The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1893-02-24

The Liquor Question: which
may in general way be taken to in
clude the whole moral aspect of cell
ing and drinking Intoxicating bever-
ages, is one of profound interest to
any community. We do not doubt
therefore, that bill, to come before
the present legislature, for the regu-
lation Of the liquor traffic, and which
is the subject of petition to the leg
islature, now being circulated for
signatures in Columbia, will be one
| for which there will be great and
general concern felt all over the
State.
The essential feature of the bill is
a provision that no saloon may be
licensed in any community without
a petition sigued ny majority Of
the males OF voting age in the COM
munity. Without any more iuti-
mate knowledge of the prop lsed
law than this genera pprpO-e, we
should pronounce it unquesrionably
q measure in the interest OF puUhc
morals and the general welfare of
the community.
This paper has no disposition to b.
fanattcal or even extreme in its ut.
terances; we never set up anything
as a fetch and permit blind pre-
judice in relation 20 it to dominate
our reason, snd we know that intoXi-
eating liquors are only on4 class of
a large list OF things IN which it is not
the use, but the abuse that is harm.
full. But, though this j. true, we
nevertheless know, that the abuse
of it 10 infinitely more likely to take
place and Infinitely more harmful
when it does take place, than that of
almost any other thing that is likely
to be made the subject of law
making.
In relation to the hole subject of
intoxicauts, the public mAy be di-
videI into the three classes the
very small number who expect to
profit by selling them, the larger
number who buy and drink them,
the very much larger number still,
who neither sell, buy, nor drink
them, and are either Indifferent on
, the subject, or who, because they
have suffered Indirectly through the
abuse OF intOXlcants, entertain a
; perfect adherence for them. In
some states this latter class has been
strong enough to adopt prohibl-
tory amendment to the state consti-
r tuition though it was not so in Ten.
nessee, when submitted to a vote a
few years ago. But whether the
majority believe IN prohibition or
not, there isno doubt whatever that
, u vast majority do believe that the
sale OF liquor should be 50 regulated
! As to produce the least real harm to
, the community, and 70 believing
there is no doubt that the proposed
regulation Of saloon licenses would
I be approved by majority of the
9 people.
Moreover it j. strictly in accord
with Democratic doctrine. The
backbone of Democratic princip rs
is the right OF the majority OF the
9 people to regulate their local affairs.
o 1t should therefore be the privilege
= OF the majority in every comnu.
q nifty to say Whether they will permit
to an applicant for saloon license,
the opportunity to disregard geueral
e state laws as some OF the do.
y 1t is part of the concession made
t by every enlightened community t.
d civilization, that any business which
d even indirectly involves the public
a welfare, should come within range
It OF police regulation When there
fore it is known that uuder tn,
present system of licensing saloons
r men may obtain licenses who viii
!. unhesitatingly sell whisky to min
r. oIs, sell on Sunday and in othe
Il ways defy the laws, the peop!,
/ should demand and enforce The pas
d sage of bill which will give then
t the power to say whether q man
g character is such that he may be re
II lied upon to keep strictly within hi
Y legal rights aud not endeavOr to de
& bauch the morals of a community il
order to put money into his owl
purse.
Mr.. CLARENCE GREELEY IS
y -