Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-03-14
THE PROHIBITIONISTS.

ADO W 1nE
Resolatlohs Adopeeca-COmm % Qrsas-
ize for CanDaign Purposes.
The temperancs convention reasssnbled
At 2 0'ciook yessasaay afternoon.
After devotional exercises, James Blaok,
esq, chairman, reported the following
series of resolutions which were read seri-
atm and adopted:
Resolred, That the system of licensing
the manufacture Of Intoxicating liquors
and their sale for drinking purposes at
public places in Pennsylvania during the
200 years of its existence, has proved q
failure to protect it's citizens in the full
and free enjoyment Of the fruits of their
labor, property and common rights by
creating body of men with special and
exclusive trade privileges, whose business
and interest it is to make aud sell such
drinks, thereby creating and fostering
drinking habits-the chief cause of dunk
enness, public disturbance, crime, pauper.
ism and dependency requiring more than
half of our taxation for reform and main
tainauce of its victims, besiFc making
large demands for private charity.
This system makes worthless citiZoEs.
destroy homes and separates famiiies-les-
sens industry and thrift-is chief cause
Of bankruptcy and losses in trade by bad
debus, corrupts the ballot and legislation,
retards and nullifies education and per-
verts moral training and influences, de-
feats justice, multiplies gaming houses and
brOthels, obstructs and subverts the Oh.
jects for which governments are insti
tute6
Second. This license system neither
c6nfers nor confirms any natural right,
but is solely privilege granted for
special reasons, and for specific
time. Its abrOgation would destroy
no right, nor in proper sense cOntr0vene
personal liberty, nor be- unjust to any one
now enjoying its special benefits. The
public welfare is 4 supreme law.
Third. During the history of tho tenn
perance reform, in Pennsylvania, the
efforts of the people to remove this system
and obtain relief from its OWLS, have been
defeated and laws passed and approved by
popular vote been repealed through the
Vaccinations of the liquor traders without
the sanction of q second vote notably
was this done in the overthrow of the laws
of 1916, 1855 and 1928. beside Il great
number of enactments for localities
Therefore, We share in the general desire
OF the people of. Pennsylvania shown by
100, 900 petitioners to the last Legislature
for the submission OF an amendment of
the state constitution, prohibiting the
manufacture and sale of Intoxicating
liquors for drink purposes, but providing
also for its manufacture and sale for all
other uses. This amendment, if approved
by the majority of the voters. as the con-
stitutiOn now provides will become a part
of it and be permanent, until experience
under it shall demand revision.
Fourth. The submission of such amend
ment is not, and is desired not, to become
4 party question, but is to be presented
aud adopted, Or rejected by the voters of
the state as the constitution now provides.
The people under our theory OF govern
ment are the supreme aIbiters, and the
makers of the constitution. Candidates
for election to the Legislature, whether
Republican or Democratic nominees who
will not pledge consent to vote for such
submission, dstrust the people aud Should
he regarded rs disqualified for such. Office.
That SO far as our votes and influence may
extend the members of this convention
declare it to be their purpose to use such
vote and influence only for such candi-
dates for the coming Legislature, who,
from life and record, shall give pledge OF
ChSH puA APooS w oupPoAo SAAO SuOhi0SOh VI
such amendment to tho people.
Fifth. That we request tho county con-
ventions Of the political parties, in Lam
caster county, which may assemble for
the nomination of candidates for the
Senate and House OF Representatives,, to
be elected in November, 1882; to instruct
such candidates to favor such submission.
Sixth. That We urge our fellow citi-
Zens of Lancaster county, without distinc.
tion of party, to regard this question Of
constitutional amendment prohibiting
the liquor traffic for beverage purposes as
one OF first Importance for the common
welfare and to determine and make
known to others the determination not to
vote for any candidate who will not pub
Ideally declare his purpose, if elected, to
vote for the submission Of such amend
ment Of the constitution. Let it be vote
for I. vote.
Seventh. That county committee, con-
sisting of one member from each ward of
the city of Lancaster, and from each ward
and borough and the several townships
OF the county, to be appointed by the
president and convention, to- whom shall
be committed tho duty of laying the re.
solves and request before tho party con-
ventions which may assemble for making
nominations, and before candidates for
the coming Legislature, and secure If
possible their consent thereto to organize
| and choose their own officers and sub
| committees and fill vacancies to organize
the friends Of constitutional amendment
in each district, to employ and commission
speakers and agents to ask and re-
| ceivc money for the purposes herein
| named-to prepare and circulate petitions,
| to call county and district meetings for the
better information of tho people on this
| question, with power to do such other
things as in their Judgment may be advis-
| able for the promotion of the objects OF
| the appointment.
Res0lred, That the county committee
shall have power to appoint financial
agents to ask that contributions to q
guarantee fund shall be solicited, payable
| in five equal annual instalments.
AS the resolutions were presented Mr..
Black explained to the convention the
! scope and purpose OF each, and the neces.
| sity Of their adoption. After their adop
ton he proposed to go to work at once and
raise funds to pay expenses for a vigorous
prosecution of the work laid out. He
showed that the deserved amendment to
| the constitution could not be effected in
less than five years-perhaps it would take
longer, as two successive Legislatures must
| approve it before it can come up for final
adoption or rejection by the peo-
| pie. He said that he had no
doubt the people were on the side OF
temperance, but the liquor interest vas a
| powerful and wealthy one, and would use
vast sums of money to prevent the adop-
| tiOn Of any constitutional amendmeut that