Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-01-18
Prohibition.


We are an advocate of Temperance
have ever been, and will continue to
be, we trust, through life. Prohibition
ia not Temperance, but its very oppo.
site. We therefore feel called upon to
oppose the submission Of a constttf-
tionai amendment such as ie asked for
by the Prohibitioniets. We do not
suppose the fact Of our living up to
our own doctrine Of Temperance, is oil
any public moment; yet we are quite
willing to be judged by that standard, il
any think :tof consequence. With this
short preface Tor the benefit of some
friends who may have fallen into the
popular error that Prohibition is Tenn
perance. We proceed.
The advocates of Prohibition in Mis-
souri, do not seem content to have
stringent statutory enactments, by
which every rational restraint and
guard shall be thrown around the
manufacture and sale OF spirits, wine
and beer, but they come to the front
now and besiege the Legislature to
submit to the people for ratification or
rejection, constitutional amendment,
absolutely prohibiting the manufac-
ture or sale Of them within the State
of Missouri.
No such issue was presented during
the canvass. The voters were not
asked to indicate their wishes The
Legislators were not elected in response
to any such demand. They were not
confronted with any such question.
And yet the friends of this ill-starred
proposition push it unceremoniously
and press it upon the attention of the
Legislature at Jefferson City, and ask
that it be forthwith submitted.
These good people-too good to live
in this world with it's sinners-know
well that no question since the days of
the test-oaths and Acknowledgement i'm
Missouri, ever produced titbe of the
excitement, the bitterness, the hates
and feuds i'm every community, every
hamlet aud family, that the submits
sion and discussion of this measure
will produce. And yet they seek to
precipitate the question npon our
peaceful State, and thereby rend our
whole peaceful fabric, aud change our
present harmony into pandemonium
of strife aud contention upon a ques-
ton that has no right to be thrust
recklessiy upon the political stage.
Whenever the ProhibitIonists pre-
sent the issue at the polls, and sue
lators on that issue, then it will be
time enough for their champions thus
elected 10 formulate and submit to the |
people sdch an amendment to the fun
damentai law of our State.
On principle, We are invincibly OPP
posed to the measure. We are in ia.
vor of strict Temperance; in favor CT
stringent laws. well enforced, to guard |
and control, but to prohibit, to utterly |
rob our citizens of all right, all liberty
of action, all manly independence-to
strike down st one blow the millions
of capital now invested, the vast prop
erty and wealth now represented by
the business-to rob the whole people
of their liberty, and part of them of
their property thus, No!
The genius of our people will not
tolerate Maine laws" or kansas
prohibitory" Intolerance, and We warn
the Democrats in the Legislature that
every vote that they give in favor of
the measure-in favor of CONFUSING
the State, CONFUSING and disrupting
the party, by submitting such fire.
brand to torture and plague the people
during the next two years, will be
nails driven into their own political
coffius and the larger coffin of their
party.
We warn the Democratic legislators
now that any coquetting with fanat-
ical legislation. any tampering with
will lose them and the
party the confidence of the masses.
While firm and united resistance to
these preposterous aud invidious en-
upon individual liberty
will insure to 1t the adherence of every
aud right.thinking citi-
zen.
The Moiaeses Crop Of Missouri.