The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-06-21

IROlllEIIltlN
Pennsylvania, says the P,,Is, I,s..
by majority varying from 1j0,0 600
to 172 GOO. The Post, when the
amendment was passed as a
political trick by the Legislature of
1887. predicted that the majority
against it would be in the neighborhoOd
of 100000 II was far below the mark.
1t is also fact that almost the sum to-
tai OF the majority against the amend
ment comes from the Republican strong
holds of Philadelphia and Lancaster
and Allegheny counties, which are the
pulses, as it were, Of the bosses who
dominate the Republican party of the
State the tricksters who carried the
amendment through the Legislature as
a bit of political cheatery practIced on
the PInhibtionists, and then decreed its
defeat in accord with another bargain
made With the liquor interest.
But this aside, and it is fact which
will have considerable influence on the
future politics of the State. the people
of Pennsylvania are to be congratulated
on the result. 1t is not a triumph of
the liquor interest or of the saloon pow
er, but of the common sense of the peo-
pie, marking and emphasizing their
opposition to impr3cticable theories, to
arbitrary interferences with the person
al rights OF the people, and to the con-
fiscstion of property rights guaranteed
by the Constitution aGd laws. Further
than this, it is a declaration for ;he
judicious regulation of the liquor traf-
fic, and that il shall bear its proper, and
even an exceptional, share Of the public
burthens. It does not mean free and
untaxed whisky. Prohibition in this
State did. In brief. the result con-
demns Prohibition az a moral, political
or social issue, and maintains the right
and expediency of moderate license tax
alton and judIcious regulation.
The overwhelming vote against the
amendment represents the best judg-
ment OF the Industrial, the business
and the professional class OF the popu-
latiOn oi Pennsylvania. IL was an in
telligent vote. The counties where
msjorities against the amendments are
strongest are .he counties most noted
for their progress, their enterprise and
business activity, as we'll as their lead
in the kindly and benevolent move
ments of the day. Whatever OF Intiml-
dation appeared in the canvass was At
tempted by the Prohibitionists in AFRO
eating to themselves a superior virtue
and better judgment, not warranted by
the facts. Pennsylvania by the result
vindicates her conservatism, her sense
of Individual rights and liberty, and her
regard for the rights of property. II
will have a wide.reaching effect in res
forming the illjberal laws OF the States
that have drifted far away from the
principles OF American liberty and the
inherent and inalienable rights of citi>
zenship. They have been held up TO us
as models. The model has been reject
ed, and Pennsylvania leads the way IN
the reassertion and viudication of the
great American principle OF self
government in is personal as we! as
its political sense.
TIE election in this State on Tues
day puts Pennsylvania against Prohibi-
tion by majority that will not be far
from 100000. BY their vote the people
of Pennsylvania, have decided to rely
on their own virtue instead OF being
controlled by statutory provision in
the Constitution. Cambria county,
gives a majority Of ,432 against the
prohibitory amendment and had It not
been for the calamity that betel her
people in JohnstOwn, the majority
would have reached 1000. The inhabi-
tants OF Cambria county are a temperate
people, temperate in their opioions and
habits and want no legislation forced
on them by the Incorporate and mis-
guided Zaalots, who would have the
morals of the people controlled by
sumptuaIy laws.