The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-04-16

political world, and IL Is altogetner Prooaoie
that it will assume q still more prominent
position in the future. 1t is an unquestion-
able fact that the excessive use of ardent
spirits is the great, overshadowing evil of
modern times. 1t is, therefore, question of
great moment to all classes of people. ques-
ton that will down at the bidding of no man,
class or party, but one that will continue TO
be discussed and agitated in all its varied
aspects, until some means shall be devised
and effective measures be taken, either to
place the traffic under proper restriction and
control, or to suppress it altogether. In dis
cussing the subject nothing is to BE gained
by advocating resort 10 illegal measures, or
by appealing TO mems passions, instead of
their reason. There seems to be, on the part
of many temperance men, disposition to
enter judgment of wholesale condemnation
against the present liquor laws of our state,
without, as it appears to US, an intelligent
understanding and thorough comprehension
of the situation. But if, as is claimed by
many, the laws are obnoxious, and wrong in
principle, let them be thoroughly enforced,
so that the people may realize how objec-
tionable they are. There is no more effec-
tive and speedy method of getting rid of an
obnoxious statute than by its rigid enforce
ment.
But are the present laws really az objec-
tionable as many people seem TO believe?
In arguing this matter, those who oppose the
law assume it to be license law, but such is
not the fact We are told that both the state
and the general government license the traf-
fc in intoxicating drinks, and then punish
men who have engaged in the business by
virtue of such license, and that those attempt
ing to enforce the law find themselves cp-
posed, on account of such license, by both
the state and national governments. The
truth of the matter is that neither govern
ment licenses the traffic, in any sense of the
word. So far as the general government is
concerned, it simply levies tax upon the
business, purely AS matter of revenue, in
precisely the same manner as it levies a tax
upon the business of dealing in tobacco and
cigars, and as it did during and for several
years after the war, upon almost every kind
Of business, trade or profession. Every man
who chooses has legal right to engage in
the business, but, if he does so, he must pay
this special tax. Such payment confers on
him no special privilege or right, so far as
carrying on his business is concerned. He
gets his receipt for the tax which affords him
the same protection as any ordinary tax
receipt, that is, he cannot be subjected 10
any prosecution for non payment of the tax.
The state laws SO step farther. They not
only impose special tax upon the business,
thus making it a source of revenue but they
impose upon it certain restrictions in the
nature of police regulations, and attach pen
alties for the violation or transgression of
such restrictions, but they do not license the
traffic, because it needs no license, and aside
from such statutory regulations and restric-
tons, the business is as legal as any other
occupation.
There was time, in Michigan, when the
traffic was illegal, from 1855, when the pro-
hibitory law was enacted, until 1875. when
it was repealed.
The repeal of that statute left the traffic
in liquors just az legal as the traffic in grain
or any other commodity, and the fact that
the Legislature has deemed il wise to impose
special tax upon the business does not
serve TO make the traffic illegal in any way,
nor does it confer any special privileges upon
those who engage therein. In other words,
the tax does not license the business because
it was already legal, and to do that which is
lawful, q man requires no license.
But our statutes go farther than the mere
levying of tax they partially prohibit the
sale of liquor as beverage, and ii total pro-
hibition would, as we believe, be benefit to
the people, partial prohibition must also be
productive of some good The present stat
utes of our state prohibit the sale of spirit
nous liquors at any encampment of state
troops they class all persons who knowing
ly give or sell intoxicating drink to drunk
ards and tipplers, as disorderly persons, and
make them punishable as such they pro-
hibit all proprietors of public houses from al
lowing drinking on or about their premises on
Sunday they prohibit all sales 10 students
and minors, except when prescribed by
physician, and make the person so offending
liable to both fine and Imprisonment, and if
sold to a minor under eighteen years of age,
thc offender may be made to respond in