The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-09-15

would ee Sn absurd and ssnseless
declaration. IN or'ter ~ c,.nca tha ar
gun,ent SUD siop PrCh,bitiSaists from
denying II, les me read rom the plat
form u the Nstionsl Prohibition
psrty:
THE FAC: that the Democratic party
has.tn ia ua,lOoal deliver Az c., ~ marty
policy, srraSsd itself an the aide OF
The drint masc rs aa,i srllers bv de-
elaiiog against thc policy OF prohibi.
ton Of such yrsfhc, unuer ths false
name Of 'Snmptuaty laws ana wben
IN power, in sAn,e OF the States, Sin re-
iuslng rerisdisl legislation, and in
Congress Ct relusipg TO permit the
creation OF aboard OF Inquiry 10 In
Nastigso and r0pgrt Upon tha effects
81 tais traffic, proves lQat TIN Dsmo-
ersgc party sRap!G npt o} intrustsd
With POWER snd plpno.r
This hgacst srd sacst solemn Of
heial 0stert0St et the Nation i Prohi-
clifton phstY, tag1ein pstianai corvef-
ZION, a5 tiltst6ce, OR tAa 2tth OF July,
lSSli denouuce' tne Democratic psttg
2s unhh 20 h8 trusted With power or
place, because IN "itN dolivsranee Of
natienei patty, policy" il has declared
sEainSt prohibition, under tho
laiss name OF "sumptuAfy
laws" Fhis epGs The argument on
that po}nS aid closes the mouths ofall
who nave denied ts@t the Democratic
psrty denounces sud onpases prohib,-
Iion IN ITS Platforms. Tho prohibition
movements IL a great political move
ment, looked upon IN The North by the
enenltea ot Tho Democratic party as
tho wedge which is, when driven
nome: 70 split that party asunder Ia
zoe, South Many quotations from
prohibition SUD Other ionrnals couid
DO given 10 show this. Yes, IN the face
of this fact. ard OF tho Accommodation
~ the prohibition plattorm of the
Democratic party as un6t 10 no In
trusted with place or power, Demo-
Gratis are asked 30 stand idly ny, and
raise neither voico nor hand In Dis.
rense Of their party.
| have been charged with incoa~
sisteuey, IN that l advocated the
adoption or tho present constitu-
ton, contaiaipga local option clause,
end a. governor signed tho local on
tl0u law. Tho edargs ia groundless.
| was governor OF tho Stats when the
constitution WAS made in convention.
The convention, after concluding
its LAHORE, adjourned and went home.
1t leit the people of Texas --nyaolf
among tho numbsr--so choose bo-
tween ;ha new constitution and tha
Republican constitution of 1868. |
chose and voted for tho present con-
stitution, with all its detec;s, az the
better Of the Two. l advocated the
new constitution before the people, al
ways with the qualifications that Il
had many defects, but thatit was pre.-
cradle 70 the old one. Tho local
option clause ia the constitution was
mandatory upon the Legislature, re-
quiring st tho tlrat 8assioa of that
body th5 passage o! law such aa we
gov have. l, 40 governor, bong u
part Of the law-mHkiug power, and
having taken an oath TO support that
constitution, was Of course bound 10
obey it and sign the law, which did.
Pt0hib'tlOu speakers have devoted a
gr0At deal OF lSb0r 20 prosing,by read.
ing from the Supreme Court decisions,
the validity OF the local upii0n clause
OF the constitution and the law passed
In pursUanoeofit, | do nos know, and
have mover heard Of mau who cues,
lions the validity OF either. Tho labor
seems 10 me 10 hava boon entirely I'M
| nocesasty, Tor noboay doubts OK hss
questioned tho sovereign power OF tho
state 10 prohibit, wholly or partially,
OK regulate "a she ncos III, the manu-
| fBG5urA and sac OF intoXicants
! il her limits-whethar deriv-
Lea from her police powers or
tfr0m elsewhere, 10 makes no manner
OF difference. It Is sufficient 20 know
that her power over tho spbjac, Is SOW
orelgn Snd urquestioued. its 10 tho
exercise OF tho power that objection is
made, and tito logic upon which The
objection r0sls applies Win equal force
TO the exercise Of the power, whether
IN tho StAte, tho county, or tho pre-
cinct. Prohibition or local option c4u
not bo maiutSiaed IL tue prosinot,
| by any argument which is not equally
lpctHulto mAntaiu II in tho county
aud in tho s5ate, Snd vieo versa, II
q minority of my DeighbOrs ia my pro
cincs havo this moral righ5 20 a5y that
shnll ntA no beverage with alaubol ~
| it, ami shall have no food ON my tsb,e
with alcohol in &, however much M
comfort, my pleasure, oc MY hepllh
may require tho Use OF that 0rdcie
and however dlsoro6t snd temperate
may balm using w., tao majority IN the
county aud the majority iII tho state
have tho same moral right 20 treat the
minoritiea III 10 county and tho State
in the eaUe way. The argument
would seem stronger tor the oDunty,
and still stronger for tho State, ba'
cause OF increased number, and thero
fo,e greater GOOD. II good for the pro
clnct, 10 Is better for tlo county, and
bost for tho state. Relieving that
every sana man IN thts county, u
n AL To-.
able" rights, which no majority
though possessing tho power, can justly
or rightiully deprive him OF, Aud that
among these Ia the right 30 cat, driaE
and Vetr what hepleaHes. provided
no docs not offend public daconcy OF
morale mud make nuisance Ot him.
self, aud that 10 punish aim with a dc.
| priva,ion OF liberty In this regard
when no is guiltless 81 crimo or vice
In order 10 provide against the contin,
goucy of others making beasts ofthom
solves, is crime against persona
liberty aud irso government. am on
| posed alike 10 precinct, county and
Rtalo prohibition. Tho theory OF Do
mocracy favors the least possible gov
ernment and the lsrgess personal liber
| W. Capacity Tor personal self-govorn.
mont By tho citizen, under tho larges
personal liberty, is tho Foundation
stone upon which the fabric OF our frot
government rosis.
Prohibilionisls asbuino that tho citt
zen is Incapable OF personal solf-goy.
eminent IN respect TO the uso or alco
hol, and would put guard ovor hi
mouth To roo that mono enters
Their theory Ia ct war will
the theory OF our government
They Gro sSppiug and mining tn,
very foundations Of our FREQ instltu-
tiona in denying tho power of the citi
zen to govern bimsolf and his appe
titles, for upon tho exlstoncs OF thl
power depends tho stability OF on
government. u tho righg to use alec
hot In any form, Il taken away, IL Il
boldly avowod, By prohibit on leaders
that they viii proceed 10 mako war OF
tobacco. What peraoual right will b,
free from ASSAULT, and whay llbertie
VIII lhn people possess after thoy havi
complied with tho demands OF thls fan
etiolsmr Only f.ee men can maintaii
FREQ government. Deprive our pRopll
OF thslr personal liberties and you hsv
undermined The structure OF our froi
a "a