Omaha daily bee., 1890-05-16
car for the sr@tol accommodation of con.
.tpss II
The TeEhperancc Problem.

ItncOlu NcIcs.
The fiat has gone forth! The anxiously
looked-for decision by the supreme court of
the United States is adverse to the district
and supreme counta of the state of Iowa as TO
the constitutionality of the laws in prohibit
ing the importation of liquor into states
whcrc prohibition is established. The high
est tribunal in American jurisprudence has
decided that 1t Is an infringement upon the
rights OF the people as guaranteed by the con-
stitution. To this decision we must bow,
however much we may wish 1t otherwise.
The conclusion OF the honorable court will
be much criticised, but It is of no avail. II IS
the law of the land. 1t is true that there
were three dissenting voices, but the majority
rules and the law Is defined.
In reviewing the previous rulings of the
court reference is made to those of Judge
Taney, who at one time, in what is known as
the Dred Scott case, ruled that "a colored man
had no rights that white man was bound to
respect" This seemed so at variance with
humanity ard justice that it was universally
condemned by the opponents of slavery. Yet
it was law The law of slavery times, when
property in man was recognized.
Spirituous liquors unqucstionably is prop
crty and, unfortunately for the welfare of
- WY llllpOiluub ui'iSiS VI NVhi-
mercc over the whole world wherever civil
ization has set her foot
Gunpowder and whisky were great factors
in civilizing and outstanding the heather,
and no Christian country is without it's stimu-
liant, hence law regulating the sale thereof.
This decision of the United States court is
the suggestion of many thoughts 1t should
awaken in our minds the necessity of proper
pInpntiOn pf nt,t. al
bility-the political and social duties devolv
ing upon every man. Morality is not the
creation Of law, but law is the creation of
morality. Law does not mould public opin-
ion, but public opinion moulds law; hence a
law in advance of public opinion is dead
letter, a nullity. 1t should also teach us to
have "a decent respect for the opinions of
mankind" 1t is Just as impossible for all to
think alike as to look alike. 1t is a trite say
ing, 'many men of many minds" )" and each
one is entitled to the possession Of his own.
1t is unbecoming, yes, worse, it is degrading
for one man to abuse, reyile and denounce
another for the opinions he entertains. Yet
look at the conduct of the teachers engaged
in the great prohibition party.
The mouthpieces-no term, seems vile
enough to express their contempt for one
who differs with them in opinion, and yet
one opinion may be as honestly entertained as
the other. Ministers of the gospel who would
not blindly join the bowling party of prohibit
tion have been denounced as ''emmisaries of
hell, "ngents of the devil" etc. All this is
calculated to retard the progress of true tenn
perance and even good morals Fanaticism
is the bane of true progression. The inquisi-
tion never made a convert to religion although
it covered the country with death, desolation
and human bones; it never made a convert,
neither will vituperation and denunciation
convince the mind.
There is no doubt but the violent course of
the fanatical misguided so-called 'phianthro-
pists," who were determined to establish an
espionage upon every household who disa-
greed with them in opinion has led to the
PRONUNCIATION of this judicial decision, and it
is rational to suppose that had it been given
prior to the adjournment of the Iowa legisla-
ture prohibition laws in that state would
have been wiped out and license law placed
upon the statute books. The effect upon the
vote on prohibition in this state will be very
great, Notwithstanding you may hear the
voices from hired speakers, who are en-
ployed as attorneys and who work for what
money is in it. denouuce and vilify the
judges who have rendered the decision. A
little more judgment, discretion and respect
for our fellowmen might be used very advan-
tageously by the leaders of the prohibition
party.