Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-03-12
LIQUOR TAXATION.
Who rays the Faxes

The amount of money directly aud unpn.
ally expended in Ohio for intoxicating
beverages is not less, IL is believed, than
S75000,000! l. this consumption pro-
duclive Of amy good? Science aud ob.er-
vatiun alike say, none whatever. Il the
consumption attended with harm to inli-
vidunls or the state? The answer il il
seriously harms both. Not single inter
est OF either is free from peril by reaFon OF
the sale and uae OF poisonous drinks. The
natural inquiry then is why is the manu-
facture und sale OF the noxous beverages
not prohibited as other things hurtful are
prohibited The main reason is that
party machinery, manipulated by political
demagoguea, obstr ruct and defeat the popu'
lar will. Were the old party hulks out of
the way, and the people reorgaized, on
living issues, the liquor traffic, the prolific
cause of intemperance in the state, would
be Immediately and forever abolished.
As it is, politicians take advantage of the
people and turn their unwise devotion 10
mere party names into the protection and
perpeiuation of the traffic.
The liquor tax scheme Ia wholly trick
OF politicians. 1t never originated, in any
sense or degree, with the people. 1t is the
Legitimate bnntling Of venal partisan
demagogues. Not only did the scheme
not originate with the people, but when
the question came before them, "a an in
dependent proposition, in 1888, it received
only 5000 votes ont of an aggregate OF
more than 72l ,000-less than one in seven !!
No man or woman in the state ever petit
toned the Legislature for liquor taxation
or for the taxation OF any other crime,
that, out OF the proceeds, their iarcs might
The tax fraud was never asked for nor
suggested by the honest masses. 1t IL a
vlllainous scheme "conceived in sin and
brought forth in iniauity," the primsrytob
ject of which is to perpetuate political
partisan rule and keep a worthless set oil
mercenary demagogues in uudeserved
power by licensing liquor dealers in fla
grant violation of both the letter and spirit
OF the constution, for money with which TO
bribe taxpaying voters! This sinister plot
has not now, and never did have in view,
in its origin, development or aim in any
degree the welfare Of the people. All such
pretense il shere hypocricy. The organic
law, in the most explicit terms, prohibits
the licensing of the traffic. Al three diff
ferent times the people have approved
constitutional interdiction, and that, too,
in spite of the politicians. "a tax upon II
business" Senator John Sherman says,
implies right to tollow that business J"
A tax therefore, upon the liquor traffic, is
permit "A license to follow that business
and ia, hence, direct and manifest viola
tion OF The fundamental law Of the state
Individuals are held responsible for the
natural, and probable consequences of their
acis. The same rule is equally applicable
10 the aggregate of individuals called the
state. The state therefore. that licenses
the liquor traffic Is justly held responsible
as partner and.accomplice, for all the
crime, misery and pauperism that are the
natural and probable consequences of that
traffic ! Will a few paltry dollars (the
wages Of SIM in the public Golfers, compen
safe or atone for the guilt of the state in
assuming relationship 70 criminal and
infamous? Besides who pays the liquor
tax? Not the dealer but the consumer
Very largely the poor laboring men CT the
country. Little of the liquor tax do mil
lionaires pay. BY the liqnor tax swindle
these mlllionnires have their liquor tax
paid by the poor man, who consumes the
poisonous beverage to crafty morbid
destructive appetite. By the tax scheme
temptation to crime and vicious indulg-
the way of the weak and unwary. BY aci
Of the atnte il is thus made difficult TO do
right and easy 10 do rrong The state al
lures men TO crime and then punishel
for being criminals ! Again the money
taken from the drinker IL taken very often
from llls wife AMI children. Not only !,
he money OF these taken TO he put int,
the Golfers Of The state to pay the rich
man's taxes, but the security and pro.erlin
1 that the state owes the wife an cbildrei
are taken away as well "a the drinkers
money How often do men return hom,
from the dranl'sl,op, bereft not only o
their money bur OF their reason and mdnhooi
as well. How often do mothers and child
rem suffer want and violence ss the certain
result af the toleradon ot liqnor dens
The participation in the profit OF the sa-
loon, the taking of tax from the keeper b,
the state, isa recognition Of, and acqnies-
ance in The liquor business. The stat
under the tax system, for share OF the
"bloOl money!" proposes TO conclude NJ
''eterna" truce with rum seliers (; forms
with them, n perinsnent alliance "ofiensiv,
and defensive" and erect about the traffic
n iegai rampant for dealers to use in defend
ing themselves agains. the moral weapons
OF reformers. Honest men are opposed to
deriving fevenue from selling indulgences
TO vice and crime. Phey only ask pro-
lection in legitimate pursuits. and foI
such protection they are willing to contrib.
ute their jnst share Ia meet the public ex-
pense. They regard individual and ma
tionsi honor of more Importance than II
mere qneslionsof ilnance. They are not
willing To become icensers and pnrtakers
OF crime OF any kind In order to save II
few dollars of tnN. With Chief Justice
John Marshall they sny "What is money
when put into competition with the iice
OF our friends and brethren ?" With the
wise men Of old they believe that "Bsue
is lille with righteousness, than great reue'
nues without right p They sre not snili
cienIly short sighted and mercenary, fu