Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-29
Bay state is level-headed on this sub

Bay state is level headed on this sub
ject.
New York Times: The prohibition
amendment has been defeated in Mas
sachusetts by majority OF nearly
10000. Boston gave n majority against
il OF about 20,000, and in nearly all the
cities the adverse vote was very de-
cided. that of Salem being almost the
only exception. Several OF these are
places which under local option sustain
the prohibition policy for themselves.
This shows that the sentiment in favor
OF constitutional prohibition does not
correspond at all TO that in favor OF
rigid restrictive legislation. 1t is prob
ably not so strong as that for statutory
prohibition, but there is every reason
to believe that the temperance senti-
ment is generally favorable to policy
of high license and local option, and
that policy will be promoted by the de-
feat OF prohibition. The subject has
undergone n thorough agitation in
Massachusetts. which is likely TO result
in benefit to the temperance cause.
Chicago Herald: BY large majority
Massachusetts has defeated the prohi-
bition amendment to its constitution.
The campaign has been exciting. and
even bitter, and hotter contest has
slavery issue. The whole common
wealth was moved, and never before
were the temperance men and the anti
Temperance men so well organized to
meet each other at the polls. The re-
suit has been an ovel whelming defeat
for the temperance men. The people
have decided the question after the
methods appointed for them to make
decisions, and when they have decided
it should be an end of the matter.
Chicago Times: The explanation of
| repeated recent failure to secure popu-
lar Endorsement at the ballot-box of the
plan of the prohibitionists will be
| found, probably, in the fact that prac-
tical people mindful of individual
| rights and the hopelessness of accom-
| plishing reforms in mems habits by
| drastic statutes are content with the
| improvements made by most of the
| states in the laws regulatory OF dram
| shops. Local option obtains extern
| sively, high license is general, munich
| pal regulation is stricter and more di-
| rect. This much having been achieved,
| there is an unwillingness to go any fur
ther, especially when to go further
may mean to fare worse. The sturdy
| common sense OF the country is con-
| tent.
|
community that wants prohibition can
have it. 1t is only question OF public
sentiment, and no paper law can con-
troll the individual appetite in COM
| munity where the sentiment of the ma
| jority is against it. Prohibition can
only go by moral conviction, and moral
conviction is not to be had under COM
| pulsion. Under the existing law, which
| will now remain undisturbed for long
time to come, the practical temperance
men of Massachusetts will continue
their work by restrictive measures,
where prohibition can not be enforced, =,
and secure excellent results, while
| those communities which want prohib-
itiOn, and have sufficient strength to
enforce it, can obtain it at any time.
Cincinnati Enquirer: For the third
time, this spring, a New England state
has recorded the verdict of its people
against what is called prohibition.
First came New Hampshire, whose
close affinity to Maine led the prohib-
| itionists to be sanguine of success. They
were badly beaten. Then came little
| Rhode Island, with similar eXpecta-
tions and like result.
Yesterday the greatest of the New
England states, Massachusetts, voted
| upon u constitutional amendment in
terms as follows:
1.-The manufacture and sale of intoxi-
eating liquors to be used as beverage
are prohibited. The general court
shall enact suitable legislation to en-
force the provisions of this article"
The proposition was overwhelmingly
defeated 1t did not have even a third
Of the popular vote in its support
There would seem to be profound