Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-05-17
The Issue in Ohio.

temperance Will be heard on the hills
and in the valleys and in the cities this
year as it was last. In 'S3 sentiment
| was foremost. The Pond Law, passed
by a Republican Legislature, was de-
clared unconstitutional, and was dead I;
but the question was raised whether the
liquor traffic ought to be taxed. The
Democratic party assumed the negative,
with view to catching the vote of the
liquor interest, and Prohibitionists cast
thirteen thousand votes for their own
ticket; and the Democrats carried the
State.
The question comes up again in new
and tbrse-fold shape. The Legislature
at its last session submitted two amend
ments to the Constitution, one for legis-
lative control and one for prohibition,
and in addition passed tbe Scott tax law,
imposing a tax Of 800 per annum on
places where vinous and malt liquors
are sold exclusively, and 5000 on estab-
lishmsnts where distilled liquors or all
kinds of liquors are sold. The latter Law
includes provision repeating the stat
ute which makes it illegal to sell spirits
to be drank on the premises where sold,
and another authorizing municipal au
thOrities to permit OF prohibit the sale
of liquors on Sunday. These two fea-
lures were concessions to the liquor
traffic. Nothing practical, however, was
surrendered. The Sunday law was not
enforced, except in places where public
sentiment sustained it, and where pub
lie sentiment sustains it it can be en-
forced now. To this extent the Scott
Law is local option, and so far as regards
these features, the defeat of the law
would not change matters, except to
make illegal certain practices that the
law legalizes. The amendments do not
constitute political issue. The people
certainly have right to be permitted to
vote on the questions presented, as under
our form of government the majority
rule.
1t is in our opinion vain thing to
bother about the prohibitory amend
ment, as we believe it will be defeated
by an overwhelming majority; but there
are thousands who think differently, and
they have as much right to their opin-
ions as any other class. and an unques-
toned right to undertake to place pro.
hibitory clause in the Constitution. The
amendment providing for legislative
control is also likely to fall between two
trade, on one side. aud prohibition on
the other, supplemented by large class
who, through Indifference, will not vote
at all; and our Constitution is so won
derfully framed that it requires major
ity of all the votes cast to carry an
amendment a vote cast for Governor,
therefore, and not cast for an amend
ment, counts against the latter
The question, then, upon which fight
is to be male in Ohio this year, is whsth-
er the liquor traffic ought to be taxed or
ought to continue free. The Scott Law
taxes the traffic, and the Republican par
ty is responsible for it, and upon that
principle it will succeed or fail in the
approaching contest. If the Supreme
Court sustains it, it will prove valid
law, and will stand, and no Democratic
Legislature will repeal it. 1t is just
measure; it is in the main reasonable;
there is no fanaticism about it; it is a
plain business proposition, and it would |
be monstrOus to suppose majority of
the people of Ohio would condemn a |
party that passed such a measure be-
cause there are those who do not want |
to bear fair share of the tax burthen, |
who offer their suffragss to the party |
that favors continuance of free trade |
in Intoxicating liquors. Yet the leaders
of the Democratic party are getting
ready to bid for that vote by seeking the
defeat of the law; and they do this too
while knowing the law to he right. |
They are not honest in their opposition,
but they are fer anything that will help
them to carry the election.
1t would not be fair to assume that
the liquor trade is unit in opposition
to the Scott Law. This we know not to
be the case. There is no business tha.
needs to be regulated in its own inter-
ests more than the liquor traffic. 1t
needs to be regulated, too, in the inter
est of society. The Scott Law is a meas
urs of regulation. This is the basis
upon which it rests; and to have it go
forth that class opposed to regulation
control the Common wealth would not
be creditable. 1t.wOuld se dangerous.
1t would settle nothing. 1t would not
check agitation. 1t would keep alive a
state Of things that has existed in Ohio
for over thirty years; and in elections
overshadow questions of great impor-
tance to the people.
II is not likely that the Democratic |
party will learn wisdom from expert
ence. This is not its nature. We may
expect 1t, therefore, to oppose in the ap-
preaching election the principles of the
Scott Law; to oppose both the constitu-
tiopal amendments, and to favor indi-
rectly, if not directly, continuance of
free trade and agitation. 1t behooves
the Republican party, therefore, to take
its stand squarely upon the principles of
the Scott Law. That an overwhelming
majority of the people are in favor of
this can not be doubted, and the time is
coming. if it is not here now, when the
Democratic party will be rebuked if it
shall be committed against the principle
OF regulating the liquor traffic through
taxation, which is the only available
method, as it was rebuked in times past
when it sustained slavery and opposed
the war for the Union. 1t is always safe
for party, az it is for individuals, to do
right. tits never safe or wise to oppose
what is right in the hope of gaining
temporary victory.