The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-01-27

suspecting persons, and hereby ex-
presses Its horror and detestntlon OF such
monstrous crimes against civilization"
SPEAKING OF the business prospects for
1885. the Savannah, Georgia, News says;
ain the South the outlook Is more en-
oouraglng than in any other part OF the
country. The cotton crop was good and
and the price has been fair. The plan
tiers are now raising larger per cent.
OF their own supplies than ever before.
They are therefore in n much better con-
ditlon financially than the farmers Of
the Wet Factories that were closed
for time during the summer have
started up again and now appear to be
fairly prosperous. At no time since the
present depression in business began
has the situation in the South been as
gloomy as II has been in the North"
SOME one in talking about the dull
times lrSan Antonio, said there would
be something OF an exodus Of people
who would seek other locations for busi-
ness and labor. This happens to be the
situation OF all the other cities and
towns In this portion Of the great south
west. And even Galveston, which 10
not generally effected by the times, is
suffering, If anything worse than we
are here in San Antonio, and the appeal
through the papers for aid for the I'M
employed, Is quite general. But the
fact Ia that business is at q stand still
everywhere, but the indications are, and
they appear to be real, that with the
opening of spring will bring to life many
enterprises, and the investment of much
idle capital. 1t is the opinion OF the
financial scientists In the East that Tho
year of 1886, will be one gilmore than usual
business activity and commercial pros
perity, and there Is no reason to doubt
the belief, In view Of the fact that there
has been nothing done for more than
two years, of any Importance.
--
OK THE subject OF the proposed con-
stitutlonal amendment prohibiting the
sale Of liquors in Texas, the Pearsall
News says: sour constitution does not
permit the Legislature to pass any local
law or laws except such as are specially
designated In 1t. What is known as the
local option law is one OF the exceptions.
This law once adopted by the voters Of
county, precinct. town or city Ia be-
yond any question constitutional. No
private right Of person or property pro-
tected by the constitution is violated by
its enactment. There is nowhere to be
found In the constitution any limitation
upon the power of the Legislature to
enact Just such law for the State at
large. We do verify believe that this
constitutional amendment dodge was
concocted by the whiskey soaked heads
that we have been sending to Austin,
with view OF Sinking the responsible
ity aud hindering the passage OF gen.
eral prohibitory law. A law prohibiting
the sale Of intoxicating liquors needs
only majority of the votes In the Leg
islature. but proposed amendment
cannot be voted on by the people I'M
Ill 1t receive two-thirds OF all the votes
of the members Of the Legislature.
There Is very remote probability Of
our present law making power pass
ing prohibiiori;y iaS, or OF even con;
senting to the passage of such law by
the people, by means OF an amendment
to our constitution. The constitution Is
the law made by the people, and the
people have provided way in which 1t
may be amended more speedily than by
calling convention for that purpose.
Nobody ever supposed that the Legls-
lature would refuse TO submit pro-
by respectable body OF citizens. What
right has the Legislature to handicap
the viii of the people? Our Legislature
has already refused to submit prohibit
tory amendment though petitioned to
do so by large number OF the best citi-
zens Of Texas. If the temperance peo-
pie of the Slate would unite and vote
for Legislators who were awake to the
evils OF the liquor trade we could have
prohibitory law very soon. We are
willing 10 petition for a Submission of
an amendment. bat we do not believe
that the present Legislature will permit
the people the small privilege OF voting
for 1t. Time will show, however, who
1t is that exercises sovereign power in
Texas. Truth wilt triumph at last and
we will patiently wait for The great
victory over alcohol and the Devil"
The Insurance companies have insil-
tuted a mild 'boyoott" on the business
in Texas by reason of late decision in
the United States Circuit court that
the face Of policy expresses the value
of the property in case 1t Is destroyed by
fire. The New York Tribune, speaking
OF the decision, says: "Texas has be-
come too hot for the fire insurance men,