Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-16
Communicated
Reunre Of Over.Confidence.


The opponents of the prohibitory amend
ment should indulge in no illusions in re-
gard To the character of this campaign.
Undue confidence is sometimes as fatal to a
cause as indifference and apathy. 1t is a
great mistake to suppose, because of the
absence of noise and excitement in the con-
test, that the Prohibitionists are not busily
at work. They are making canvass from
door to door. There is scarcely house in
the Commonwealth that has not received
liberal supply of prohibitionist documents.
1t is true that most of this campaign litera-
ture is sadly defective in argument; that it
appeals to the emotions rather than to the
sober Judgment of voters; that 1t grossly
mlsrepresents the situation in Maine, Iowa
and Kansas, and that its conclusions from
statistics of crime and vice are utterly alb
surd-but it will not do to underrate this
method of controversy. Adroit appeals TO
sentiment and imposing arrays Of doetored
social statistics have often proved more
| effective in winning votes than the soundess
arguments addressed to the reason.
A strong reliance of the advocates of pro-
hibition is in light vote on June 18. In
| stead of permitting the question to be de-
eided at the general election BY full vote
| of the people, they easily persuaded the
Legislature to fix special election day in
the season of the year when the farmer will
be busy with hay-making. While they ex-
pect to bring the last supporter Of prohibi-
tion to the polls by appeals to the spirit of
fanaticism, they anticipate a small vote Of
its opponents in the agricultural portions of
the State. This expectation is cherished
especially in regard to the steady and sober
farmers of Lancaster, Berks, Northampton,
Lebanon and other counties in which the
pennsylvania Dutch" element predomi-
mates.
Forewarned is forearmed. If the oppo-
nents of prohibition shall come out in their
strength on the 18th of June this question
will be so completely settled that it will not
be agitated again in Pennsylvania within
the present generation. In order to save a
half day in hay harvest the farmers of the
State should not neglect the duty of voting
against measure that is as unnecessary as
it would be futile. As the memorial Of the
members of the bar of Philadelphia has
shown, the Legislature now possesses all the
power to prohibit the manufacture and sale
of liquor which this amendment could con-
Vey. But while statutory prohibition could
be readily repealed when seen to be imprac-
ticable and disastrous, this amendment, If
adopted, would be fastened upon the people
VI Chhoy AOA yCoAo W NOAAOJ anu thO
Legislature would be rendered powerless to
pass any law to regulate the liquor traffic
and restrain its abuses.
The Bill of Rights declares that cal men"
shall have the right of pursuing their own
happiness, and that "the people shall be Sc
cure in their persons, houses, papers and pos
sessions from unreasonable searches and
seizures" This amendment would be in
fagrant inconsistency with these guarantees.
Prohibition never has been and never can be
enforced without violating inherent and in
defeasible rights of the people.
The issue involved in this contest is, there
fore, of such transcendant moment that no
citizen of fPennsYlvania who values the fund
amental principles of personal liberty and
who would preserve the organic law of the
State from mutilation will be prevented by
business or pleasure from recording his vote
against the prohibitory amendment on the
18th of June.