Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-02-03


ducing elements of the country, is q
phase that will force itself on the politi.
clans attention. 1t is to be expected
that these elements will formulate some
reasonable demands, for no organization
can exist on mere distractions. They
will be compelled to limit their demands
to an object that can be accomplished by
political means. and with due regard to
all the other interests In the country. At
present see in this movement nothing
but spirit of revolt against republican
domination. which. of itself. Is sign of
political change, and in such a condition
Of things party like the democratic.
which has definite aims and purposes.
must attract large part Of these dis
satisfied elements"
Twill the prohibitionists cut much of
figure thisH"
mo; they will gain no strength for
years to come. and will never succeed as
national party. Any amendment to
the federal constitution intended to pro-
hibit the manufacture ana sale of intexi
eating liquors must be In form something
like this: And the general picked up a
book, containing the constitution Of the
United States. and read an adaptation OF
the fifteenth amendment. as follows:
The manufacture and sale of intoxis
eating liquors in the United Staths or any
territory thereof is hereby Prohibited and
congress shall have power TO enforce this
article by appropriate legislation"
Thus it will be seem" he continued,
cit would be complete alteration in the
whole system Of government established
by the federal constitution and break
down all the barriers between the now
separate police powers of the federal and
state governments. The prohibition of
the sale or use of Intoxicating liquors by
law Is one of peculiar Difficulty, NJ will be
noticed by an examination of the meth
DDS employed In states where prohibitory
laws have already been enacted. 1t in
wolves in such states large increase In
the police force, with such necessary in.
crease of the powers of the courts and the
police as trench very closely upon public
and Individual rights. The federal po-
lice, which. If prohibitory laws were
adopted by the federal government would
be necessary. would derive its authority,
not from the people. but from an ap-
pointing power wholly irresponsible to
VIZ ptOPiCs ouSu pOhOC uuust
likewise be clothed with very extensive
powers, which will include the search of
houses where contraband liquors might
be supposed to be kept for use or sale.
Federal prohibitory laws would require
the creation of petty courts with ample
powers, also deriving their authority from
an appointing power other than the PEG.
pie, and then would require the extend
ing to each the police jurisdiction of the
federal government, and so interfere with
the general police powers of the state,
which are so difficult OF definition that
constant confusion would follow. II is
an axiom in politics that no two govern
ments can possess complete jurisdiction
over the same subject, to be exercised at
the same time. According to the federal
constitution, in all cases where the Just
authority OF the federal government is
brought in conflict with authority claimed
under the states, that claimed under the
states must yield, so that il may be easily
supposed that the constitutional amend
ment suggested would substantially trans
fer TO the government of the United
States the supervision OF the entire police
authority of the states, and would lead TO
the almost entire subversiOn of popular
government as 1t now exists in the states.
For these and many other reasons. am
unalterably opposed to any amendment
OF the federal constitution which would
prohibit the manufacture. the importa-
ton. the sale or use of liquor in the states.
and give TO the federal government such
extensive powers over the internal Affairs
OF the states as the enforcement of such
laws would require. 1t seems to be
hardly necessary to go further and con-
slider what congress may or ought to do
under Its existing power to regulate com
merce with foreign nations and between
the states or to inquire whether its pow>
ers In these respects might be advanta-
geously enlarged. 1t will be time enough
To consider these questions when they are
presented to the public In some practical
form. With me it is a cardinal political
theory that power should be kept with
the people 10 all cases to be exercised by
themselves whenever possible. for with
all the faults that attend strictly popu.
lar government no better system has yet
been devised.