The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-08-28
How To CONTROL IT.

picked IN relation 10 IL. Some OF lhs
political conventions in the RESPECTIVE.
States are pacing themselves squarely
for prohibition. and others are refusinl
u 10 so. An effort was made to place
a plank IN the Michigan Republican
platform favoring absolute prohibition
but it was rejected by majority of The
convention. The Illinois Democratic
convention also had the same question
up for consideration; and it appears to
Us that its method of disposing of it is
most admirable, and the reasons offered
for the action most cogent. The clause
which disposes Of that question is as
follows:
ReSolped That while We htve no pur-
pose - interfere with just laws for the reg
ulation Of the traffic IN Intoxicating liquor
and TO- the prevention or con ectiOn of the
evils 70 society growing out OF the abuses
in their sac we declare that IL is not the
Legitimate province of Cover msat 10 con
trll the haoits. tasieS, appetiLes andH critics
OF the people so long a. tney are orderly
ana p-sccao ana do not eucrOach upon
the-rights Of OF lers OF Of society. We there
lore de i1re that the ptohi -ilOn by coasti-
t1tiOu or o. general laws Of the manufac
ture or sale Of vinous, mat or spirituous
liquors. would be In violation OF individual
and per-oRal Iights. and contrary 10 ne
fundamental principles Of free government
We think the Illinois Democratic
convention hiss taken wise course in
dealing with this question Of intemper-
ance. The object of government is to
protect society by restraining the vic
iOus, and by Furnishing those who dis
turb the peace, or work the injury of
others. But in dong this there are
limits to its operations. There are
many habits, tastes and appeiites which
are doubtless injurious to the indiyid-
ual INDUCING in them, and indirectly
injurious TO society; and yet goverD-
ments are pOwerless TO deal with those
things. so long as they do not break
out IN open acts that invade the peace
and good order of society, and thus
work an injury TO others. To reach
che causes Of some OF these evils.
among them intemperance, with legis-
lative enactments with a view of stamp
iEs chem out. would require, in our
poor Judgment, such an invasion OF
individual liberty that would constitute
a worse evil than the one it is designed
TO cure. There is no particular magic
in legislative enactment. There are
many auack physicians who recon-
mend their special production OF medi-
cine 70 possess such marvellous proper
ties ana virtues that they proclaim il a
cure for all the aches. pains. and
diseases that flesh is heir TO, but no one
who is intelligent believes them. There
are also political quacks whose aith is
so strong in the power Of an enactment
by Legislature that they seem TO think
that all that is necessary to cure any
particular evil, IS TO pass law against
il. But the experience of mankind is
against them. Had good legislation
been all that was necessary to pre-
serve the race IN righteousness the laws
given on Mount Sinai amid tho
awful display of Gods power and mai
esty would hsve doubtless been suffi-
eient. Something besides the enactment
OF good laws is necessary. Never for
get" was the favorite instruction of
Napoleon 20 the men ne created kings
"thstiAws sre mere utilities witbont
the power to enforce them" The truth
OF the proposition is so self-evident. that
no one viii be disposed 10 dispute II.
The power that supports the laws in
this and other free countries is the DO
pular sentiment Of the people. Esps.
ially Is this true where trial BY jury is
the privilege Of men accused of crime;
and n the capacity Of iurymen the citi-
zens become despite aH:theor;es to The
contrary, judges OF the law as well as
OF the fact OF guilt OF innocence. We
know the theory Of trial by jury is that
the jury have nothing 10 do with
the law. bus merely Of concluding from
the facts whether the accused is guilty
or innocen: underline law, and OF some
times judging OF the degree Of his guilt.
But Tor eli that liberty has been pre-
served more than once at its last gasp
o. 4 fury refusing TO bring in verdict
Of guilty under Law it regarded as in
famo1 And in whatever vicinity the
Law is in dIsrerate, and does not receive
the hearty Endorsement Of the people.
there that law viii not be enforced 10
any great extent, for experience has
proven that men who are appointed by
the law 10 try the fellows cannot be
placed under obligations either mora
or religious. that EM induce them TO
eonvict men whom they esteem the
v.c.ims OF unjust Laws. Perhaps this IS
al wrong. The strict mOralist would
argue that the juryman should gives
verdict according 10 the facts under the