The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-08-03
TEMPERANCE ROT A POLITICAL ISSUE.

To tie Editor Of Tie Eagle:
Doubtless there is no other tribunal to
which we may refer dispute and expect As
unbiased decision as to the one which is
untrameed by party spirit. BY wise pro-
vision of the constitution. our National
judiciary was freed from all dependence
excepting 10 very limited sense) upon any
political party.
Being IN dependent Of political factions it
is evident that they can more ably and fear
lessly discharge their duties. Hence the
judicial branch o! our government is less
susceptible of corruption than either of the
other branches. We refer to it claims which
one state holds against another, the Claims
of the citizens Of one state against those oil
another, the claims OF the citizens of Il state
against other states, in short all National
questions of law, and we are satisfied with
the result. Why? simply because we rec
! ogniZe in it our wisest iurists who are prac-
tically independent Of political control.
| Such tranquility is necessary TO the prosper
| ity of a Nation. Who can fail to admire the
harmony and tranquility which prevailed
tribunal of thirty Judges. Every citizen,
| obedient to the law received It's protection,
| and was a power within himself for bring
| ing criminals TO justice. And, although the
| Egyptians were cursed by the superstitions
| of antiquity yet, they have Transmitted to us,
through the stream Of ages, gems Tor mod
ern thought. BY thinking of them we may
| be aroused to a sense Of our own duties.
We have in our own state. to-day great
| issue which should command our attention.
| Not a political issue or should not be. but
an issue between every law-abiding citizen
and an organized band of out-iaws-the sa-
| loon keepers. Is this temperance move right
or is it wrong? If right the law should be
enforced. If wrong it should be enforced
| anyhow. until the constitution is again
amended. If the saloon is blessing to
society then the move is wrong, otherwise
| 1t is right. Then comes the question Is
the saloon blessing: Every impartial, con-
siderate man who is uninluenced by his
| appetite answers, no.
Now we have within our state class Of
individuals who, politically speaking, are
entirely unbiased with referance to prohi-
| bition. These are educators Of the state
! They say that the saloon is an enemy TO pro.
gress and their motto il, ''The school house
| to the front the saloon to the rear" that
| We may do our work more e1ectually. Turn
| to the educational institutions of the state
and ask OF our leading men their opinion Of
| the influence of saloons, and 10, the answer
comes back: "a curse to the youths of oul
country" why? Because example is
stronger than precept, and when the habit
ofdrinking is once formed, it too often makes
| its victim an unconditional slave.
Liquor does not benefit the drinker, be-
sizes, it damages him physically, mentally
and financially, and if we include these three
conditions, how shall we omit morally?
The wisest men OF our country have spent
their lives in the study OF mental. moral and
physical science, and their unbiased concl,I-
sions have been that strong drink debases
mankind. The citizens OF Kansas have come
to this conclusion too, and have supported
the temperance move by majority which in
a Republic should rule. Yet Il lawless minor
ity boldly defies the law and sells liquor in
defiance of authority. Why is this! Because
the citizens have ceased TO demand justice
at the hands of their tribunals. Because the
authorities have not performed the duties
which they were elected to perform. Again
say, the temperance question should not
be political issue. but an Issue between
morality and common sense, and crime and
ignorance.
BY a powerful effort on the part of the
temperance people of Kansas, the amend
ment was secured. and by the same relentless
effort alone, can it be enforced.
GEO r. ELEART.