The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-08-28
The Prohibitionista Speak.

claim to rule our State and county are
now before us, here in Cecil county,
for the inal act, that Of the voter, to
confirm or reject candidates selected
for their suffrages.
And we wish to remiud you that this
is not all there is involved. If 1t was
merely a choice of men, to decide by
majority vote upon personal preferences
as thus officially expressed, it would be
more simple thing and one involving
no moral responsibility on the part of
the citizen.
These political parties are supposed
to represent some well defined purpose
or object TO be attained, that can only
be accomplished by organization.
though what that object is neither con-
vention has thought il necessary to tell
us, and we therefore cannot resist the
conclusion that they have no motive or
reason to offer that will effect the local
interests Of the people of this particular
locality. Are there then really no
questions affecting our public roads,
our taxes, our court expenses or local
government, none Of the past yet un
settled, or none Of the future upon
which there is difference of opinion?
We must be certainly happy and a
peaceful people.
Yes, there is one question, not SO
very old as to have been forgotten that
the wisdom of our former law makers
has been pleased to deem local mat
ter, to be oft the subject Of debate in
county elections, and that was the only
question of local importance one short
year ago.
That question was not then perman-
emily decided, nor was the verdict then
given the work Of majority Of our
voters. A SO called High License Law
was then adopted by slim majority
Of votes cast. at an election when 1871
voters failed to express their wishes. in
total voting stength of $3.50 as recod.
ed the previous year, more than one
fifth cf our people.
Every legislature has the power to
change this law as they see fit and the
experience OF the past shows that this
will be no exception. Are you satisfied
with the results of this law, or do you
wish it changed, is question that is
now before you, though conventions
have desienedly ignored it. Are you
ready to trust your interests to the
personal and individual efforts of any
OF the men who will have to stand for
you, unaided by any support of the
political party they represent? Can
temperance men be blind to the fact
that their interests will not be consulted
by men already committed to the in
terests Of their opponents? What can
be expected from the representatives Of
High License, who ruled both conyen-
tions, but that they will repeal every
restrictive feature of the present law, to
accommodate their friends, and fasten
this system permanently upon us by
taking away from the people the priv
;lege of voting on it three years hencel
In the contests at these three cleo
tions within the past ten years, Cat two
of which the policy of local Prohibi-
ton has been sustained), where, espec-
tally in the first election there was a
full vote, the Prohibition party, as such
. has taken no part, but its members
have worked with others for the pur-
pose, independent Of party lines. These
elections have developed the fact that
there is majority of our citizens OPP
posed to the granting of special fran
chises to the dealers in liquors, and
that in their estimation, the High
License name neither improves the
character of the business, or lessons
the inevitable degradation, misery and
crime that result from it. They refuse
to accept the theory that We can pay
our taxes by an assessment on an ad-
mitted vice, and are in substantial ac-
cord with the official ruling of our
highest Judicial authority, the U. S..
Supreme Court. which says: "No leg
islature can bargain away the public
health or the public morals. The
people themselves cannot do it, much
less their servants. Government is
organized with view to their preserya
tion and cannot divest itself of the
power to provide for them.''
Under this and several equally sig
ni6cant rulings all license laws for the
sale of intoxicants are utilities, and
saloons only exist by the criminal negli.