Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-05-08
ST. JOHNS APPEAL.
The Noted Prohibitiogist on the
Supreme Court.
ITS RECENT DECISION INFAMOUS"

The "Original Packages Opinion De-
cIared Worse Than fancy on bred Scott
"A '.Monstrous Doctrine Sustained I'm
Direct Conflict with the National Con-
stitution - One Other Tribunal To
Appeal To-A Blast at the President.
CHICAGO, May s.-Governor St. John,
who is spending few days in the city at
the Hotel Grace, in speaking of the recent
supreme court decision regarding the
Iowa prohibitory legislation characterized
it as the twin brother to the bred Scott
decision. Continuing he said: "The re-
cent decision of the supreme court of the
United States, to the effect that intoM-
eating liquors bought in one state can be
lawfully sold in another state in original
packages, notwithstanding such state pro-
hibits such sale, is the most unreasonable,
unjust, outrageous, and we will even say in
famous that has ever disgraced any judi
cial tribunal.
Sustains a ''Monstrous Doctrine"
"This decision sustans the monstrous
doctrine that the low, vile, and vicious
classes, without let or hindrance, may in
wade state with intoxicating liquors, and
there sell them in Original packages and
thus debauch manhood snd destroy the
peace and happiness of homes-yea, even
immortal souls-under the authority of
what is known as interstate commerce
| laws and that the people of such state
have no lawful means of protecting them
selves against such outrages.
Its Correctness Questioned.
Surely it was never intended by the
= &. ~ ot
congress should have power to pass laws
which would deprive a state of the right to
protect itself against any evil, the tenden-
cy of which was to brutalize and democrat
ize its people. 1t seems to us that, in
stead of the decision of the supreme court
of Iowa being in conflict with the inter
| state commerce laws, the original
package decision, which reYerses Iowa's
court, is in dieect conflict with the fed
| eral constitution, for that instrument
| declares that the object of civil govern
ment is to promote the general welfare of
| the people; hence any act of congress or de
cision of any court, uphOlding, protecting,
or defending that which hundreds of years
| of sad experience has taught the people de
| stroy their welfare, is so clearly opposed to
\ the fundamental principles upon which
| our government is based that the original
package decision must necessarily be a
| surprise to every intelligent citizen who
loves his home better than his party.
As to Popular Opinion.
"The decision was received with cheers in
| every distillery, brewery, saloon, beer gar
den and bawdy house in the land. BY com
| parison it will make the bred Scott de
| cision eminently respectable. According
| to this decision all license laws, all pro
1 hihifn and nfb tata laxx- lott ~
| the sale of intoxicating liquors are power
| erless TO reach such as are brought from
another state, and sold in original pack
| ages. If congress has the power to thus
| protect the liquor traffic it has the power
| to suppress it, and should exercise that
| power promptly and effectuaily.
| He Who Hesitates Is Lost.
| "There is still one earthly tribunal,
fNhigher than the supreme court-to which
| the,case will now be taken, and that is the
| people. = Let the voice of the people ring
| out from ocean to ocean, from Canada to
| the gulf in Condemnation of this judicial
| assault upon the purity and safety of their
| homes. There should be no half way bus
| mess about this matter The result Of the
contests between the home and saloon
brought about by old party trick
| cry during the past year in
| New Hampshire Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, re-
| enforced 10y two saloons in the national
| Capitol, the vice presidents saloon in the
Shoreham, aud the presidents example at
| the White House, followed up by this de
cision-sHd another one on par with it,
| Just rendered by the supreme court of
| Michigan in the interests of the saloons
should, it seems to u.s. arouse every lover
of God, home and country TO action. From
| this hour on he who falters or stands idly
| by in the face of this combination to ma
tionalize aud perpetuate the rum power is
unworthy the name of Christian or pa-