The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1884-01-16

tIle franchiBe. In no sense IN THIS u party
question, and the majority of those whI
voted upon IL In 1879 were In favor o.
tho change. II was defeated by Oh,
apathy of voters who did not understand
the proposition, or did not take interes
enough In the subject TO cast their v0tei
upon the specific propositions. Another
submission may be looked TO hopeful,
an likely TO be sustained by effort sufii
Client 10 insure Its approval by the peo
Pile, and relief, although too late for tht
pending Presidential election, will bt
IN time for 1888.
The proposition 10 amend the COnsti
tuition 80 as 20 prohibit the manufacture
and sale OF intoxicating liquors as q
beverage was defeated at the October
election. But the Supreme Court has
held that such prohibition IL attainable
under the Constitution as " Ia, and the
policy OF prohibition by municipal nc.
ti0n under powers delegated by the Gen
eral Assembly has been more than once
In the history OF Ohio judiciously AUS.
talned. The evils resulting from exces.
alye drinking are manifold and felt In
every portion of tho State, Many plans
have been proposed, and the labOrs OF
many good men are given TO the effort
10 eradicate these evils. The agitatiCn
for prohibition will continue, for how
ever misdirected, II Ia an honest strug-
gle against a great evil, for which many
believe prohibition TO be an adequate, II
not the only remedy. But we cannot
shut our eyes 10 the fact that prohibit.
tlnu haa fat lad xph arauar a ftat M fad ih IN 4
prohibition OF the sale means practically
free trade, and that while prohibition
OF the manufacture may be made effec-
tual, this does not affect consumption,
but merely forces the dealer TO sell goods
made out OF the State. In the State of
Maine, the number OF licensed dealers
under Federal laws has increased 40 per
cent. In the last three years, aud tho
elfoct OF unreas0nably restrictive law
has been felt In the Increase OF secret
and uncontrolled drinking.
No reform Ia, In my Judgment, more
than TO lind some common
ground upon which conservative men Of
all parties may stand In opposition alike
10 prohibstion and 10 free trade In liquor
which shall furnish adequate legal re'
straint, not OF temperate but intemper-
ate drinking. and not unduly Interfere
with the right OF individual liberty and
tho duty OF self control. Perhaps no
measure can DO devised that will fully
accomplish this result. That which
colnest nearest 10, am persuaded, the
syatem OF license with graduated taxa.
tion. BY the graduation OF the tax or
l.nanua Ia t..uttaa la dana lhn Iaalas
whose burden Ia thus proportioned TO
tho extent OF legal protection he enjoys,
and has relation also 10 his opportunity
for mischief. BY scrutiny before license
aud before renewal, power may be given
10 drive from the trade men OF known
bad character, and those who have con
Quoted II illegally, aud 10 conlne its
10 law.abidlng citizens who
keop orderly houses OF entertainment.
without an amendment 10 the cOngtl-
tuition the full benefits OF n proper ays-
ten 0f license and taxation cannot DO
had. Such amendments proposed In
1851 and 1874 were defeated by small
A different result might,
perhaps. follow the submission OF this
by the present General As.
sembly 10 the qualified voters vt tho
election In lSi5. 'rhealternatlye amend
ment submitted In 1883 which would
have given power to license, was cast
In such form IN also 10 authorize direct
prohibition. or prohibition by arbitrary
aud excessive taxation, and therefore
loat the favor OF many.
We have 10 deal, however, with the
Constitution ~ II IL, but with the ad.
vantage OF knowing, from the labors OF
the Supreme Court that tho not OF 1889,
known ~ tho Scott law, IL
not IN conflict with the inhibition
against the passage OF lava 10 license
this traffic. Although this act may not,
In the legal or technical sense, establish
n license system, II has some OF its nd.
produces some OF Its effects.
aud In practice largely partakes OF the
nature OF tho license law. While II
ioes not In direct terms protect the deal
ora against interference during the
year, for which no In compelled TO pay a
tax, indirectly insures hts protection In
tho undlaturbed continuance OF his
irailic, by tho contributions II exacts
toward the diminution OF general tax.
alton, and by tho general interest II
thus creates against prohibition or the
OF tho trade, community
10 whose expenses this trnfllc largely
contributes and whose taxes II dimin.
Iehea will not be lnimlcal 10 ite c0ntlnu-
ance upon economic or financial grounds
N least. | do not believe this law ought
10 be repealed, but that the graduation
VI ite taxation and tho withdrawal OF
Tho power OF municipal prohibition,
would convert II Into M juat and EN-
silent u license law 90 IL consistent with
Ibe constitutional Inhibition without nj
all withdrawing tho force OF any OF the
upon which tho majority Of
Tho Supreme Court sustained its constl
Iutlonality.
Nineteen years have elapsed einco the
,loso OF tho civil war dismissed from
arms and relegatod to tho ways and
works OF peace more than q million com
batants. Time has effaced most Of tho
Visible ravages OF war, and nearly, II
not quite, oil the animosIties engender.
od by tho conflict survive, II nc all, ~
mere political agencies, mlschleyous M
far 40 they are active. but constantly
losing force, Even tho vast debt win
DO paid during this generation,
and with Its payment tho burthens OF
Federal taxation may DO 10 diminished
M 10 afford an opportunity for CONNER
cinl freedom, an opportunity such IN tho
country has not enjoyed since tho nd
OF Andrew Jackson.
Tho great monument OF victory, the
assurance that tho blood waa
not spilled, the treasure was not spent
In vain, In Tho restoration Of the Union
upon tho bneis OF the abolition OF slav.
ery and the enfranchlacment OF tho
slave. Color has taken lta place, In law,
and with reference 10 legal righte under
tho American system, by the aide OF In.
horlted wealth, place Of birth, and othor
circumstances OF life, ns hay.
Ing no effect In determining condition.
That IL loft 10 conduct, tho result OF
and white and black arc both
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