Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1886-03-13
THE WAY TO PREVENT THE LIOENS-
ING OF SALOONS.

ING OF SALOONS.
In the application of our Wellington
to the county court to refuse
liquor licenses the usual elements n
;er. The remonstrants allege that the
majority signing the petition OF the ap-
for license was not honestly OBJ
that is that some of the sign
srs are not properly taxpayers under
the law; that the court is not compell-
I'd to issue a license upon a bare major
ity; and that the petition of the re-
monstrants should bear greater weight
with the court because the signers are
the more respectable people of the
Upon this phase of facts we desire
to say a few words. The Intelligencer
does n%otIbelieve IN q state prohibition
law for q that applies in this
case; viz: that such a law can only be
enforced in those localities where the
necessary moral sentiment exists; that
where this sentiment does not obtain
the law will become q dead letter; and
will thereby be immoral in its tenden-
cies, bringing other laws also into dis
and contempt. This is not a
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 VIGOROUSLY u open on Sunday
than they were under a good license
law. No doubt in some portions of
these states prohibition does prohibit;
but 1t 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 q 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 a minimum.
So long as human nature is weak there
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 a beverage in any town
in Missouri of twenty-five hundred in
habitaDts or less, it is the fault of
the inhabitants of the particular town
or locality in which such sale takes
place. It Is no doubt easier to put the
burden of evangelizing and moralizing
q town upon the shoulders of a county
court than it is to do it oneself, 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 for the idea that as a citizen petit
tioning to a court M man is better
than another, by reason of morality,
religion, educatian, or what-not?
Here is al apparent fallacy. Even the
negro, illiterate and Incorporate though
he may be, has az potent a voice as a
voter or pe%titioning citizen. as the best
white man in the same place.
Here is one of the difficulties. 1t is
said that but for the negro voice upon
this question saloons could not exist IN
Wellington. What is the remedy?
To disfranchlse the negro3 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 car. 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 to do is to create in their town and
vicinity a 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 go 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 a canvass made in the county
to produce such a feeling as we have
attempted to outline, and there has
never been a saloon there since. There
is the secret. Instead of beginning with
coercive measures through the state or
the courts, the place to commence is in
the neighborhood, in the village, in the
town. 1t Wellington wants saloons il
will have them, legally or illegally
If Wellington does not want them nc
one else al force them upon it. Aftel
all. this is a popular government; and
the people will rule. There is plenty
of time before licenses can be ISSUED
again to pat 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 east.
ly be reached. Preach to them. WHY
not9 They need teaching, and the
are very ready to receive it. No PEG
pie are more impressionable. Whit
and black can speak to them. 1t is al
old adage that if you want a thin
done we'll you must do it yourself
Nowhere does it apply better than here
Mr.. VIM. F. Nisbet, of New York
president of the st. Joseph & st. Loui
railroad company, spent last Thursda
in Lexington, on behalf of his board o
directors, in order to investigate TO
them the desirability of assisting in tn
construction of a bridge across tn
Missouri river at this point, for tn
purpose of entering the city of Lex
ington. Mr.. Nisbet spent the mornin