Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-09-11

Who shall rule. Which shall il be?
Shall the people or the rumseller control
this country? That is the question. aud n
very serious question it ia. For score Of
years past the rumselIers have virtually
ruled this great nation. To-day these
rumsellers hold a scepter over thi. country
which is like rod Of iron. They COM
mand both of the old political parties to
get down befure them, and they get down.
They hold this rod of iron over every con
stable, sheriff, judge, police "fiieer. mayor,
governor and congressman in the whole
country, and most OF them cringe under it
like whipped puppies. A niore oppressive
tyranny than that exercised hy these same
rnmsellers never has existed and never can
exist. No other combination Of men could
he found wbu could do like amount Of
mischief with the same impunity.
This Olgarchy Of rum sellers claim the
right TO go into u community and make
pamrers aud criminals, increase taxes, de-
stroy the Sabbath, make nights hideous
and put virtue nc Il discount without let or
l,indrance. In proportion as they prosper,
| others become poor. Their success l.
"very mans failure who p,trouizes them
Aud yet men who call them spl yes repecia-
ble iise up to talk about majority tyranny
whenever the people make move toward
throwing of the iron despolism Of these
men.
Such II to day the power OF these rum
sellers, that the United States Congr..,
dies not dare even To appoint couim,--
| siom To inquire into the evils of the rum
| traffic. The political parties do not dare
TO submi, the question Ia the people, and
in the lew SIa es where the people have
arisen in their might and asserted iheii
| rights, these parties do not dare enforce
the law which has been enacted
Take Iowa M an example. Prohibition
WAS endorsed by the people uf Inwa by Z
majority of nearly 10000, aud after il wa,
overthrow by corrupt whisky sympa-
| ihizing supreme court, such wa,
the Indignation Of the people that the law
making puwer WAS compelled To enact
stringent statutory law to take the plac,
of the constitutional provisiun which ha,
h-en overthrown. There i. no State IL III,
Uni"n where the Prohibition sentiment /
stronger than IN Iowa Dare either of til,
political parties Of that State espouse th,
principle Of prohibition?
To ask this question il to answer il
The Democratic party Of Iowa, in the fac
oil tlai 10000 m 'jorily for prohibition, de
ciales f"r whisky, while the Rrpublica'
patty has never had the courage TO declar
for The principle Of prohibition.
1t is frequently SaId that political par
ties will always do that which promise
power in return. We deny il. Ever
dictate Of common sense would sugges
that political party which desires powe
ongli TO get on the m'irriiy aide Of "a
great questions. II the Republican part
of Iowa desires TO retain the confidence q
the people, il ought 10 take the side whic
The people take in this gieat struggle
Why does il not do this? Simply hecauS
the Infamous liquor oligarchy holds il
iron scepre, over that party. The part
hes - strong desire for power, but its dc
sire for power ia not stronger than the In
iuence over IL OF this liquor oligarchy.-
Kansas Commoner.