The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1883-04-18
From a Temperance Standpoint.

Inc people OF OnlO are generally dWare
that next October two propositions for an
amendment to the State Constitution are
to be submitted to the voters. The first
prohibits forever the manufacture and
traffic in intoxicating liquors in the State.
The second gives the Legislature the power
to regulate the traffic in intoxicating liq-
uors.
Representatives of the intelligent tenn
perance element of the State say that they
would favor a law taxing the sale of drinks,
but never one licensing such sale. If the
second amendment provided in plain
words for the framing of a law taxing the
drink traffic, they would vote for it That
amendment, however, leaves it open to the
Legislature to either tax or license. There
fore they will vote, against their best
judgement, and without any hope what
ever of carrying the day, for the Prohibi-
ton Amendment.
In this connection, it may be worth
while to note the recent action of the Mas
sachusetts Legislature on this very point.
Massachusetts is highly Intelligent, if
somewhat cranky State. She has passed
through long series of legislative expert
ments on the temperance question. She
tried about everything under the sun to
forward the interests stsoftemperance by law,
prohibition included, and finally settled
down on moderate license. The Prohi-
bitionists, however, were not satisfied with
this They brought the subject up again
and again in the General Assembly. Last
Tuesday a prohibition resolution was in
troduced into the House. 1t was defeated
by decisive majority, made up of about
| two-thirds Democrats and one-third Re
publicans. Massachusetts,, therefore, stands
by her moderate license law, and empha-
sizes her decision. So that, in one of the
most lightened States In the Union, a liq-
uor license has been found not to be such
very bad thing, after all. The Massa-
chusetts law, it may be remarked, refuses
to grant license for the sale of LIQUORS to
be drank on the premises, when the own
ers of real estate adjoining object in writ
ing. 1t also refuses to grant licenses to
those who have once violated the law, or
who are shown on proper evidence to be
persons unfit to be trusted.
There are not two opinions as to the
frightful evils of drunkenness. But as to
the best way Of suppressing these evils
equally intelligent men differ widely. The
general drift at present in Ohio may be
safely said to be in favor of liquor tax
law, Just what the moderate temperance
people say they are willing to accept
Liquor men themselves are largely in favor
of it
But suppose a moderate license law
might possibly be passed. Does 1t no
look little like hair splitting to max,
such difference in the mere wording o.
thing. License" and "tax" practically
amount to the same thing. But make the
: liquor traffice in a measure bear the ex
penses of the evils II causes.
1t is as if practical, common sense citi
zens should say: Total abstinence is bes
for every healthy human being. But will
I the present uneducated sentiment on thi
subject, total abstinence connot be enforc
+ ed. The whole United States army coult
scarcely enforce it at the point of the bay
7 onet in the State of Ohio. Therefore lie
us accept such laws as can be executed.
? Would not that be reasonables But +
. say that because there is not probability
but a shadowy possibility, that the wor'
'license" will be used when some woul,
prefer the word "tax," both meaning sui
stantially the same thing, they will vot
against the whole scheme and for prohi
: : bition, which they know is impossibl,
does not that look like kicking over tn
pail because it contains half gallon 9
milk instead of a gallon?
In the present instance the words 81
cense" and tax" are more matters of tast
than of any great principle when the en-
to be reached is considered-Cincinn
= Morning Journal.