The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-01-24

|
GENTLEMEN OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF
| REPRESENTATIVES,: In accordance with law,
bn here to a6s the S,ts. cath and nf tSn enter
| Governor.
The elections held in October, 1852 and 1853,
| to-day, reverse the character of political con-
| troll in all departments of the State govern
ment me- The party now co. coming nlg into % power we does does
| of mere emolument. In such cases power in
wolves trust. Upon it is cast the responsibility
ton, if its work fail to be in comparison with
| its predecessor. These are not times in which
political mistakes are readily condoned. Large
independently of party ties, constituting. a
tribunal sitting in perpetual and severe 1udg-
manage@ent mana ge tue A Of VI STATE affairs .a es,
pecially by the executive and, and Ilegisia.
tive departments be wise, the reward will
dence. But confidence is of slow growth, and
soon lost in the presence of unwise selections
legislation. There is but one sure method
whereby to secure party success, viz: Abso-
lutte devotion to the interests of the State,
general good. Whenever, tx for r supposed poiiti.
| cal advantage. the welfare of the State is SUBJ
ordinated to that of party. the penalty is ut
of popular confidence and in disaster at the
polls; To select men of doubtful capacity for
from from the control of the people the GO orSaniza,
ton and government of municipalities, to for
get that the benevolent institutions are sacred
charities for the benefit of the unfortunate,
and not centers of political activity, to adopt
unfairand unequal apportionments,ar are among
the means whereby popular confidence may
reduced to a minority at the first opportu-
nifty offered to popular Suffrage. That from
these, and like disasters, the State Govern
ment of Ohio may be spared, that its efforts
to serve the State wisely and well may be
crowned with success-that the burdens of
prevail in public administration, that personal
liberty may be secure, and government be felt,
if at all, most in its benefits and least in its
restraints; that the wise limitations of power
contained in the constitution, and which,
Since 1851, have largely contributed to the
success of Government, may be strictly OBJ
take this oath, not uninindful of the admo-
milton, Let not him that girdeth on the har:
Upon their fulfllment will depend the sue
cess of the State Government during the next
two years, and the final Judgment of the
sembly and officers of the State. .
Reforms are proposed, the successful ac-
but not all correspondingly easy. To provide
the necessary means whereby the letting to
hire of convict labor ut the penitentiary may
forms of both political parties-to do this
without incurring the risk of injurious idle
task calling for the greatest wisdom in con-
trivance and integrity in execution. The diff
ticuties are so great as to Justify any reason
ure which is, certain to follow hasty and i'm
proyident action. rs III
Divorces have so rapidly increased in num-
Der that many of our best citizens demand q
thorough revision of the laws, SO that the dis
solution Of the marriage tie, the separation of
parents, and the neglect of children may be
discouraged by law in Ohio. E ..--. =
Insanity is frequently successfully simulated
as a protection against punishment for crime
This might be defeated II an acQuittal on this
ground were required to be specific, and were
equivalent to conviction of insanity SO as to
be followed by commitment to one of the in
sane asylums of the state for period pro-
portioned to the gravity of the injury. In case
that m ght prove real and be followed by re-
coVery the power to discharge the patient as
cured might be granted, If the insanity should
prove to have been feigncd, this punishment
of confinement would not be inadequate, and
the criminal might be transferred to the PEN
itentiary.
l concur with Governor Foster in recon-
mending the creation of an advisory bosrd of
pardons. 1t is to he regretted that the two
branches of the sixty-ffth general assembly,
both of which agreed in desiring this reform,
had not time to reconcile the differences of de-
tail which prevented its adoption last WIN
ter. '-' -.
The act of 1883, commonly known as the Rus
sci bill, is under debate, and its constitutional
ity attacked in the courts upon the ground that
the inviolability of private property. is there
by Re a1 NOT of Ssh Sa bee the
double taxation In the name of license
fees. Pending this investigation, and without
amend that part of this act which imposes IL
ccnse tax upon 'nediums," so that 1t shall not
seem to be an attack upon the religious views
sincerely held, of even II small minority.
Extensive changes in the Judicial Depart
ncnt have been authorized by constitutional
amendment. With the aid of the bar, from
whom this smoasure emauated, and whose
general support has given it public confidence
the scheme may be easily completed by the
necessary legislation to the relief of Suitors by
the avoidance of delays in the doing of JUS
tice between litigants, and the necessary ex-
pense may possibly be lessened @ I BY % REDUCTION %
mon Pleas.
earnestly commend to your attention the
ernor Alien submitted to the General Assem-
bly, December l, 1874:
.It is a question for your serious considera-
tion whether the compensation of our county
officers is not disproportionate to the salaries
of other public officers and OF persons in
private life. Public servants should be reason
should not be so high as to make the getting
of Office a profession, and to enable candi-
dates and applicants to buy their way TO
public places"
In this connection ! may add that the Ham
ilton County fee bill, adopted in 1870, has
tion, and that its principle might be applied
to others, at least of the more populous and
pubiic. nS and edu With reasonable if not re really
largo, compensation to the officers.
1t is to be regretted that public attention
was not sufficiently alive in 1879 to its import
ancc to secure the adoption of the constitu-
tionai amendments then submitted, so that at
| least i'll the year in which President is
| chosen the State election might be held in
November. Ohio is now the only October
State" and during this year will be exposed
posse ad Of
| franchise. In no sense is this party ques-
ton, and the majority of those who voted up
was defeated by tho apathy of voters. who
did not understand the proposition, or did not
take interest enough In the subject to cast
Hot,. IN
Another ~ submission may be looked to hope.
| fully as likely to be sustained by effort suffi-
| cicnt TO insure its approval by the people, and
relief. although too late for the pending Presi-
| Dental election, will be in time for 1885,
| Thc proposition to amend the constitution
| so as to prohibit the manu- .acture and sale of
| intoxicating liqnors as a beverage, was de-
| fcatcd in the October election. But the
| supreme court has held that such prohibition
| is attainabc under the constitution as it is,
| ana the policy of prohibition by municipal ac-
tion under powers delegated by the general
| assembly has been more than once in the
history of Ohio judicialy sustained. The evils
| resulting from excessive drinking are mani
! foil and felt in every portion OF the State.
I riany plans have been proposed and the labors
| of many good men are given to the effort to
| eradicate these evils. The agitation for pro-
hibti9n will continue, for, however misdi; i;
| evil, for which many believe prohibition to be
an adequate, if not the only remedy. But we
| can not shut our eyes to the fact that prohibi-
ton has failed wherever attempted, that pro-
| hibitiOn of the sale means practically free
| trade, and that while prohibition of the munu-
| factTre may be made effectual, this does not
effect consumption, but merely forces the
| dealer to sell goods made out of the State. In
| the State of Maine the numberiof licensed deal,
| ars under federal laws has increased % per
| cent. in the last three years and the effect of
| unrcasonahly restrictive law has been felt III
the increase of secret and uncontrolled drink
| ing.
No reform is, in my Judgment, more desir-
able than to find some common ground upon
| which conservative men of all parties may
stand i'll opposition alike to prohibition and to
free trade in liquor which shall furnish ade-
uuate legal restraint not of temperate but i'll
| temperate drinking, and not unduly interfere
| with tho right of individual liberty and the
| duty OF self-control. Perhaps no measure car
! be devised that will fully accomplish this re
suit. That which comes nearest is, am per
| suaded, the system of license with gradua
taxation. by the graduation of the tax ol
license fec Justice is done the dealer, whose
| burden is thus proportional to the extent OF
! LEGAL protection he enjoys. and has relation
also 10 his opportunity Tor mischief. By scru
tiny before license and before renewal, power
1in tI.f. al