Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-01-28
PROHIBITION VS.. PUBLIC SENTIMENT.

PROHIBITION VS.. PUBLIC SENTIMENT.
The basis of our form OF government
and the only sound basis of any
government il the consent OF the gov.
efded. We can know this consent
only from public sentiment. A meas
ure can be passed at u public election
by q majority Of votes, but unfortun-
ately the majority of votes does not
always determine the amount Of pop
ular concurrence behind them. This
is particularly true of these moral re-
forms that leave the true arena where
moral reforms should work, and aD-
peal 10 the arbitrament OF politics.
The def political manipulation may
thus cause a moral reform to be
hedged around with the sanctity Of a
law passed by u majority Of votes, but
that law is practically imperative, and
the sanctity Of law itself in the alb
stract seriously affected, unless behind
the majority Of suffrage is the majesty
Of public opinion. A law that is not
backed 10y the weight OF public senti-
ment may cucumber the statute books
but will neither be obeyed nor re-
spected. And Of such laws is that
which seeks to invest prohibition with
the sanction anu the influence of a
statute.
The good people Of Rhode Island. a
country which for generations, both
as a colony and a state was famous for
the liberal views of its inhabitants and
the excellency OF its rum, lately ex.
periencsd a spasmodie attack of the
new moral kink curling the hair of so
many estimable persons in this na.
ton, and writhing in the pangs of this
affection passed a %prohibitory law.
The state is so small that the odor Of O
glass Of New England rum poured out
at Point Judith on a frosty morning
car be easily perceived at the extremf
opposite point Of Woonsocket, while
the tapping Of a beer barrel at liver
ton may be distinctly heard clear
across the state westward to the
mouth Of the Pawcatuck. As the pop.
ulation Is very dense and the people
are OF that inquisitive and pious turn
which tempts every man TO pry into
his neighbours business and to hold
himself guardian Of his neighbours SAL
walton one would suppose that here II
anywhere a p~rohibitory law could be
enforced. But public sentiment is
against this phase of modern piety,
even 10 Rhode Island and the law Ia a
dead letter, except TO stimulate hypo-
orisy and irreverence for all law. The
governor Of the state says in his last
message:
The chief Of state police has been
diligent in his Office aud the law he
wss appointed 10 administer has been
enforced so far "A the influence in his
control can effect 1t. That the law Is
not more efficient is for want Of q suffi-
cient public sentiment 90 support 1t.
1t 10 a thankless task to attempt TO en-
force u law that has not the moral sup
port OF the community. The prohibit
tory law, so.called, IL written upon our
constitution and statutes, and self.re-
spect, a. we'll as the obligations OF our
Office, demand that we do what we
can TO accomplish it, purpose. The
courts ut present taking action are so
encountered with business already
brought that the delays TO final action
defeat the purpose OF the prosecution.
i would suggest that the number of
district courts might adyantageously
be increased ia the state and the courts
given a broader urlspiction.
We would suggest that human ma.
ture be altered. Then prohibition will
have some chance to prohibit. Wash.