The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-26
LOCAL OPTION.

tue Done, Will In every instance be found to
be Prohibitionist. The Prohibitionist is
one OF that class who entertain the opinion
that society not only needs government,
but guardianship, and that they must be
the guardians. To hold that the majority in
atownship or ward may dictate to the mi
nority what they shall eat, drink or wear is
a political heresy of exactly the same kind,
though in less degree, as to ordain that
the majority in the whole State may dictate
to the minority in such matters. Local oo-
ton is small. petty, diminutiye. retail
species OF despotism, which says in the way
OF summary If we can not annoy and de-
suoy the natural rights of men at large, and
altogether. We will at least insult and erase
them by piecemesl. And then it may be
asked shall not the majority in particular
locality have the power TO regulate its af-
fairs? Most certainly. Its own affairs, so far
as they appertain to public government. But
this right does not extend SO far as TO
make the ..malority either the judges OF or
spies upon the conduct or habits of the pri-
vate citizen, SO long as there is naught in
them to disturb the public peace and order.
with the food, drink. rsiment, speech, opin-
ion, press or worship of its citizsns; aud such
an interference is equally unwarranted
whether it be in the Nation, the State, the
county or the township. The legitimate ex-
ercise of the powers of government, whether
general or local, can only be used to punish
the abuse OF these natural rights, not to de-
stroy them or forbid them. That any man
association of men should Voluntarily,
either for their own sake or the sake of
others. abstain-this is temperance; that any
citizen should be compelled to do so-this is
tyranny. We must distinguish between
temperance and tyranny. Temperance
may be justly fostered by appeal to
the will, the conscience and ths
hevrt; it can only be hurt and injured
by an appeal to force as its sanction. The
position of the Democratic party on this
subject has not been taken out of fear, favor
or affection to any peculiar class or interest,
or out OF hostility to any. That position
rests upon the nature of Democracy itself.
We believe in self-government, in the ca
pacity of men to control themselves, to gov
ern tbeir own conduct. In punishment of
the fSw who, as exceptions, may prove un.
worthy of this self-freedom, we do not think
all should be included. We have yet faith
in the popular masses. the utmost faith in
their wisdom and prudence. This is the
reason why We are Democrats, and why, as
such, we are opposed to local option or pro-
hibition in any of its forms. Both these
dogmss are founded upon distrust of the
people, upon q want of faith in self govern
meni. The mischievous fallacy consists
IN applying the powers of govern
ment to subject matter with which
it has no concern. Let the township regu-
late as it does its roads and highways,
schools and drains, Trustees and Supervisors.
leaving every freeman in the exercise of the
right Of life and liberty to eat, drink and
be merry; Furnishing him only for the abuse
of such rights.
The News Journal or Journsl-News hiss
from time to advocated local option. Yet
we apprehend that ths very able and accom-
plished conductors of our double-headed
morning and evening contemporary would
deem 1t very strange, IL. by law the majority
in the ward or township or district where
it is published should have the right to die.
tate the character or conduct of its columns.
There would be then loud cry for freedom
liberty; and q shrieking gasp against
such intolerance and high-handed proscrlp-
ton. Yet, censorship of the press so
established. by the will of the
majority in the locality where pub
location is made, would be no greater viola
ton OF civil. inalienable rights than the
operation of that local option they are
pleased to advocate. Under such q censor
ship, continued and enforced for few days,
the NewsJournal would at last realize that
there are some rights OF persons and of
property which even the vote or the petit
ton or the voice OF the majority can not
Justly snnihilste.
The last trial of local option in Indiana
vas under the Baxter bill-repealed just ten
years sgo-as an utter failure. 1t was one
of the distinguishing features of that meas
ure that the option was expressed by petit
ton. And we do not think the State ever
witnessed among its people so much of n.y.
pocrisy, doubleiesliDg. low, base and pitt
full chicane, contemplate evasions and lying
protests as were then practiced in
the promotion, defeat or manufacture
Of these petitions. The whole community
was sodden with deceit and mischiefs in
Vulnerable by this one evil process. 1t wss
worse, If anything could be worse, than the
direct CORFU ption and iniquity of the Maine
law. We have no desire to see any repe-
tition of the experiment in any shape.
The Baxter law fixed o'clock as the time
OF closing, Q time which Governor Hen
bricks characterized as inconvenientiy early.
The present law fixes IL o'clock as the time.
We are no sticklers about the time. 1t is
matter only of regulation. But we
remind those who seem inclined