Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-07-27
THE FELIX OF TO-DAY.
ARGUMENT ON THE PROPOSED
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Diseourse by REV. e.. A. Adams, ,sun-
dny, ,Lulyl5.


cnce TO Felix whether Ills decision in Paul's
case was just or unjust-whether Paul's
course was beneficial or detrimental TO So
cieiy--iI only the money was given. II
was none y, aud money alone that Felix
was Interested in, and il Paul could have
nut up the money in sufficient sum to sat
isly Felix, he would have been "loosed" to
go out to his accustomed work. The work
in Paul's case happened to I've good one,
and while the magistrate was perfectly
willing 10 sell the privilege, Paul, from
his standpoint, did not seem to be willing
to pay for a privilege which was his natu-
rally He would not offer bribe to u
venal magistrate TO induce him to do Just.
ly. Paul stood all along on the justice OF
Justice of Felix and found lie could not
from Agrippa, he appealed unto Cesar.
lie would not offer bribe, nor suffer am
injustice.
The incident, while illustrative OF the
character of the greedy magiatrate and the
uncompromising apostle OF tho Lord Jesus,
| has wider application to the case now
made up ard presented to the good people
| of this State, involving the release Of the
traffic in intoxicating drink from the con
stitutional disabilities under which il now
labors.
Many good people look with favor upon
the iirst clause of the proposed amendment
to the constitution, which, il adopted, re-
peals and does away with that grand clause
which now constitutionally arraigns the
business and places it outside ot all legiti-
mate occupations, as one that may he reg
uluted by the Legislature out OF existence,
il necessary, but never, under no circuni-
stances, to be licensed or treated Ms if pos
sessing legal standing or having the pro
lection OF law.
In other words, the good but misguided
people are really thinking of loosing the
criminal business, for the sake of getting
something out of it in the way OF tax or
license, with which TO pay in part the
heavy bills the business brings upon the
Taxpayers.
The criminal business is a very costly
one to a community, and is well able TO
put up good deal of money to the people
or magistrate who will "loose" it. The
recent tax han shown the ability, the bust
ness having disgorged of it's gains large
amounts, ranging from $4,000 in Wood
county to S350,000 in Hamilton county
and aggregating in the whole State 81 $780,
600.
And for this the men engaged in the
business have, at present, only received
their tar receipts the law not daring to 60
} 80 for as to call these receipts, licenses OF
releases. They m,y be SO in fact, as they
permit those to sell who pay and none
others. But the constitutional prohibition
of license has made the business criminal
illegal, and our Felixes, who want to gel
. hold of the money, are not yet able t,
"loose" the criminal under the full name
, of license.
And so, in spite of all the money paid
the end is not yet reached in obtaining
full release from all the disabilities which
stand in the way of the traffic in iDtoxi
| eating drink. For there still stands belint
, the tax law constitutional provision
Q which gives power to the Legislature t,
| utterly prohibit The traffic; and the Scott law
e while taxing the business, can not take 1
: out of chancery and give it exemption from
:. the danger of being exterminated by act o
!. Legislature-"to correct the evils GROWN,
q out of the business."
q 1t is we'll known that the criminal ha
/. much money at command-that the u.
i government, while refusing to recognize tn
righteousness of the business, taxes it I,
the tune of some ninety millions of dollar
annually. The government will not "loose
il, though drawing "money" from it i
vast quantities,
No other business in the world coul
stand such tax as is laid npon this i'll,
gitimate one, for no legitimate busine,
makes such large and quick returns frol
small Investments.
A manufacture at Marseilles, H., in pa,
ing out 800 in wages privately marke
all the bills. Within two weeks $342 of
was deposited in the local bank by the q
lnn, taanary When iha rai nrno III
this tax becomes easy. We have sec
how this counts up, under law to In
and with this comparative ease the mont
is paid.
And some OF those engaged in the tiafl
. are glad of 1t because they think the
business is now "loosed" from the Grimm
position it has occupied for so many yea
and has now obtained legal standing al
protection.
But Felix does not really think so. i
wants to get hold Of the money. Eel
thinks il nice thing to have The pub
treasury full. There is more 10 spend a
more for somebody TO make out of Il
spending.
And, as our Felix does not really thil
his law has truly Released anything
any body, he comes 10 the people with
proposition to amend the constitution,
that the Legislature shall no longer ha
The power to prohibit bad business,
may have the power 10 regulate, by a ia
or license, and 80 put money in the pub
purse.
For anybody who will stop to read ca
fully this first proposed amendment cam
fail TO see that the "No License" clause
repealed, md with its repeal the power
conferred on the Legislature TO prohibit
also gone, and the constitutional claracl
l"g ization Of the rafiic as one not to be rec
nized by law other than as criminal, TO
guarded against and regulated, il need
out Of existence. is got rid of, 50 that no
ing will be in The way OF the Legislalr
"s loosIng the criminal Cor the money he
ned 10 put up.
me There are great many good Christ
o,. people who do not see that they are asI
~ 10 vote this legal recognition or "loosir
irei OF the criminal for the sake OF the MOI
lg he will pay under the name OF tax.
her they do not see that the very greed VIII
caused Felix to keep Paul in prison,
Ii ~ send often Tor him, and which is univ
In ,';, sally condemned, is that which is now
mo peaied to, M ii il were now going TO b
W. wise thing TO take money for the reeas,
.e a business which the moral convictions
wv wv the State, quIckened by the Washing
.,,o temperance revival Ol lo4O, chafacteri
,., in our State cOnsl lilutioD as one so bad I
w. w.. il could be regulated out Of eristcnce,
"I' ',ia should never have a legal standing by
'Ph'e cense-a conviction which was reafiirI
'ch c ia 1874, alter twenty-iour years exp'
~ eIce.
i"e 49," Tho two great political parties stand
, " fore the people advertising the taking
" money for the release. 4 his would
~" w. amount 10 much tor people haye GET
,';::' 10 expect much from the traders IN p
lice ~ '', III ,.,',; ~ nJ. ."aa s'v"s m"ny
" ,,', the moment thrown on the track M
~" Sn the idea Of getting some benefit fro
business which hns heretofore proved
70 - unmixed evil and u curse And 1
o,e, friends of humanity are led away by
nav nav sight of The moneys which are rolle
RI eapily into the public trcasuries.
a." ION, yes" they say, "lel MS get wha