly violated and inso-
lently defied the laws. The people
have power, whenever they please, to
declare that business contrary to pub
lie policy, and to make it unlawful.
This a majority in most of the States
have not seen fit to do, all the time
hoping that moderate and reasonable
for the protection of the
public welfare might be devised and
enforced without that restriction OF
individual liberty which Prohibition
would involve. But if the liquor in
terest resists, and resents any and
every regulation for the public good,
defes laws, terrorizes over parties,
browbeats public officials, bribes vo-
ters, seeks to punish with political
death every man who advocates any
measure of restraint whatever, how
long will it be before the wrath of
the people will be aroused to abolish
the traffic entirely? Those who hold
that this would be unwise and unjust,
if they have good sense, will take es-
pecial care to see that resistance to
moderate regulations is not permitted
4o ,oxoro,1