The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-09-03
GOV. BOlES' SPEECH.
Temperance and Tariff Reform
Ably Discussed.


An Able Handling Of the Leading Polit-
ical Issues in Iowa-Demo-
cratic Purposes Clear
~ Defined.
At Cherokee, Ia, on the afternoon of
Saturday, August 90, Gov. Boies. in
speech Of great length, gave utterance
to the following:
FELLOW CITIZENS: II have q correct concep
tion Of the moral obligations OF American citi-
zens, OF their duty to the present and future
generations. am certain 1t should be their sin
cere wish to fairly comprehend political issues,
and conscientiously lend their aid in bringing
about . settlement Of the same which will to
the greatest extent attainable, promote the
public good.
II Is unfortunate, to say the least that every
community Is affiictcd with class OF political
teachers who make themselves believe they
can serve their country better BY misrepresent
ing the position Of political opponents than
they can by q fair and candid discussion of the
great questions on which. in . government like
our own, honest and earnest people will always
divide.
In what have to say either now or in the
future II shall at least be my aim to fairly
state as l understand 1t, the position Of the
party have the honor to represent on every
important issue that have time and opportun-
ity to discuss.
II the position OF that party is such that 1t
cannot be maintained before the people OF the
state by such . course It ought to fall.
As We enter the field OF political discussion
at this time. all minds turn instinctively TO the
questions that necessarily grow out OF the pro-
hibitory legislation Of our state.
1t Is now many years since the most impor-
tant Of these were fairly launched upon our po-
litical seas. and these years have witnessed
the birth and statutory vitalization OF theories
conceived have no doubt In an honest belief
that II given the force Of law they would prove
OF inestimable value to the people OF our state.
In the outset OF what may be termed recent
discussions OF these questions believe the cit
izens OF Iowa were divided into three classes
nearly equal In numbers. One with their
minds fixed upon the evils OF intcmperance
alone, taking no broader view OF the questions
involved than their bearing on that subject.
saw rs they supposed In q statutory annihila-
tiOn Of the right to manufacture or sell intoxi-
eating liquors as q beverage the only practical
remedy for what all concede Is . gigantic evil.
the incorporate use Of intoxicating liquors.
Another taking broader view: looking be-
yond its effect upon the question OF temper
ance alono and considering Its consequences to
establish property rights, It's encroachments
upon the personal liberty OF the citizen, the
combats its ATTEMPTED enforcement was sure to
arouse, its effect upon the welfare OF the state
in practically excluding from its limits those
who woald not submit the control OF their hab-
its, long as they infringed neither public nor
or thought they saw evils that were sure to fol
low In the train of such legislation OF greater
magnitude than any that would be corrected
by it.
And q third realizing the evils OF intemper-
ance and honestly desiring some practical
priety OF legislation that makes no distinction
in classes. and puts the man who sells the least
harmful Of intoxicating stimulants to those who
never abuse their use on the same footing with
the one that deals out the most deadly OF pois-
ons TO those who are incapable OF taking care
i OF themselves. were yet willing to try the ex
pertinent Of absolute prOhibitOry legislation
and test its efficacy in the school OF experience;
and these combined with its radical advocates
were not only sufficient to enact prohibitory
law. but they were able to clothe II with means
OF enforcement until then unknown in the
criminal Jurisprudence Of any state or country.
Never did any law 60 into effect under cir.
cumstances that seemed better calculated to
insure its complete enforcement II under any
/ circumstances such enforcement is possible.
The great middle Class made up of the con-
scrvative men OF the dominant political party
OF the state. desiring that the experiment
which was to test the merits OF . policy that
they would have been glad to see succeed, but
which their better judgment plainly told them
there were grave doubts rs to whether 1t would
prove blessing or curse to their state. felt
that the experiment to be fairly tried must be
left to the control OF the most radical adherents
Of that policy, and to accomplish this they lent
their aid. not only to enact the law. but to in
ject into II system OF penalties ana forfeitures
SO extreme that their infliction il often bar.
barously crue.. and still that courts must en-
these eOnld moi hSa rrnSf rod
with the ordinary discretion conferred upon
criminal tribunals throughout the civilized
. world; and behind this law was placed an
army Of executive, legislative judicial and
police officers named for their places by the
same radical element in the party that assumed
the responsibility Of It's enactment.
And vet. under all OF these favorable condi-
tions. II Is now demonstrated by unimpeacha-
BILE statistics that the number OF persons hold
ing United States government license for the
sale Of Intoxicating liquors in Iowa has greatly
increased instead OF being diminished since
this law went into effect.
It Is . startling fact to learn that in state
where alcoholic stimulants can legally be sold
for medicinal sacramental and mechanical
purposes alone. 4.035 persons, or an average
of more than. forty-one In every county OF the
state hold licenses from the general govern.
ment for their sale, for which they paid more
than 8lii0O0 In cash during the last year.
failure OF the law to interference through the
pardoning power by executives Of the state.
Until the people OF Iowa elect man for their
governor as heartless q Chinese Joss"
and as useless. too so far as the discharge of
one OF his most imperative duties Is concerned,
1t will be found necessary from the standpoint
OF simple humanity to interfere in many Of
these cases. The situation now Is neither bet
ter nor worse than 1t has always been when
the executives OF the state were in full sympa-
thy with the law and its enforcement.
The simple truth Is that the penalties which
this law infiicts are in many instances hideous-
~ cruel and their consequences to entirely in-
nocent parties serious that no man pos
sessed Of human heart can turn deaf ear to
| the appeals that are constantly being made to
| the governor for relief.
From this hasty review Of the past. we must
turn to the future and decide for ourselves
what policy the state ought hereafter to pursue
This question ought not to be hampered by
party affiliations, and yet the two great parties
! have taken positions thereon that are dlamet-
rically opposed to each other.
Our republican friends declare themselves
! satisfied with the Law and demand its retention
and enforcement
| II has been q matter OF some surprise to me
to see how often and how persistently the posi-
tion Of the democratic party has been misrep-
resented by friends Of prohibition. The source Of
!, this Misrepresentation In some instances has
been = theme OF great astonishment as well as
regret for have seen il in reported proceed
ings of religious bodies and heard Of 1t in SER
| mons Of prominent divines
II has been repeatedly charged that the pur
pose Of the democratic policy is to bring the
| saloon back to every part OF Iowa where man
can be found that Is willing to pay the fee for .
| license required by law.
| Those who make this charge are. to say the
| least, wholly ignorant Of the position Of that
| party and are guilty OF grave wrong In max.
| ing statement Of so much importance with.
out taking pains to inform themselves rs to the
/ truth OF what they are saying
| There is nothing ambiguous In the position Of
/ tho marty fhfa 0ueSfinn Il