The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-04
LOCAL OPTION.

An Argument I'm Favor of a Locat-Option
Law by One Committed to Prohibition.
New York Christian Advocate.
Local option is often the only form of prohi-
Dltlon which there Is any hope of carrying 1t
is, as proposition. quite unanswerable by any
believer in democratic institutions.
The federal government summons the people
to decide by maj critics on all questions not re-
served by the States. The State government
summons the people to decide by majorities on
all questions not delegated to the federal gov
eminent. The counties are allowed, under Con-
stitution made by the people Of all the counties
that is. of the Srate-to decide upon all ques-
tions by majorites within their prescribed
sphere; the towns, townships or hundreds ITO
decide in the same way, and cities and boroughs
administer their affairs by the same
method 1t is applied to hundreds of questions
analogous to the sale Of liquors. By its opera
ton gambling houses and houses of prostitution
and all similar iniquities are prohibited.
Who shall say that it is not reasonable that
the people Of any town, city, county State
shall have the privilege of deciding whether
liquors shall be sold9 If the Democrat says it,
he saws off the limb upon which his party
through its entire history, has claimed to perch
Ii the Republican afirms it, he excavates the
ground on which he built his party temple at the
first If the Prohibitionist who aims at State or
national prohibition opposes it, he places him
self in Il trap For, if the loca. operation of the
principle be wrong, how can its general applica-
ton be right?
Hence, in States where there is at present no
hope of enacrihg prohibition by statute even
of securing the submission of a constitutional
amendment to the people, local option may be
advocated with considerable hope and energet-
ieally pushed.
Under its discussion the evils of iutemperance,
the direct influence Of the saloon the desires of
the people, and the thoroughly democratic char
acter OF the principle, can be urged. Petitions
can be signed In temperance communities AMI
ond ufv1l A.,1r a. 1ov>
on representatives. While, in counties and
towns where it is certain that it could not pre-
vail if brought to the test legislators opposed to
prohibition in all forms would naturally, in
some cases-perhaps sufficient number to hold
the balance of power--be supine. or be willing to
vote for such law, defending themselves
against their whisky loving constituents by say
ing that it could not affect them.
Such has been the operation OF such PROPOSE
tions in several of the States where local option
laws have been passed by Legislatures that on
the whole were decidedly opposed to prohibit
ton. Many similar votes have been cast in the
House of Commons by men who avowed that
they did not believe in prohibition, but did be-
Geve that municipalities should have the right
to express their wishes on such subjects at the
polls
1t is known TO every observer that large
number of legislators follow the leaders of the
party, like sheep. Only here and there man has
the courage to vote on principle. apart from party
leadership and has ALSO even on subsidiary CUES
tons. the sense to make it effective. More.
haps, have the courage than have the necessa
judgment to accomplish good end without 50,
rifcing their personal influence with the party
to which they belong.
Political leaders, though despotic in the treat
ment Of their own rank and file and bold toward
their opponents, are often cowardly on questions
on which their party has taken no ground-ques-
tons whose extent they cannot measure. 1t is
a very great advantage when principle is of
such nature that no political leader dares
openly to avow himself opposed to it, or is COM
PEELED to favor it.
Such, more nearly than most questions, is local
option.
AS compared with prohibition by statute Or
constitutional amendment it has weaknesses
and embarrassments, but it is greatly superior
to any form of license, and is long stride to-
ward something more efectual
Wherever it exists and has been thoroughly
worked it has done wonders In Maryland, in
many towns in Massachusetts and Connecticut,
in Georgia, it has done such great things that on
the testimony, against the fercest opposition, it
prevailed in Atlanta. In Canada it is working
great reconstruction.
The haters of the liquor traffic in New Jersey
uniting without distinction of party, religion
sect in urging upon the Legislature the pass
age of such law.