Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-02-01
OFFICIAL PAPER BURLEIGH co.
PROHIBITION a FAILURE.

creased their VOLe during the last we
years, but have decreased it. They have
fallen behind since 1892 in spite of
working the machinery and whooping it
up in hopes of q contrary result. The
reason is that the fundamental principle
of prohibition is illogical. The whole
structure rests III an a%bsurdity and on
Il wish to violate the cardinal principles
of American institutions. Practically
the unit Of government in tho United
States is the county. AS cities grow
larger they are given certain special
powers and become s~elf-governing CON-
munities measurably independent Of the
county. But the latte r still remains for
all practical purposes the unit of local
self government.
10 the counties enormous powers are
given for the assessment and collection
of taxes, the enforcement of the law by
means of the sheritf's posse or by indict-
ment by grand %juries, trials by petty
jury, convictions, and executions. In
nearly all the states the old parties have
oassed in legislatures controlled by
them laws which have given to the
counties and the cities the power of reg
ulating and of dealing with the liquor
traffic in accordance with the wishes of
the majority of their Inhabitants.
Where a majority in the county chooses,
it can prohibit absolutely the sale of
spirituous liquors. Being a majority, it
has control of the legal machinery of
the county. It elects the states attorney,
the sheriff, and the judge. The major
lty has the power in it's hands to enforce
whatever conclusions it arrives at, that
are not inconsistent with the laws of
the state and the United States. If
the county or city pleases or if it so
happens that a majority IN the city or
county is not ID favor of the preventing
OF the sale Of liquor, it can impose
heavy license taxes on the saloon, and
prescribe other conditions which must
be complied with if the saloon is allowed
to do business. In the state of Illinois
the minimum license fee is $500, and the
municipality can add to that as much
more as it pleases.
These laws have worked for the pro-
motion Of temperance. They have d.
mlnished the number of saloons and the
quantity Of liquor sold. Yet these be-
neticent laws have been passed against
protests and sour, bitter opposition by
the prohibitionists. Their policy is a
radically different one. These laws are
based on the government of the minor
ity by the majority, while their policy is
the government of a majority by the mi
norlty. The want a state law which will
empower the people of a county who are
opposed to the sale of liquor to boss the
people in a county who are in favor of
the sale of liquor. And since the people in
the latter county have in their own hands
the control of the legal machinery, and
hence would not enforce the state law,
the prohibitionists seek to destroy local
self government altogether by the organ
lzation OF a state constabulary, and by
sending people from one part of the
state to make searches, break down
doors, aud forcibly enter houses to en-
force the law in another part of the
state.
This illogical and una merican system
OF the subsection of a majority to the
Will OF a minority has been tried in sew
eral American states. It was tried faith
fully in Iowa, the result being that a re-
publican majority of 10000 was whitfield
down to less than nothing and a demo-
cratic government was twice elected.
Finally the Iowa republicans determined
to throw off this Old Man of the Sea.
The prohibitionists threatened them
with defeat if they did so. Not fright
ened by this mena the republicans
passed a law giving counties which were
not in favor of prohibiting the sale of
liquor the right to regulate their "
affairs. At the next election the repub-
means carried the state by a majority of
23'O0O, and at the last election they had
a majority of 10000. The experience
had with prohibition in Iowa has de-
stroyed the power of the prohibition
party there. Kansas has tried a pro.
hlbltory law and has found it impossi-
Die to enforce it where the people we're
not IN favor Of its enforcement. In such
counties the law is a dead letter.
Fanaticism and misguided enthusiasm
have kept the prohibition party afoat
Tor a time. At the last presidential cleo
ton it had 1852, 1893 votes only, or less
than "a per cent of the total vote cast.
1t has reached its highest point, and
from this time on it will drift down.
ward, for it is impossible to build up
and maintain a national party on the as
sumption that minorities have the right
to say to the majority. "Stand aside. I
an godlier than thou" True temper