The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-08-16
The Second Amendment.


effort in different sections Of Ohio tC
rally to the support Of the prohibition
amendment to the Constitution. The
move in this direction is not politi-
cal one, but all moral persons irres.
pective Of party ties are identified
with this movement.
We fail to see what objections any
one can urge against a strong effort
being made to carry the prohibition
amendment. All moral men, all re-
ligious men, as we'll as a great many
men who frequent the saloons would
like to see the liquor traffic prohibit
ed. Some Of them may not vote fol
the prohibitory amendment, but down
deep in their hearts they can not fail
to recognize the reproaches OF con-
science for not having done their
duty.
If the politicians Of Ohio think the
people are not in earnest on this tenn
perance question, they are going to be
badly mistaken. Already a great
many Prohibitionists are renouncing
their State ticket and turning their
efforts exclusively to the education Of
the masses up to the point of support
ing the prohibition amendment
Church organizations, Of every name
and order, and temperance societies,
are organizing for the coming battle
It is the first time in the history OF
the present generation where they
have had an opportunity to vote upon
the prohibition Of the liquor traffic,
and it may be the last time they will
ever have such an opportunity.
It can not be charged that this pro-
hibition movement is party question
It is true that Republican Legisla-
ture has given the voters an opportu-
nifty to decide this question at the bal
lot box, but neither the Republican
nor Democratic party is committed to
prohibition. The Republican party
has simply expressed itself as being
in favor Of leaving the whole, ques-
ton to the people, to vote as they
please upon the temperance question.
1t censures no man for voting for
prohibition. 1t has no fight with him
because he does not vote for the sec
ond amendment. It occurs to US,
therefore, that this temperance ques-
ton should not be political question.
1t appeals to the good, common sense
of every voter, no matter to what
party he may belong, and asks him to
exercise his judgment in a conscien-
tious manner and vote as he believes
to be right. 1t appeals to every man
who has a family Of boys coming on,
and propounds the question, ''Can he
afford not to vote in favor of taking
temptation out Of the way Of his off
spring?"
1t has been several years since we
said in these columns that if ever a
constitutional amendment relating to
the temperance question were submit
ted to the people, the Republican par
ty would have to have a majority in
the Ohio Legislature outside of its own
party members from Hamilton and
Cuyahoga counties. That prediction
came true. The present Constitu-
tional Amendments did not have the
support Of the Republican members
of the Legislature from these two
counties with a very few notable
exceptions. We now desire to make
another prediction, and that is, prohi.
bition will never be carried in Ohio
unless it receives clear majority out
side of Hamilton and Cuyahoga coun.
ties will go overwhelmingly against
it. The country districts must cast
the votes to secure the adoption o1
the prohibition amendment or it will
never be adopted. This much can b.
set down as fact, and if the peopl,
think there is not bitter fight ahead
to succeed, they are recounting with
out their hosts.
1t occurs to us that the movemen
to secure the success of the prohibi
ton amendment should not enter in
to politics at all. A Republican car
90 to the ballot box and vote for hi
party ticket and at the same tim,
vote for the prohibition amendment
A Democrat can do the same thing
Nobody is going to interfere. A mai
can cast his ballot for the candidate
of his party and there his politica
obligation ends; but his vote on tn
temperance question is not politica
in it's character. It is moral obi
cation which he owes himself and tn
community. If he believes prohibi
ton right, and that it should prevail
then he ought so vote. If he believe
it is wrong and should not be adopt
ed then he ought to vote against il
No matter what he may think of it
practicability; that has nothing to d
with the moral question involved
Prohibition is practicable. If prohi
bition is adopted the moral elemen
of the State of Ohio will see to
that it is enforced. It may take som
time to secure the passage of law
that will enforce the second amend
ment, but if once adopted we have a
abiding faith in the good sense of tI
people which leads us to confdentl
expect that the will Of the majorit
will be carried out. Nothing bl
revolution can prevent it, and we hay
: no fears of revolution in Obi
When the people speak at the ball
5 box it means something.
t The great question which appea
/ itself to the voters at the coming ele
: ton is, can they afford not to vote f
= prohibition? /? @It is not a polite
{ question but moral question T
liquor traffic does not add to o