The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-09-27
An Open Letter to Cincinnati CONNER.
cial.Gazette.
BY J. Q. LAKIN.

address this open letter to you,
because you are looked on by the peo-
pie in general, as the mouth-piece of
the Republican party in Ohio; and
whatever measures are supported by
you are generally understood to be
the sentiments of the party. If am
correct in this, then | am justified in
believing the Republican party is in
full accord with the rum interest, and
is now fiat on its face licking the dust
at the feet Of the rum power. The
Hamilton County Republican Con-
vention and nominations are speci-
mems Of it.
In your issue Of Sept. 5th you have
an editorial-which is but aspecimen,
and not an exception-headed
Amendment of the Constitution" +"
in which you say: There is another
view to be taken Of the prohibitory
amendment. The constitution does
not enforce itself. Prohibition, if
voted IN, would be dead letter, un-
less enforced by suitable legislation. ="
This is all true; but are you vain
enough to suppose the Legislature
will always be hostile to the measure? !?
Cannot the sovereign people who put
that amendment in the constitution
send men to the General Assembly
who will provide by law for the en-
forcement Of the provision? And if
the prohibitory amendment should be
voted in by good round majority
which doubtless it will-the Republi-
can party will seize the first oppor-
tunity to provide suitable legislation
to enforce the measure; and the
Commercial Gazette will be among
the first to cry out, "HuZzaA for Pro-
hibition,"
III the Legislature, therefore,
should be hostile to prohibition, the
only thing to be accomplished by vot-
ing it into the constitution, would be
the repeal of the Scott Law, and Sc
cure a renewal Of practical free
trade" Is it not as free now as it
was before the Scott Law was passed !?
The only difference is, few spigots
have been closed, and the remainder
have been enlarged. There is as much
liquor sold in Ohio to-day as there
was twelve months sinoe.
But, will the Republican party be
hostile to it? | have said it would
not; but suppose it will be. With a
solemn oath that they will support
the constitution and faithfully dis
charge his duty" will they refuse to
pass laws for Che enforcement Of this
amendmentp Will they dare do such
a thing? Then will the good soyer-
eign people set it on its square end in
the mud, and pass on to higher and
purer principles, or sink it deeper in
its political hell than old Dives ever
was when he and Abraham were talk
ing together.
As God said to Elijah, I have left
seven thousand men who have not
bowed the knee to Baal. Even SO
now, there is left remnant of one
hundred thousand true temperance
men in the Republican party, who
will not bow sIa lick the dust at the
feet OF the Rumocracy, and when, if
the prohibitory amendment should be
voted into the constitution, and the
Republican party, if in power, refuse
to provide proper legislation for the
enforcement of it, will take their hats
and quietly walk out. MARK THAT.
1t will not repeal the Scott Law.
Judge West says about this: The
General Assembly will have the same
power over the unprohibited part as
it now has. 1t can tax it, regulate,
or prohibit it, It will cut off the sa-
loon revenue. ...
But what benefit is the Scott Law
to the State? Much every way. 1t
has closed up many Of the worst sa-
looms, QUERY, Did you evar see a
good one?l it has brought S2,0OO,0O0
into the county treasures, and rellved
the people OF that amount"
This is wide of the facts. tits well
known that the saloonkeeper is not q
producer Of anything but poverty and
wretchedness. Now, where does this
100000 come from? Does he not
get most of it out Of the hard earn
ings of the poor laborers for which
he gives them whisky, which produces
poverty and rsgs2 Fhe saiodnkeepel
, IS hgi i revenue officer, collecting and
paying this amount into the Treasury
Of the counties.
Would it not be much better fol
the county officer 70 collect it direct
from the people, and save the misery
and crime grGE;as Out OF 1t whll,
passing the hands of the saloonkeeper
Nay; do away with the abominatlon
and the government will not neet
this money at all, and the peopl'
would be saved all this crime, poverty
wretchedness and death. This sys
tenn of abomination you are fostering
and encouraging. But let US chang
the thing and see how it will look
Let us change the word prohibition
for that of regulation, and see how
will look. "The constitution will no
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