The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-01-06
FRIDAY. JANUARY 9th. 1883.
LOCAL OPTION

eating. AS it is a poor rule that will
not work both ways, vice versa we
have. the proof Of the local option
law will be in tho drinking. For
months arguments have been made
pro and con; the subject has been
talked in tho home circle, on the
street corners and wherever two or
three have been gathered together
public meetings have discussed it and
newspapers have kept it OH hand as q
stock subject for editorials.
But the time for argument has
gone by. Prohibition is by an over.
whelming vote the law of the land,
and the law requires obc,licnce, not
argument. The seller or the drinker
may complain, may suffer inconven.
fence, hardship. pec'niary loss,
but the law has no elasticity, and its
penalties are the alternatives Of del.
inlucncics.
1t has been claimed by the oplon.
ents of the local option law, that if tho
law went into effect that certain evils
would occur, among which were the
following:
That trade would lie driven TO adj.
joining towns; that many buildings
would be closed and remain unrentcd;
that there would DO more liquor
drank than before; that cities and
counties would have to greatly in.
crease the taxation to make I'D for
the license money lost.
These evils should now. according to
the arguments ma,lc. he upon us
and will he until the law is changed.
If they prove to be true, there is no
doubt Of q change rs soon as the limit
of the law will allow it.
IT it isa bad law, strict enforce.
lnent will soonest prove its badness
and il it is u good law, strict enforce.
ment will likewise prove its goodness;
hence, IL is to the interest of all
whether orrosers or promoters. to see
that fur this first year of it's adoption
that it has fair trial and we have
faith to believe that if it has this
trial, that some Of its strongest oplns.
ers will become its strongest support.
ers.
We believe enforcement will not lie
81 difficult Il matter for several rea.
SOILS. LIST, that few persons care Il,
conduct illegitinatc business. on,l,
few persons care to latronize an lille.
climate business. 3rl, that IL large
part Of the revenues Of the liquor
business come. from moderate drink.
ers and "treaters" OF persons who use
the saloon AS u place of resort, few of
whom would he found, at least for
any length, OF time IN tho places it
may he sold contrary to law. 4,h.
many persons who perhaps would not
respect the law from principle will he
deferred from selling hy fear of its
penalties.
The rrnsons given above, will in
themselves close entirely The largest
portion Of the saloons. The balance
will DC the few who deliberately take
the chances, and when !. man del;btr.
ately breaks the law, he should be
willing tn take The penalty if,leterte,9.
OF most of tho men we are person.
ally acquainted with, that are in.
terested i'll the sale of liquor, we ean
say, that when once settled in some
other business. that most of them will
make q Better living. morally and Ii.
nanciaiiy. and RS cEs will he better
satisfied with the chang. Than Them
selves.
there are q great many rleasanter
ways of getting a living than selling
whskey, sya" when the law cloaks it
with responsibility, hut when the
majority Of the people say it is p
public nuisance. then every respect.
able man, every law abiding citizen
sll,rld yield to the opinion of the
majority.
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