Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-11-02
Thursday, Nov. 2,|f302.

day had an editorial upon The -nquoT
question, which Is the most sensible
treatment of that question, in all its
phases, we have seen, and which should
be widely read.
The time has arrived when the ques
tions growing out of the liquor traffic
demand the best thought of the best
men of the state, and statesman-like
treatment at the hands of the law
makers. In order that they may receive
such treatment at the hands of those
who make our laws, enlightened dis
eussion is in order-in the columns OF
the newspapers, from the pulpits, the
lecture platforms, and in all other ways
which intelligent men have OF pre-
senting their opinions and comparing
views with their neighbors. If this ls
had previous to the meeting of the Gen.
eraI Assembly, the masses having stead
ily in view the enactment of such laws
a AS are practical, and will best control
the evil, it must have favorable effect
upon the Legislature, and result in more
enlightened legislation than we will
otherwise obtain.
:. Various remedies are proposed to les
sen the evils growing out of the traffic,
prominent among which are the submis-
sion to the people of amendments to the
Constitution. The ratification OF any
amendment upon this subject is doubt
full, and we think the Legislature should
we'll consider that feature of it before
submitting any amendment whatever.
We have already had ample experience
with careless and Indifferent voters, and
it does seem that, unless the committees
of the two great political parties in all
the counties of the state, can be per-
suaded TO print an affirmative vote upon
their tickets, leaving those opposed to
the amendment to strike it off, or that
active and indefatigable men could be
procured to stand at every polls in the
state and call the attention Of each in
dividual voter to that feature of his bal
lot, the defeat of an amendment is a
foregone conclusion. Can either, or both,
of these things be done2 Clearly, the
first can not for prohibition clause, and
such clause would meet with such op-
position from many men in all the coIn-
ties of the state, indeed in all the cleo
tion precincts of the state, who do not
use intoxicating liquors, that it would
be doomed to defeat from the start. A
license clause would fare better, but its
ratification, too, is doubtful. Local op
I'll, might prevail, but there are serious
objections to that, likewise, especially if
the no-license clause remains in the
Constitution. An amendment simply
striking ont the words mo license to
traffic in intoxicating liquors shall here
after be granted in this state" would
commend itself to the good sense of
voters, and with proper management
and attention at the polls might prevail
This being accomplished it would not
follow that "A license law, in the sense
In which that term is accepted by liquor
dealers, would necessarily be enacted !;
bat there would be no question about
the power Of the General Assembly to
levy tax upon the traffic, and to frame
such laws as would effectually control
1t, and, II public sentiment demanded it
In measure stamp it out. Now, the
Legislature Is SO hedged in by the fool
ish provision of eur Constitution upon
that subject, which, when they adopted
it, no doubt, the great body of those vot-
ing for it fondly hoped was a long step
toward the extinction of the evils of in
temperance. that it can not even compel
those engaged in the traffic to contribute
anything whatever toward the public
expense, which their, traffic helps so
largely toswelf. and we have, practical
ly, free trade ia liquor. @1r. 5.2.
If this clause can be . stricken
from the Constitution. the Leg
isiature will then be in position to enact
laws controlling the traffic much more
effectually than can be done Bow. If that
question is submitted alone, and it re
ceiyes proper attention at the polls, and
We are convinced such an organization
can be effected as will bring it TO
the attention of every voter, we be-
lieve it viii prevail. We are convinced,
at all events, that there is mneh more
probability Of the people adopting this
proposition than OF, any other amend
ment of. the Constitution proposed. Then,
the General Assembly can enact such
laws from tfme,to time as public sensi-
ment and the wants of the state de-
sma4id. Now, it is, practically. powerless.
's whatever prop sitioh is submitted,
enc thing can be depended upon, name
ly, that lrany impracticable prohibition
lists and raany liquor dealers will be
fourd shoulder to shoulder opposing it.
notwithstanding the fact, on the one
hand that no constitutional provision
has any force until lawss enforcing it are
enacted asd, on the other, that the self
ish and unreasonable opposition of deal
,srs to any lregulation whatever must
tend to drive tie people to more ex-
treme measures, and that many men
who now manifest only passive oppo-
e:tien lc tiie traffic wiIi'be maddencd by
g. ..-r-.s,nroi,la aonrsp nf tho lio,snr
dealers and will join in any crusade that
nav tIseseft itself 10 drive it out of ex-
tstence.s % isf' -+...
Tha middle course is the safe and
pract;cable one for all sincere opponents
OF Incompetence. .-As the Journal well
says, ssen though. we had q prohibition
clause in our Constitution, and salutary
laws enacted for its enforcement, it
would be. practically, dead letter in
Cincinnati and other cities of the state,