The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-08-27
nnc, rruhIhIlIon AIenn snolInllong

In some minds the question: oil aubmis
sion and prohibition are confused. II
these and in other minds there Is dis
position to be illiberal and unjust, to i'm
pute unworthy motives, to be willing to &C
any length to accomplish spurpose. There
is some confusion Of ideas, some ilIibor
atty and some iniustICe in this from tht
Wellsburg Herald:
The Wheeling INTELLIGEEcER is nm
doubleday right In iayoring the submission
of Tho prohibition amendment on the
ground that very large number OF the
neopIe Of the State want II done, and &C
do Two and two make four; but Ia moi
riVht In opposing prohibition because pro
hibitiOn means peCuniary loss to parties
engaged in the liquor business. The men
In That business are not oil innOCents, but
went into 1t with their eyes wide open 70
oil its surroundings and chances, and II in
the course OF events they lose their money
thew arc no worse of than other people
who took business risks that turned Out
IMMORTALITY. Besides, since the pTohibi,
tion agitation commenced they have had
ample time and opportunity TO get out oil
the business and into something else sater,
II not more reputable. :,
Iho state does not guarantee any busi'
ness; nor ordinarily does 1t undertake to
make good Losses to individuals that may
result In consequence OF laws, wise or I'M
wise, that the majority may see III to or
dain, and go far as we can see, II the dis
tillen and brewers are apprehensive, the
best thing they can do 10 TO start measures
at once toward closing up, 90 rs 10 lose as
little as possible.
Il ia Tie came way with newspapers in
liquor towns. II is profitable, probably,
II II Ia not right, for them TO oppose pro-
hibiion, and on that ground they are gem
orally expected to oppose 1t, but whether
they make or lose money in the operation
IL purely their own concern and not that
OF the public generally. They take their
chances. The voting in the mean time
goes on and the majority rules, and 1t is
folly to combat the inevitable.
Since the ISTELLIuENCER does not favor
prohibition, would the Herald rather see
this newspaper oppose submission Third
Party politicians do all they can to re.
pulse those men who favor submission be.
cause they have an American belefin the
right Of the majority to rule. They are 80
bent upon doing certain thing in Ger.
tain way that they would rather see pro.
hibition defeated every year for the re.
mainder Of their lives than 10 see 1t
brought about by any other instrument
tally but that Of their own organization.
They are not even willing that anybody
but Ptohibitionigt shall favor the sub
mission Of a prohibitory amendment 1t
suits them better to lump together as con-
spirators against the public welfare all
who think that prohibition is not the best
way to deal with the evil Contemporaries,
and yet are willing to let the people say
whether they want prohibition.
1t is unfair to guy that the INTELLldEN.
SRR is Opposing prohibition because pro-
hlbition means peCuuiary loss to parties
engaged in tho liquor business" The IN
TELMoRNcRR has said that in the event Of
the adoption Of a prohibitory amendment
It would be but common honesty to com.
pensate the men whose largo investments
would be swept away. Those investments
were made with the sanction Of the State,
and though "lhe State does not guarantee
any business" against the common haz-
ards OF trade, there Is a guaranteed that
private property shall not be taken for
public use without just compensation.
To destroy the property Of distiller or a
brewer on the ground Of the public welfare
Is 10 take his property for public use.
1t may be possible to reach condition
Of moral exaltation in which a distiller
orr brewer is not recognized in having
any Of a citizens right, but the ISTELLl.
GEScER does not expect to reach that
level. A proposition to adopt law is
not a law. 1t may never becomes law.
1t Is not fair notice TO "leavo the town
within twenty.iour hours" Nor is It to
be expected that the people will ever
form themselves into band Of Regulators
10 spoil any class Of citizens for the sake
Of comforting q great public benefit. II
tho lSTELLloEScER were the most ad.
vAnCed Of prohibitiOnlStS It would still be
unwilling to adopt acodO OF morals which
admitted 80 patent wrong.
This view may bOproatablO or unprodt.
able. Its tho 1STKLLluEScER'S view, and
the 1NTRLLtaEScEn is in the habit OF
being frank with lie readers. 1t would
even combat the inevitable" itit were
TO think the inevitable wrong.