Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-10-05
The Latest Blow Aimed at American In
StituiOlS.
Taxation Oftlie Liquor Traffic and
Closing of SaIOOns OH Sunday the
Question UpPe PermOst in the
Minds of the People.
Extracts from the Speech Of Judge Vim.
Lawrence, at Hudson. Ohio,
Sept. 26, 1882.

HUDSON, w., Sept. 26.-Ine RepuOll-
can meeting tonight WAS grand sue
cess, with Il splendid address by Hon
w. NJ. Lawrence, of Washington City.
He said:
There are two classes of political ques
tions which the voters of Ohio are call
ed upon to decide-one national, whict
concerns the entire republic; one local
affecting chiefly our State affairs. On
the second Tuesday of October twenty
one Representatives in Congress are tc
be elected in this State, and these are
to legiSlate upon questions affecting al
the people-questions relating to cur
rency, revenue, public debt, pensions
the Improvement of rivers and harbOfs
polygamy in Utah, and the great sub
jects of civil and political rights.
At the same election candidates fol
State officers are to be chosen, and in
voting for these the people express theil
opinions on State and local questions.
propose to present briefly the issues
as they are, state the position of politi.
cal parties thereon-the Republican, the
Democratic, and the Prohibition party
and to show that the Republican party
deserves the support of the people.
There are two State issues: First
Shall the liquor traffic be taxed? and
second, shall the law of the last session
of the Republican Legislature, prohibit
ing the sale of Intoxicating drinks on
Sunday, be enforced?
The platform of the Republican State
Convention of June Z, declares: That
by specific taxation the traffic" shall
"be made to bear its share of the public
burdens" and that "all laws must
be respected and enforced until repeal
ed"
The Republican patty is squarely in
favor of taxation and the enforcement
of law.
In the Democratic State Convention of
July 2Oth resolution WAS introduced
declaring that the "tralfic in intuXica-
ting liquors = should be. subjected to
such regulation by law, properly ell
forced, as will repress and prevent the
evils" of unrestricted" traffic, and "thaI
it should be made to bear its just share
of the bvrdens of taxes" This was ig,
nored, and the convention resolved
That the Democratic party adheres
to the doctrine of the largest liberty
consistent with public welfare. and is
opposed to legislation merely sumptua-
ry."
The Chairman of the Democratic State
Committee in his letter of September II
to the Chairman of the Republican Com
mittee saws: mo x issue is made by
the platforms of the two parties" as to
regulation and taxation of the traffic in
Intoxicating liquors."
But the issue is made and can not Ee
lodged. The Democratic party is op-
posed to taxation and opposed to the
law prohibiting sales on Sunday. This
is proved by palpable facts.
1. At the last session of the Legisla-
ture the Republicans passed two laws
the pond law" to tax the traffic, and
the Smith Sunday closing law to pro-
hibit sales on Sunday. The Democratic
members of the Legislature, with rare
exceptions, voted against these meas
ureS.
.. The Democratic State Convention
ignored the resolution demanding taxa
ton and regulation, and resolved in fa-
ver of "the largest liberty consistent
with public welfare" This was reSolv-
ed al time when the issue had already
been made by the Republican legislation
and platform. as to the large liberty to
sell untaxed and on Sunday.
8. The issue is made by the Brewers
Association of Cincinnati, and most OF
the 1927 dealers in Intoxicating drinks
in Ohio, who are in open league with the
leaders of the Democratic party, and are
contributing large sums of money to Sc.
cure election of Democratic candidates
The issue is upon us-it will not down
at Democratic bidding, and good men
and true must choose their ground and
maintain it as becomes them. Let us
then inquire: What is the duty of true
men, as to each of the local issues made
/ have stated what the issues are.
1t is important to notice as to each
what it is not.
The Republicans demand that the
traffic be taxed Neither the legislation
of last winter. nor the platform demands
prohibition-neither demands change
of existing laws restraining the evils OF
the traffic, and which has been in force
since lS54-neither denies to any man
the largest liberty to drink what he may
choose whether whisky, wine, ale ol
beer-whether on week day or Sunday
| am stating what the platform is, and
is not-not what it might be, or what in
the judgment of many men it should be
1t is progress and so far can be defend
ed
| A MILD FORM OF TEMP LEGlSLA-
TION.
1t is the mildest form of issue proLOs
ed or being considered in any State OF
the Union. Those who demand more
should be satisfied, because that which
is proposed is right. and as to all be
yond this, time is an element as it is il
every political movement. 1t was so il
securing national independence, thu
overthrow of slavery, universal suffrage
equality of civil rights, and laws to en-
force and secure them all. Those whit
favor the Largest liberty" free whisky
no legislation, and no day of rest, ARA.
themselves in opposition to the judg
ment of the civilized world, and the leg
islation of every State. Their hostile
attitude may furnish occasion to de
mand the overthrow of the privilege
they have, and the imposition of new re
straints they know not of.
And now let us consider these lOca
questions separately.
| TAXATION RIGHT.
Taxation of the traffic is right. Th
pond law" imposed a tax of from $40
to $500 annually on retail dealers. Their
are in the State 1920 dealers, of whom
1896 are retailers.
|
The Constitution of 1851 prohibits Ii
license and consequently any fee or tax TO