The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-10-09
The Courts Rebulse to a Grand
Jury.
VIEWS ON PROHIBITION.

The Colfax Chronicle of the 5th inst.
contains the censure of Judge Black
man to the Grand Jury, and says that
/ it was ca'stc and well merited. The
views of Judge Blackman on the lues-
F.; ton of prohibition will meet with the
appreciation of every one who has wit
messed it's utter failure in this Parish.
We publish below the whole of the
charge relative thereto:
| GENTLEMEN OF THE GRAND jury -
When you were impancled Oh the first day
OF this term of the Court, you took SOL
rmn oath to diligently inquire into and
due prescntnent make of all violations of
the criminal law that was brought to
your knowledge or of which you had rcli-
able information. 1t is possible, but en-
| ceediugly Improbable, gentlemen, that
the illegal traffic and safe of spiri,uo,,s
liquors has escaped your observation and
| knowledge. That TINS law prohibiting
| the sale Of liquor without license has
been iiagrantly violated every day since
this term OF the COnrt, is apparent to the
most casual observer, for there have been
more intoxicated men in the town Of Col
fax within the last twelve days than was
ever witnessed by Inc, and | have been,
as you know, your presiding Judge for
| over twelve years. How aud for what
reason you as Grau,l Jurors have signal!y
| failed to investigate and find out the par
ties selling liquor is unknown to the
| Court, but thai you have s:gnally failed
| to do your duty under the charge of the
Court, there is not i'll my opinion il shaft
ow of doubt. | know that the law re-
quires twelve of you to consent to pre-
sentiment, therefore l have no means of
officially ascertaining what particular
members of your body deserve this cen-
snre of the Court. Ordinarily the crimi-
nal law is faithfully AID honestly execn-
teal i'll your Parish, but the law prohibit
/ ing the sale of Intoxicating liquors and
Withholding license from the public to
engage in this traffic is Il lamentable fail
ure, and is treated with contemptuous
indifference that speaks badly for the
moral sentiment OF your community. 1t
| is the experience of all societies that the
law Withholding license for the sale OF
Intoxicating liquors does not in reality
prOnibit the sale, and further demon
stratos the fact that 10 law can be rigid
~ enforced that does hot meet the apprO
baton of a large majority of the people
and is sustained by healthy public mo-
raj sentiment. After an experience OF
several years in your sister Parish of Rap.
ihes, the Police Jury, finding prohibition
ii failure, submitted the question again tn
the incorporated towns, and now there is
apparently less liquor drunk, aud the
State, Parish and Towns receive their le-
ultimate revenues, and the Court is re-
lieved of large number of costly prose.
cutions which almost invariably ended in
aclnittals. In my opinion the Police Ju.
ry Of your Parish should again submit the
question to the people of this ward and
let the majority of the voters settle the
matter, for it is apparent that the law
without further legislation cannot be
fairly and impartially enforced. In Other
respects, gentlemen, yon have performed
your duty, aud the Court nor the public
have any reasonable cause of complaint
You are now discharged from further at
tendance at Court.