The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-25

Mr.. Bla.r's Prohibition Amendment.
1t is hardly probable that Senator BARS
amendment to TIE constitution, pro
hibiting the manufacture and sale Of
Intoxicating liquors IN the United
States, win be consi Tered at this
session of congress. 1t is even probable
that il viii not be considered hy this con
gress If it is not, senator Blair will intro
duce it into the next congress. He is motel
for the tenacity with which he sticks to the
measures which he champions
1t is hardly probable that the amendment
will receive the approval Of congress None
OF the senators, except Nh Blair, or the
representatives, are known TO be openly in
favor If it. There are senator's and repre-
sentatives who favor prohibition, but they
do not believe in giving the federal govern
ment authority TO enforce it. Indeed, they
do not believe that the federal government
could enforce it anywhere near as effect
ually as towns and counties can.
The disposition of congress and the rulings
of the supreme court are rather against
taking from the states any Of the authority
they now exercise. The people, however.
increasing the power Of the central govern
ment are all the time calling on congress
for legislation which tends TO magnify the
central government at the expense of the
state governments They want the govern
ment to regulate railroads and the telo
graph, and to put down strikes and punish
dynamiters. Indeed, they call on the fed
eral power to do many things which the
states alone can do and ought to do. If
congress should do all that it is asked to do,
it would not be long before state lines would
virtually disappear.
This prohibition amendment Of Senator
Blair, if adopted by the states, would CON
fer immense power upon the federal gov
eminent. There is no probability, how
ever, that the states would ratify it if con
Rress should pass it, and there is no proba-
uility that congress will pass it, The pro
hibitionlsts may argue that the states should
be given a chance to ratify it, in order that
tie prohibition issue might be brought
squarely and fairly before the people, and
some congressman may vote for it on that
ground. Not enough, however, will do so
to pass it.
The prohibition party is gaining strength
and the prohibition issue is, apparently, go
ing to be a great one. Existing parties will
have to handle it, and they might as well
prepare to do so. 1t will not cut much Of
figure in this campaign, however, but in the
next national campaign, If tgrows as stead
lily during the next four years as it has the
last four, it will make itself felt.
1t is to be regretted that the prohibition
lists in all parts of the country cannot be
induced to place their sole dependence upon
local option. In this state and Florida that
method of enforcing prohibition has been
productive of excellent results, and it would
produce just as satisfactory results
in other states. It's great advantage
is that the people are educated
up to the prohibition standard
before adopting prohibition. Wherever
public sentiment is in favor of prohibition
it is enforced. 1t is always Il mistake to
force prohibition on a community where
public sentiment is against it. The law is
evaded, and when that is the case only con-
tempt is felt for it, even by its advocates
Local option requires the support of public
opinion, and prohibition based upon en-
lightened public opinion is certain to be
successful