The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-01-04

herein double responsibility, resting
sh5e uPoa the person who ministers 60.
and the individual who is guilty of'
sncn excess, and society cannot be too
swift IN liking responsibility. nor
700 ANXIOUS IN visiting punishment.
poth OF which license system secures.
As the people have always enforced
enSt system and the heensee is made to
aio IN the punishment of those who
Violate Inc law. In 3 popular govern
ment where the administration of the
laws deYolves primarily upon the
people, through jurIes and the choice of
oIneers vested with civil functions. laws
fepuRnant to the political sense of a
large part OF the community fail to
receive tHat support which is necessary
laws.
Saeh condition of things. long
continuing, degrades the popular
sense IN respect to the binding force of
legal obligations, and generally i'm
PAIRS the efficiency of that function of
the law that Is concerned in impressinp
the moral sense, and preserving the
spirit OF loyalty and obedience among
the people. Indeed, laws that like our
present liquor law. exist in the teeth of
tfaoltlonai habits and customs, con-
part OF the community; that seek to
destroy property in the name of the
puolic good without compensation:
tnat VIII naG allow the farmer to use
the fruits of his own labor without
uenounelng him as a criminal; that
compel the physician to become the
| involuntary betraN er of the secrets of
the sick room; that offers brides for
conviction; that make the obtaining
Of medicine oppressively expen-
afe; tnat create penalties
so oppressive that juries refuse
to convict, and witnesses refuse to tes-
THY that have shut out the stream of
I'm migration that was flowing by the
thousands to our borders and settling mn.
our praities. and giving empIoym ent
to our artisans and business to our
tradesmen, can meyer find secure and
prosperous Judgment among free
institutions. This law estrances
! and drives away from the temperance
cause that large, influential, and respect,
able class of our citizens, who use wine
and beer in moderation, and who, though.
practically temperance men, do not and
never will believe that the Simple use
OF these beverages is crime, or IS so dis
reputable that it should subject them,
or those Eho believe as they do, to the
| condemnation of the law, or to public
criticism. Without the support of this
large class of voters who may be de-
| nominated the conservative balance of
power In our political system, and who
constitute large majority of the
voters OF the state, no system of prohi-
bltlon can be successful, or made a
permanent part of our political SYSTEM
Inns large class of people look with dis.
favor upon any attempt to force the
question of temperance or morality as
disturbing element into the partisan
politics of the day, but believe it should
remain part of our social policy that
should find safe and permanent lodge
ment IN the affections of all parties. The
law lacks the essential elements of adap-
tatlon, is not, and cannot be enforced
even in the smallest degree, without the
employment of despotic, and tyrannicai
power, odious to every lover of freedom.
the employment of which is debasinP
to both people and government, and
lmperils whatever 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 phifanthropic efforts, and
by moral suasion, addressed to the
judgment and the understanding of the
people. Whatever of progress is Iaade
/ IL VI anu 6nQurlHQ
Temperance must be secured by the
same course. There is no reyai road to
learning, neither are there cheap and
easy methods of philanthropy, nor
Ishort cuts to the millennium. All
patent devices such as prohibitory liquor
laws are delusions. If by them the
difficulty is increased of obtaining
liquors in public places, the practice of
drinking in private houses is promoted.
and whatever seductiVeness may attend
the practice of clandestine drinking.
and the use of liquors in private houses,
its influence for evil is strengthened
and magnltied hundred fold. While
there may be difference of opinion as to
the best method to pursue IL the man
aRement of this difficult problem. I
think the great majority of the psople
believe in and viii loyalty sustain a
law providing for local option and a
high license. If this is true. it IS then q
wise policy to trust the people to manage
the matter as they wish. While this is
true of the largest part of the eommu.
nifty, they. at the same time, demand
that the use ofiRtoxIcating liquors shall
be regulated or restrained so as to
mitigate and destroy as far as possible
i all the evil effects Of tho use and traffic.
and this reasonable wish should be re-
spected and Rratifed. These, with
other reasons that might be urged.
i constrain me to invite your attention
to the necessity, or at least the policy
and wisdom of submitting tn the people,
in accordance with the provisions of the
constitution, proposition to repeal the
prohibition clause in the constitution.
and to amend the existing statute. with
a view to rendering it less offensive to
the peop.e, and more effective IN Its
operation. These views and suppes-
lions are submitted in obedience to a
public duty. rendered imperative by
what | believe to be the wish of large
majority of the people who desire to
entbrone true temperance. in lieu of the
present free liquor system.
CONCLUSION,
In conclusion, urge upon you that
you practice thestrictest economy com
patible with the public pood in your