The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-08-28
How To CONTROL 1T.
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pleAtu n EelallOu 10 Il. Some OF lie
political cOnven tons in the respective
states are pacing themselves squarely
for prohibition. and others are refusing
u do so. An effort vas made to place
a plank IN the Michigan Republican
platform favoring absolute prohibition.
but it was rejected by a 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:
RESOLVED, That while We have no pur-
pose - interfere with just laws for the reg
ulatiOn OF the trafhc Ia Intoxicating liquor
and TO- the prevention ur coli ectiOn of The
evils 20 society growing out Of the abuses
IN their Sae We declare thar IL Is not the
Legitimate province OF cover msRt 10 con
trll the hauits, tasies, appetlIes and Ii critics
OF The people so long a. tney are orderly
and p-scraO e and do not eucroach upon
the-rights 81 OF ieTs or Of society. We, there
lore de iare that the ptoht-iuon by coasti-
tltiou or % generaI laws Of the manufac
ture or sale of vinous. mat or spirituous
liquors, would be in violation of individual
and per-onzl Iights, and contrary 10 me
fundamental principles Of free governments.
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. Bat in dong this there are
limits to its operations. There are
many habits, tastes and appedtes which
are doubtless injurious 10 the indiyid-
ual INDUCING in them, and indirectly
injurious 10 society; and yet govern
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 view Of stamp
Ing chem out, would require, in our
poor Judgment, such an invasion OF
individual liberty that would cons itute
a worse evil than the one it is designed
TO cure. There IS no particular magic
in legislative enactment. There are
many Guack physicians who recon-
mend their special production OF medi-
cine 70 possess such marvellous proper
ties anu virtues that they proclaim il
cure for all the aches. pains, and
diseases that Eesh 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 10 think
that all that is necessary to cure any
particular evil, IS to pass a law against
il. Bat 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 the
awful display of Gods power and mai
esty would hsye doubtless been sufi-
eient. Something besides the enactment
OF good laws is necessary. Never for
get, was the faTorite instruction q.
Napoleon 20 the men he created kings.
'-hstlsws sre mere utilities without
the power to enforce them" The truth
OF the proposition is so self-evident, that
no one viii be disposed 70 dispute II.
The power that supports the laws in
this and other free countries is the DO
pular sentiment OF e.; people. Esps,
Tally Is this true where trial BY jury is
the privilege of men accused Of crime;
and n the capacity Of iarymen the citi-
zens become despite aH1thaories to The
contrary, judges OF the law as well as
OF the fact Of guilt or innocence. We
know the theory Of trial by iury is that
the jury have nothing 10 do with
the law, bus merely Of concluding from
the facts whether the accused Is guilty
or innocent underline Law, and Of some.
times judging OF the degree OF his guilt.
But Tor al that liberty has been pre-
served more than once at its last gasp
o. a Jury refusing TO bring in 3 verdict
OF guilty under a law 1t regarded as in
famoa And in whatever vicinity the
iaw IS in dIsrepate, and does not receive
the hearty Endorsement Of the people.
there that law viii not be enforced 10
any great extent, Tor 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 wil induce them to
coavict men whom they esteem the
v.c;ims % unjust laws. Perhaps ihis IS
al wrong. The strict moralist would
argue that TIE iurgman should give
verdict according 10 the facts under the