Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-03-27
A SYMPOSIUM.
s'The way to Prevent the Licensing
of SalOOns.,'

l
s'The way to Prevent the Licensing
of Saloons"
| From the Lexington Intellgencer March Is !
| In the application of our Wellington
friends to the county court to refuse
liquor licenses the usual elements en-
ter. The remOnstrants allege that the
majority signing the petition of the ap-
plicant for license was not honestly
obtained; that is, that some of the sign
ers are not properly taS payers under
| the law; that the court is not compelled
to issue license upon bare majority; !;
and that the petition of the remOnstrants
should bear greater weight with the
court because the signers are the more
respectable people of the community.
Upon this phase of facts we desire to
say few words. The Intclligcncer
does not believe in state prohibition
law for q reason that applies in this
| case; viz: that such law can only be
enforced in those localities where the
necessary moral elements exist; that
where this sentiment does not obtain
the law will become dead letter; and
will thereby be immoral in its tenden-
cies, bringing other laws also into dis
repute and contempt. This is not a
theory with us we form the opinion
from the assurance, personally obtain
ed, that facts sustain it. For instance,
there are very many places where
saloons have increased in number
since prohibition, and where they are
| more notCrlously run open on Sunday
than they were under good license
law. No doubt in some portions of
these states prohibition does prohibit;
but it is just as clear that in others it
does not. In many counties of Mis-
souri, prohibition would succeed; but
in st. Louis, in other cities of Mis-
| souri,, and in several counties it would
be farce. Hence the policy inaugu-
rated in this state, of high license with
local option, is, in our judgment the
| best. We must not be understood by
| all this to be in opposition to the tenn
perance cause. Quite the reverse. We
earnestly desire to see the evils of in
| temperance reduced to minimum.
So long as human nature is weak taere
will be more or less excess; if for its
indulgence even perjury, lying and
hypocrisy are invoked.
We have said this much in order to
| lead up to the statement, that at last if
liquor is sold as beverage in any town
in Missouri of twenty-five hundred in
habitants, or less, it is the faSllt of
the inhabitants of the particular town
or locality in which such sale takes
place. 1t is no doubt easier to put the
burden of evangelizing and moralizing
town upon the shoulders Of county
court than it is to do it ones-self, but
is it as brave? is it as manly? is it as
effective? We think not. Take the
case in point. The remonstrants aver
that their signers are better people,
better educated, etc. That is very
likely true; but where in the cOnstitu-
ton or the laws do they find any war;
rant tor the idea that as a citizen petit
| tioning to a court one man is better
than another, by reason of morality.
| religion, education, or what-not:
Here is an apparent fallacy. Even the
negro ,illiterate and Incorporate though
he may be, has as potent voice as a
voter or petitiOning citizen as the best
white man in the same place.
Here is one OF the difficulties. It is
| said but that for the negro voice upon
this question saloons could not exist in
Wellington. What is the remedy !?
To disfranchise the negroi Not at all.
That cannot be done; it cannot even
be contemplated. What then? Why
educate them; teach them; elevate
their standard of right. 1t may be
said that this cannot be done. We do
not agree with that view; we believe
it can. But it is not altogether colored
men who sign petitions for dram
shops. There are white men to be re-
formed as we'll as black. The proper
thing for the good people of Yelling
ton 10 do is to create in their town and
vicinity popular sentiment that will
not only not demand the sale of liquor,
but that will not tolerate it. If the
ladies and gentlemen whose names
we have printed are really in earnest,
and we believe they are, let them 60 to
work to do this. The best temperance
county probably in the world is Clay
county, Mo-, and there no coercive
measures were adopted, There was
simply canvass made in the county
to produce such feeling as we have
attempted to outline, and there has
never been saloon there since. There
is the secret. Instead of beginning with
coercive measures through the state OF
the courts, the place to commence is in
the neighborhood, in the village, in the
town. If Wellington wants saloons
it will have them, legally or illegally.
If Wellington does not want them no
one else can force them upon it. After
all, this is a popular government; and
the people will rule. There is plenty
of time before licenses can be issued
again to put the thing to the test. The
churches and the school houses can be
rendered eloquent in the cause of tenn
perance. The colored people can easi-
ly be reached. Preach to them. Why
not? They need teaching, and they
are very ready to receive it. No peo-
pie are more impressionable. White
and black can speak to them. 1t is an
old adage that if you want a tn ng
done well you must do it yourself,
Nowhere does it apply better than
here.
THE LADIES' REPLY.
EDITOR lNTELLIGENCER:- Will Won
give us space in your columns to express
a few thoughts suggested by the editori-
al inyour issue ofMarch13 entitled, ,"The
way TO prevent the licensing offs ,loons -
The article in question was directed
ostensibly to "the good people of Well
ington," that thew might be enlightened
with regard to most important issue
Our Judgment with regard to such
matters may be exceedingly obtuse
hence we are always ready to ask ad. !
vice, but where it comes gratuitiousiv
it should come generously that it may
commend itself to every mans con-
science. We believe that your article
is vulnerable al many points; in fact,
some are entirely irrelevant, we think
For instance, you remark that "the |
Intelligencer does not believe in a state