Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-08-14

knows whereof he aifirms when he says that
there is not dark cell within the walls even
tor punishment All Is bright and cheerful
IA can tie the inmates receive tHdtuldUdl
'rsd,mcRt,and the access to their tellow.m
is in marked contrast with the severity Of
other theories which pretend to greater
mercy
There are some good Democrats aud other
good people who are all wrong ON the cues.
ttuu OF prohibition and when PEOPLE who
pretend to have studied POLITICAL questions,
get So radically wrong 1t Is especially pleas
ing to find a member ot the clerical proies
sion, who is naturally supposed to be more
emotional than logical, stand up straight upon
an issue that misleads 30 many who minister
in his sacred office A preacher who is high
up in one of the leading denominations OF the
state writes me this
"As a minister OF the GOSPEL have ALWAYS
been neutral in politics Officially, and have
seldom, n citizen, taken any mart III po-
liiicai affairs, except to vote. But have
studied political questions aud have always
felt strong attachment tn the Democratic
party aud its principles. l am particularly
anxious that the coming Democratic state
convention should take a iair and square,
manly stand ON the prohibition question; aud
beg you 10 spare few moments IL CONSIDER
what | have To suggest.
al sm opposed To prOhibltuTy amend
nent to our constitution:
ID Because the subject should I've dealt
with by the legislature IN statute law. I'm
amendment to the constitution, once adopted,
can be modified only with difficulty, no mat
ter what experience may demand.
C2) | consider that prohibition Is imprac'
ticable, and will make hypocrites and law
breakers.
1t partakes ui Mohammedau superstition
rather than of Christian liberty: of Chinese
| or Turkish paternalsm rather than OF Amer
lean freedom.
"Aud being opposed TO such an amend
msnt am opposed To its submission to the
people rs a step towards the wrong end.
"On this question of submission u grea
ialiscy seems To have taken hold OF the
public mind. 1t is thought right for legis
lators, themselves not ia favor of the amend
ment to Het the people decide indeed i
is represented as an outrage ON popular rig ht
If the people are not allowed vote on tn,
prohibition amendment
"All this is utterly foreign 10 our theory
OF constitutional government
| THAT theory involves three principles: (ll
| That amendments IL the constitutional or or
ganic Law should be less easy than amend
msnts to the statute law. t2l, That suct
amendments should not he made in haste
on popular impulse, but with ample time fo
| the " sober, second thought" 80, That sucl
amendments should not be made at all unles
| they can command the assent either OF a con
stttutOnal convention, or of two-thirds o
| each branch of two successive legislatures
| e., of a body of men, supposed to be of goo,
| judgment, above the average anu with ampl
| time for debate.
1.-THE idea that when any considerable
| number OF persons demand an amendment
| II should, on that ground alone, be submitte,
to the people, Is fundamentally unsound
| The rights of minOrities are too sacred to b
| subject To mere majority vote, wlthou
| checks and delays.
| "Besides do not believe that a majorit
| have a moral right to make amendments I
the constitution tyrannical and Oppressiv
| TO the minority and such | regard a. Ia
character of the proposed amendment
| Now, it follows, | think:
| lst. That a citizen who really fayors III
| prohibition amendment may properly VO
for members of the legislature Of the SAN
| way of thinking. And that members of Il
| legislature of like mind, may properly
| honestly vote for submission.
| I'd. That for a member of the legislatu
| who is not i'll favor OF Prohibition, to vote f
submission con the ground of "letting Il
| people decide''), Is for him to shirk respO
| sibility and to destroy the safe guards of co
stitutional liberty. For 1t was intended
guard against rash amendments by provi
| ing for submission, only when two-th ird
| &c, are approved-not of submission, whi,
| is a "dOdge," but OF the amendment itself.
; Sd. That for Prohibitionists to ask cane
| dates tor Senate and assembly, to plcdy
| themselves to submission" Irrespective
. their own views as to the amendment, is
| ask men, for the sake OF votes, to do what
have spoken of in the foregoing psrsgrap
; 1t Is really an exceedingly immoral tran -
| ton and specially reprehenslDle in profess,
special friends OF virtue.
ith. That the Republican party by decls
ing for submission" without pretending
be in favor of prohibition, promises (sincel
| ~ or iuslncerely), to procure If ii can, a lie
| lsiature that will renounce its constitution
function, act on Jscobin principles and bre,
' down, by indIrection, the guarantees again
| rash changes.
~ regard the position taken by the Repu
: lican party as cowardly, hostile 10 the trl
/ ] meaning of the constitution, dangerous al
! perilously near to subornation of perjur
r | for it is violation of ones oath to 'approy
{ all amendment which one does not approx
| when that real approval Is made sategua
? | against popular rashness-
I" desire to see the Democratic party rep
! | dating this great political heresy refusing
r Initiate. this evil example and manfully I
| claring against sumptuary legislation al
; all steps Leading to it
D "But If the Democratic party does this Al
no more, 1t will be understood as favoril
the abuses of the liquor traffic. This wou
!. be wrong and perhaps fatal to success.
, | hope declaration will be made in favor OF
= high license law, embodying judicious restr
tons. This is urgently needed; is the bt
thing that can now be done; and il it il Il
done the demand for prohibition may becoI
: | irresistible.
= ~ wish TO see the Democratic party
: | Pennsylvania declaring on the one hal
, | against legislation which is hostile to person
= | freedom and would brand as criminal az
q done by the Son of God when on earth, al
! | also against the peryersion aud nullihcatit
; of the constitution and on the other hand,
declare for judicious regulation, restricts
!, | and taxation of traffic whose abuse produC
so much evil, crime and misery.
81 hope to see distinct pledge agar
sumptuary legislation and dishonest subt'
iuges and in favor Of high license.
: "Such a position is manly, consstel
honest, Democratic. 1t may lose some vot
but will gain others 1t has future.
q will deserve success and be more likely
o win 1t than any trucking either to 'prohi
4 | ton or free rum"
i -.
1t strikes me he writes like statesman.
SINDBAD
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