The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-08-09

|
to secure 1t, We have no objection to a tax
that shall be blrdensome to the liquor in
terest, and to laws that shall regulate and
restrain the traffic, until we are strong
enough to make and enforce more stringent
laws, rather than allow il unlimited free
dom as at present When we cannot eradi-
cate an evil, it would seem to be the part
of wisdom to mitigate it. A physician
who cannot effect an immediate and radi-
cal cure is held TO be justified in trying to
diminish its severity or in temporizing
until such time as he may he able TO con-
troll it.
| Now, we claim and believe it to be true
that three-fourths of the Republican party,
or its Representatives, are in favor of pro-
hibition, and would vote for it tomorrow,
but not having the necessary majority to
do that, think it better to tax the liquor
traffic and so make it bear portion of the
burdens it will necessarily infiict on So
ciety as long as it continues. If the Pond
Bill had been constitutional it would have
closed about one-half the saloons in the
State, of which there are 5000, reducing
| the open doors to temptation by that num-
Der, and the remaining 1900 would have
been compelled to pay SIS, 100000 into the
treasury and by so much reduce the bur
den of taxation the traffic infiicts upon the
State; but by refinement of logic and
morals past the comprehension of ordinary
mortals, our Prohibition friends insist
that to compel the liquor dealers by law
to return portion of their ill-gotten gains
from business which we have not now
the votes TO abolish, would make us part
ners in their crime, or, in their own lang
uage, would be to protect, foster and
greatly multiply those crimes and vices
ment the betrayer of its trust and the
enemy and destroyer of its people"
This State has not the votes TO enact a
prohibitory law, and will not likely have
for five or ten years to come. In the mean
time we must not tax the liquor interest
and so diminish the burdens it is inficting
upon US. We have not the power in Con-
gress to enact national prohibition, and are
not likely to have for twenty-five years,
and in the meantime we must let this traf-
fic 60 untaxed when it could be made to
pay the balance of our national debt by
that time and put no undeserved hardship
upon the men who drink or sell. The
Prohibitionists call the traffic robbery, but
when the robber has taken your purse you
will not pursue and attempt to recover it
from him because, forsooth, you are un-
able to recover more than 25 per cent of
the amount takenl This is a sort of a
legalized robbery tolerated by society; be-
cause we are unable to abolish it alto
gether we must take no legal means TO
compel any portion of the booty to be re-
turned. Verify this is refinement of
morals fit only for heaven, too attenuated
for this sinful world, as foolish as it is i'm
practicable. Not more unreasonable was
the doctrine of those fanatics of former
years who, claiming that the Constitution
of the United States was pro-slavery in
character, "a league with HE'LL" to use
their own language, refused to vote or
have anything to do with the management
or conduct of the government, but spent
their energies and discharged their duty
by denouncing every one who disagreed
with them.
The temperance element seems to be
strong enough now 10 tax and restrain the
traffic; but the Prohibitionists say mo,
we will have prohibition or nothing" and
because we cannot command the votes to
abolish and hence desire to restrain, we
are charged with pursuing "course of
double dealing more detestable and OBJ
structive to the prohibition movement
than an open espousal of the liquor cause"
AS the Constitution now is we have no
power to tax or prohibit or 10 pass any
efficient measure for the suppression of in
temperance, the 14th Congressional Prohi-
bition Convention TO the contrary not
withstanding.
The Republican party is committed to
such change in the Constitution as shall
give the law-making power control over
the whole subject 1t is not committed
to any specific legislation, but the best
that temperance men, through their Repre-
sentatives, can enact But while con-
demning the party for failure 10 legislate,
these apostles of reform object to confer
ring the power on the body from whom we
must get prohibition if we ever have it.
First let us have the unquestioned right to
legislate and then work for the necessary
majority to secure it and hold the indiyi-
dual members of the Legislature respon-
sible, and in this way we shall have pro-
hibition just as soon as majority of the
people demand it. The Republican party
is committed to temperance reform, and
we confidently expect to march under its
banner to victory. We only regret that
this day is being deferred by the efforts of
few injudicious, impracticable, irrecon-
cilable obstructionists who, having no de-
finite or feasible plan of their own, are un-
willing to cooperate with others, or even
to give them credit for honesty and sin
certify in their professions. Their course
may be such as to win confidence and in
fuence and power, but it is contrary to all
human experience thus far. But we ex-
pect to carry on this reform to success
full issue without them and in spite of
them, and shall likely hear them exclaim-
ing at the last, Behold what a glorious
victory we have wonI"
LOrain County Republican Convention.