The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-09-08

I q
Of the people favored the amendment and
asked their representatives to bring the
squestlon to the test of a popular vote It
twas also clear from the beginning that very
many republicans were opposed to prohibit
ton. Among those thus opposed were and
are to-day men of influence and character,
who claim to be the friends of temperance
ire N no way connected with the liquor
tatlc, and who have no personal ends or
ambitions to promote. There were and are
prClbltionists in the Democratic party
enough of them to make the Shelbyville
platform an impossibility at the State Con-
pention. Enough of them in the State Con-
pention to make it necessary for Mr.. Hen
bricks to say Il move the previous question :"
md so cut off debate. The Republican party
ms wisely declined to make prohibition or
sIlti-prohibition party test We have said,
let the strength of this issue which divides
both parties be fairly tested at a popular
election. Who will deny to a majority of
the legal electors of this State the right to
set their will in the constitution, however
much it may contravene his views. or how
ever unfavorably it may affect his personal
interests?
That much-abused word @sumptuary" is
made to do duty as scarecrow, and is all
the more efficient that many of those who
use and hear it do not know what it means.
The argument of those who would put the
traffic in liquors upon the same basis as that
Of aour, is answered by years of restrictive
legiilation of the liquor traffic in all the
States and by judicial decisions without
number. That the traffic has such relations
to chime, pauperisIn and taxes as to make it
a legitimate subject for the exercise of the
police power Of the State is allowed even by
those who favor license system. The de-
gree and the manner of the restraint that
shallbe imposed open the only ground of
debate, and the majority of the people must
umpire that discussion.
1toUoR ASSOCIATIONS
IrLny opinion more has been done for pro-
hihiGon in the last few months by the ill
tempered and ill-iud9ed action of some of
the associations of liquor men than by the
direct advocates of prohibition The sug-
gestion that money i'll large sums, levied
from the makers and sellers of liquors. is to
be used in our elections, and that all per-
sons connected with that traffic are to be
united in one political party is not likely
to cool the "fanaticism" of temperance re-
formers If the Liquor dealers Convention
at Terre Haute succeeds iii taking all its
members into the Democratic party, may it
still not be possible, that they have not
strengthened those business interests for
which they propose to desert their former
political associates? May it not be that they
would have occupied stronger ground if they
had recognized the American principle of
the right of the majority to rule, and had
not broken friendship with those who,
though not liquor-dealers, are not prohibit
tionists? When the amendments are sub
mitted would have been good time to have
made the fight against prohibition
There are obvious reasons / think, why
MI fair-minded people would prefer that
this question should go directly to the people
IaSher than to Legislature. oa
LIQUoR-DEALERs. AGAIN. III.
There are indications that some light is
breaking in; that the disposition to defy
public sentiment and public law is not so
A2saaiation at it's meeting at Chicago re-
Gently, among othor things, resolved. 1@That
we are opposed to arraying ourselves as a
body against either of the great political
parties, but leave each member full liberty
to cast his ballot according to his best judg-
m9nt and in conformity with the dictates of
his conscience
The meeting of the Indiana Liquor Dealers
Association at Terre Haute on Aug. IA, how
ever, marched to the whistle of Mr.. English.
They resolved
That at the election III November next we
shall support the Democratic party.
THAT we invite all liberty-loving people of
the State of Indiana to join us in our efforts
to defeat the enemy of liberty"
From the conjunction of these resolutions
/ suppose "the enemy of liberty" here re-
fer1ed to must be the Republican party
What a prosecutor, and what a charge!
liquor-dealers' association arraigning the
Republican party as the enemy of liberty
Eight million hands unfettered by this sen
envy of liberty" over the protest and over
the armed resistance of Democrats, are
lifted in amazement. Such accusations will
have no power over the minds of those whose
-
by them. Those adopted citizens of our
country who have voted and fought with us
from Kansas to Appomattox will not be per-
suaded that the Republican party has be-
come the enemy of liberty" because it in
sists that the people of Indiana have right
to amend the constitution if a majority so
desire, and that popular vote is the only
fair way to settle that question. The "en-
enly of liberty" never consents to submit his
appeal to a popular vote and to abide the
result. You may tell him by that infallible
sign.
The charge that the Republican State plat
form declares in favor OF prohibition is un-
true, whoever makes it.
In demanding that the amendments shall
be agreed to" and submitted by the next
Legislature to a vote of the people, we have
only demanded that which is constitutional
prerequisite to a popular vote upon them,
and in the language of the constitution. 1t
is expressly declared that the issue is not a
party one, and is not to be made one. The
night of private Judgment upon the question
is left wholly unimpaired. The most violent
ti-prohibitionist and anti-suffragist in the
State can stand upon that platform, pro-
Wded, only, he is willing to have popular
vote on the questions, and to let the majority
rule.
REDUCTION OF TAXATION.
Both political parties in this State have
given to the people platform declarations in
favor of a reduction of taxation and of pub
dc economy. Let us see which party has be-
hind its platform record Of endeavor in
those directions.
The Republican party, up to the time it lost
control of the House of Representatives, the
body in which all revenue laws must origin
ate, had abolished all internal-revenue taxes,
except list of less than dozen articles.
In December, 1873, the Democratic party
obtained control of the House of Represent
atives This control was retained until the
meeting of the present Congress, in Decem-
Der, 1881, when the Republicans came into
power. For six yearS-lncIudlng the whole
of the Forty-fourth, Forty fifth and Forty
sixth Congresses-the power to originate
bills to reduce taxation was IN Democratic
hands. In March, 1879, at the beginning OF
the Forty sixth Congress, the Democrats OBJ
tanned a majority in the Senate, so tnaG Tor
two years prior to December, 1881, that party
had a majority in both houses.
If it be true, as we are told In the Demo-
cratic platform, that an onerous and unjust
system of taxation has been drawing into
the treasury large sums that should have
been left in the pockets of the people, the
Democratic party has been responsible for
that condition of affairs for the last six years.
The entire revenue system has been IN Dem
ocratic control, and by this resolution they
confess that they have perpetrated an unjust
and unnecessary system of taxation. They
have turned over to the Republican party
the work of tax reform not only unfinished,
but untouched.
The Democratic platform charges that the
Republican party is responsible for delaying
tax-reform. Mr.. Voorhees, says it is false
pretense" that he is weary OF. And yet the
platform indorses Mr. Voorhees,, and l be
heve that Mr.. Voorhees,, moved, no doubt, by
the touching reference to his friendship fol
the soldier, has Endorsed the platform.
1t is undoubtedly true that the public rev
enues are excessive. The surplus last year
which was applied to the reduction of the
public debt was almost $15O, 0O0,o0O. Thi
great excess of revenue tends to extravagan
and even wasteful appropriations a smalle
income will not only suggest but enforce
economy.
THE TARIFF COMMISSION.
Promptly on regaining control of Congress
the Republicans set about the work of re
vision of the tariff 1t was believed that TIL,
work could be more safely and intelligent,
done by constituting commission of ex
perts to consider the subject, hear evidence