The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-01-07
WHAT IT MEANS.

The Supreme Court and the SaIoon-The
Power and Majesty of the Law-Suprem me
Authority from Which There Is No APP
peal.
The saloon reels under the terrific
blow dealt by the Supreme Court of
the United States in the Kansas cases.
1t reels to and fro and staggers like Il
drunken man. and is at its wits end
Its swagger is for the moment gone.
Its loud, boastful tones have fallen
into a hOarse whisper, and its impcr-
tinent challenge to the American peo-
pie has lost its defiant ring. The power
and majesty of law which it has so
often scorned, inspire it with an awe
it never felt before. 1t has made its
final appeal and has found that there
is no way of escape for it from the
mighty grip of law. Any State may
now declare it nuisance and proceed
to abate it, and it has no remedy ex-
cept in rebellion. Every phase of the
saloon-the brewery, the distillery,
the grOggery, is subject to the exer-
else of this sovereign power; and the
manufacture and the wholesale and
the retail of intoNicants may be us
vigorously suppressed as any other
form of nuisance deemed detrimental
to health or morals.
The decision of the Supreme Court
declares that compensation for dam
age to property can not be exacted
from thn Sfafn Nvrbar, bO 70
and sale of intoxicants are prohibited.
This is the great point decided. Every
man. henceforth, who enters into, or
continues in, the business of making
or selling intoXicants in any State,
does so at his own risk. His business
may at any time, either by legislative
enactment or constitutional provision,
be declared a nuisance and be sup
pressed us in Kansas or be prohib-
tied as in Maine and other States. 1t
is in effect notice to every brewer
and distiller and dealer that he must
be prepared to give up this business
whenever his State commands him to.
Formal action by the popular voice or
by legislative pr ocess outlaws his bust
ness, and turns the criminal machinery
force of this fact is irresistible. 1t will
crush the saloon as slavery was
crushed. The supreme interpreter of
our Supreme Law has given us this
mighty weapon of warfare. Let US
WELD it with all our power
The decision has robbed the saloon
of stroi G hope. 1t 'annihilates at
once and forever" says the st. Louis
An@eiger deS WcStcnS. all hope of pro-
lection against the suppression by in
dividual States of the liquor traffic, and
''extinguishes irrevocably" all expecta-
tions of indemnity. 1t is mot only Il
heavy blow to the business interests
directly concerned says the Balti-
more Duetsche Correspondent, "but
also to the whole movement for the
maintenance of personal liberty" Mr..
Thoman, one of the chief writer's for
the brewers. says he has lost "all con-
tidence in the Supreme Court" Louis
Schade, attorney for the Brewers As
ISOLATION of the United States, says it
is a terrril le blow, but the brewers
must submit. 1t bars them out of all
Prohibition States and local-option
counties. Liquor dealers all agree
that it settles the question forever so
far as the courts are concerned, and
progress of Prohibition.
The contest is narrowed down and
simplified by this decision. The sa-
loon, with its whole business is, in
effect, delivered into the hands of the
people. The people may do what they
will with it They may support it or
they may tolerate it; they may cripple
it or they may destroy it. Their right
to deal with it is henceforth unques-
toned.
The lessons for Temperance men are
these: 1st. Be of good cheer. Let this
victory inspire you with larger hope
and with greater courage. Make the
most of it, both for the help of your
own cause and the hindrance of that
Of the saloon. I'd. Do all that is posi-
BILE to educate and strengthen public
sentiment against the saloon. This
extremely important work may be
pushed by manifold processes. 3D..
Combine wherever YOU can and as far
rs you can for the good of the
cause. Combine to cripple as well
rs to destroy, combine in ward and
village and town, as well as in county