The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-06-26

~ <r.es~-tITGY VIII UaVe &c
decide whether or not they will attach a
prohibitory clause to their Constitution,
and they are more than likely to decide
in the negative. In Rhode Island the
question is whether the prohibitory
clause already in force shall be repealed
and, although the evil effects that have
flowed from the amendment adopted
three years ago have converted the
strong majority in its favor into a
strong majority against it, the result of
the effort to repeal it is rendered some
what doubtful by the fact that nothing
less than a three-ffths vote can decree
the repeal.
Right here is one Of the strongest OBJ
jections to prohibitory legislation by
constitutional amendment. 1t is a per-
version of the functions of constitu-
ton, and ittakes away from the people
the right to change their laws when
they change their minds as to what the
laws should be. 1t deprives the ma
jority of the right to make its will felt
in the statutes.
Constitutions are very properly made
difficult of alteration, because stability
is essential to security in the founda-
tions of government. But for that very
reason constitutions should include
nothing but the necessary provisions of
fundamental law. They are the COM
pacts of the people with each other, not
as to what the laws shall be from time
to time, but as to the manner IN which
the laws shall be made and the limita-
tions that shall be set upon the law
making power. When they go beyond
that they cease to be charters of liberty
and become instruments of tyranny.
The regulation and restraint of the
liquor traffic is peculiarly a matter
which cannot be wisely settled by any
rule of thumb. 1t requires the constant
exercise of judiciouS care. K is a
problem the factors of which vary with
time, place and circumstance, and the
attempt of the Prohibitionists to take its
soluti3n out of the hands of the people
by fastening prohibitory amendments
upon State Constitutions is the conscious
effort of despotic will to make un-
changeable law out of that which at best
is only the decree of a temporary popu-
lar judgment.
Six States have recently voted down
proposals of prohibition by constitutional
amendment, among them being some in
which the majority of voters strongly
favor prohibition by statute. fact from
which it is fair to infer that even among
Prohibitionists there is an awakening
sense of respect for the nature and func-
tions of constitutional law.
In Rhode Island the sentiment in be-
half of repeal rests upon the experience
of the last three years. Observation
and experience have show the people Of
that State that prohibition does not pre-
vent the sale of liquor, but increases its
evils; that it puts the business into the
hands of criminals, deprives the lawful
authorities of the right to regulate it in
any way and robs the State of the
revenue justly due from that source.
They have tried prohibition and are
tired of it. But they cannot do away
with it unltsS the sentiment in opposl-
ton can command a three-ffths ma
iority in favor of repeal. If repeal is
decreed in this weeks election in Rhode
Island it may be fairly assumed that we
are at the end Of the madness Of excise
legislation by constitutional amend
meut.-Neac York World