National Republican., 1883-06-05
Tho Liquor auertlon in ohio.

In Ohio the rumsellers and the prohibi.
tionists are banded together against any
taxation on the sale Of liquor. 1t is probably
the only civilized place whero the traffic is
not taxed The republican legislature enacted
law known as the Scott law, which puts a
tax of 5000 year on the sale Of spirits and
Sl0o year on the sale of malt liquors. The
constitutonality of this law has been
questioned, and the case is pending in the
supreme court Of the state. If it Is
sustained the rumsellcrs and the pro-
hibitionists want 1t repealed, the for
mer because they do not want to pay any
thing for the privilege of making drunkards,
and thereby promoting pauporism and crime,
and the latter because they thi nix IL wicked
to take money for the privilege of doing
what they consider wrong. The rumseler3
seem to us to be playing with fire when they
resist the just demand on them for tax. IT.
arrogant with power they undertake thus
to establish themselves as a privileged class
they are in danger of raising storm against
themselves which no power can
resist. The prohibitionists think they
cannot waive any of their hostility
to the liquor traffic, even to tho extent of
making IL pay taxes while 1t is under bonn
bardment from their guns. We arc unable
to see any surrender of principle in the sup
port by prohibitiouists Of the Scott law, as it
ig olIa hxy bn
fnality. Fines imposed for public offenses
nre put in the public treasury to swell the
public revenue Who ever thought that the
public use of money so derived was a con-
donemont of the offonses? True, in tho one
case the fine is for an act forbidden but no.
prevented, while in tho other the tax is for
an act not forbidden or prevented. But SO
far as tho prohibitonists are concerned, if
they relax no effort TO suppress tho liquor
traffic, tho tax imposed upon it during the
time they are unable to suppress it is no con-
donement by thom. In addition to the issue
Of taxing the liquor traffic, on which the re.
publican party stands committed, two con-
stitutional amendments are to be voted on In
Ohio. Ono is for the absolute prohibition Of
the manufacture and sale of liquors in the
state; the other is to empower tho legisla-
turo to make such laws on the subject from time
to time as may be deemed for the public well
faro. At present the constitution limits the
power of the legislature in the interest of the
traffic. Upon the two constitutional amend.
ments it is likely the repu blcans will agree
to differ, each member Of the party voting ac-
cording to his own convic tions. Probably tho
more thoughtful of tho liquor dealers will
vote with the republicans to sustain the liquor
tax in the hope Of averting moro radical
measures This will not prejudice the repub-
lican cause among sensible people, in view of
the fact that while republicans and portion
of the liquor dealers are thus voting for high
tax calculated to diminish the number of
places where liquor is sold, the ultra prohi-
bitionists arc in coalition with the other
liquor dealers in favor of free trade in rum
and free rum in trade.
The result seems likely to be the triumph
of the republican party, tho Endorsement of
the Scott law, and the adoption of the amend.
ment which gives the legislature full power
over tho liquor question. The people can be
trusted to choose representatives who will
make such laws from time to time as may be
best adapted to the regulation and restriction
of the liquor traffic. A straight jacket
in the form of an amendment abso.
lutely prohibiting the trade would
not be required if there is o strong public
sentiment in favor Of temperance. Such q
sentiment would be the best regulator of the
legislature. If no such public sentiment
exists, then either the adoption of the amend,
ment would bo impossible or else it would bC
adopted under some temporary artificial
pressure, which being withdrawn woulG
cause reaction, under which the cause o
temperance would be lik ely to suffer Ions
postponement That the policy of modera
tion is the wise one was amply demonstrated
, last fall. Prohibitionists cannot rebuke rum
selling by putting the free rum democracy in
power.