Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1883-01-11

VIooIIUW DTUNUkU
perpetual CONFLICT and strife. Such a condt-l
ton of things can have no other effect than.
to weaken those feelings of respect and VEN
the chief guaranty of free institutions, and
the reflex influences upon the people VIII be
OF the most peTniciOus character.
The people of Kansas are a temperance
people, and will favor and Loyalty support
and enforce anv proper law that will advance
the cause of temperance and morality, but
they are opposed to shams or systems OF law
that annoy them, and defeat their own exc
cut1on by their own intenperate provisions
and penalties. During the last year of local
option and license. the United States revenues
Office of Kansas issued eleven hundred and
thirty two Il l32) permits to sell Intoxicating
liquors, or one permit to S19 persons, placing,
Kansas as the first temperance State in the
Union; whlle IN the !1rSt year or proholt1on
there were issued, 1,1SS permits, an increase
of Sos, and also an increase of nifty eight per
cent. or one permit to Dol persons, and taking
Kansas from the first and ranking her the
seventh temperate State, while in the first
fOrty-five days of the second year of prohi-
bitiOn l. lis permits were is sued. sixteen more,
than in the whole year of local option and
license. If we consider these facts IN cOnnec-
ton with the clandestine sales ofintOxicatiGg
liquors, and consider the vast amount that Is
daily delivered to individuals in concealed
forced to the conclusion that the cause of
true temperance reform f4lS not progressed
tenn. These facts forcibty remind us that We
are living under a Republican form of Cow
eminent, OF and by the people, and they ma Ike
the laws as well as enforce them, and no
community will enforce law upon itself dis
tasteful to it.
The people as a whole make the laws but
each separate locality and community, for
themselves, enforce them, if tbeV are nut in
operation at all. Hence due application of
these simple principles show the necessity of
wise and considerable action in the passage of
laws, with the inquiry whether they can be
1t is undoubtedly true that the liquor traffic
has a tendency to stimulate discords in the
community; to cause drunkenness: to in,
crease pauperism and crime; to bring dis
tresS to many families, and cause individual
degrad alton. But the remedy for these evils,
Is not IN aDortlVe attempts at prohibition that
have always failed, buCin wise and judicious
license system that has worked well heretofore
IN this State, and has been demonstrated in
other States to be the only practicable solu-
ton for these evils. There is herein u double
resting alike upon the person
who ministers to- and the individual who ia
guilty OF, such excess, and society can not be
too swift in liking responsibility, nor too
anxious in visiting punishment, both of which
Il license system secures, as the people have
always enforced that system, and the license
is made to aid in the punishment of those
who violate the law In a popular govern
ment where the min .strdt:Gn OF the laws
dnyoIVes primarily upon the pc ple, through
the choice otoficersveSted with civil
laws repugnant to the political
sense OF large part of the community fail to
receive tnat support which IL necessary to
impart to them the efficacy of laws.
Such Il condition of things, long continuing,
degra1es the popular sense in respect to the
binding force of legal obligations, and zen,
orally inpairS the cfficienc5 of that function
OF the law that is concerned in impressing the
atty and obedience among the people. In
deed, laws that like our present liquor law
exist IN the teeth OF traditional habits and
customs, contravene the conviction of the
larger part OF the community; that seek to
destroy property in the name OF the public.
good without compensation; that will not,
allow the farmer to use the fruits Of his own
labor without denOuncing him as a criminal;
that compels the physician to become the in
betraYer of the secrets of the sick
room; that offers brides for conviction: that
makes the obtaining of medicine oppressivelV
that 90
sive that juTies refuse to convict.
and witnesses refuse to testify; this
that lowing S'oI by the the
thousands to our borders and settling up our
prarics and giving employment to our ar
tiSans and business to our Uradesmen are a
few of the reasons why the present liquor law
can never find secure and prosperous lodge
ment among Tree institutions. 1t eStrangeS
and drives away from the temperance cause
that large, influential, and respectable GLASS
OF our citizens who use wine and beer in
who yet are practically temper
ance men, do not and never will believe that
the simple use of the beverage is a crime OF.
Is so djSrenutabIe that IL shO1Id sIbiact 49, ~
Dr. those who believe as they do to the con
1emnatiOn of the law or to public criticism.
Without the support of this large class of
voters, who may be denOminated the cOnserV-
alive balance OF power in our political sys-
the voters of the State, no system of
prohihjaon can be successful or made
permanent i part OF our political sys-
with diSfaVOr upon any atteIn pt to force the
question of Temperance or morality as n dis
JurD1ng element into the partisan politics of
the day, but believe it should remain a part
Of our social policy that should find n safe.
and permanent Judgement in the affections of
all persons. The law lacks the essential els
ments of adaptation is not, and can not be en-
forced even in the Smallest degree without
the employment of despOtic and tyIranicaI
power odio s to every lover of freedom the
employment of which is debasing to both
ever is vital and valuable IN the principle of
liberty. Whatever of advancement there has
been in the cause of temperance has been
gained by voluntary philanthropic efforts,
and by moral SuaSiOn, addressed to the
and understanding of the people
w hateVer o. progress IS made in the principle
Of true and enduring temperance must be- Sc
cured by the same course. There is no royal
Dad to learning, neither are there cheaI) and
Easy methods of philanthropy, nor short cuts
20 the millennium. All patent devices such
Is prohibitory liquor laws are deiusiOns If
~ them the difficulty is increased of obtain
al ming liquors in public places, the practice
II drinking in private houses is promoted,
md whatever Seductiveness may attend
he practice of clandenstine drinking
Ind the use of liquors in private houses its
led hundred fold. While there may be diff
erence of opinion as to the best method to
pursue in tue management of this difficult
problem, J. think the great majority of the
people believe in aud will Loyalty sustain q
aw providing for local option and a high II.
.ense. II this Is truc, 1t is then wise policy
o trust the people TO manage the matter as
hey wish. While this is true of the largest
,art OF the community tney at the same
ime, demand that the use OF intoxicafino,
liquors shall be regulated or restrained so as
o mitigate and destroy as far as Dossit;n All
he evil effects of the use and traffic, and
his reasonable wish should be re-
pected and gTatifed. These with
'ther reasons that might be urged, constrain
ne to invite your attention to the necessity
II at least the policy and wisdom of submit
ing to the people, in accordance with the
provisions OF the Constitution, a proposition
o repeal the prohibition clause in the Con
and to amend the existing statute
With view to rendering it less offensive to
he people, andmore effective in its operation