Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-04-22

NlkZkI%IW terest, says the Kansas City Jour
Lkk9$((S nal. The ministers Of Vermont
RD8(SA objected to the view OF the Out
NT>& look that prohibition OF the liquor
S< traffic Is uniustifable in principle.
In reply, the Outlook reterates its objections to
prOhibitOry statutes and gives it's reasons Boiled
down, these reasons are comprised in the single
phrase, 'local option" which is alleged to be the
only just fair and well principled mode of handling
the liquor question.
tum that one community has not the right to fix
the regulations under which another community
shall live. And right here it puts petard under
the whole body Of its own argument The theory
that community cannot legislate for another or,
to put it in another way that each community has
fundamental and inalienable right to make it's own
rules and regulations 80 long as it does not inter
lere with the liberties of Others would If put into
effect, destroy the legal fabric of the country and
plant chaos itstead.
In every state Of the Union the state legislature
prescribes, to large degree, the rules and regula-
tOns under which cities Of the first class shall con-
duct their governments. Isn't this interference
with the alleged fundamental right Of every COM
munity to govern ITSELF The Outlook, being a
religious journal, would no doubt fight valiantly
against position to repeal the Sunday closing laws
common to every state. Yet, under its own con-
ceptOn Of good fundamentals state has the right
to enact such law If perchance, there is c0mmu.
nifty which wants saloons and other places Of traffic
kept open on Sunday. Instances might be multi
piled to show the untenable nature Of the Outl0Oks
conception. By what fundamental right Of authOri-
ty for example, under the OutoOk's reasoning, can
the United States forbid pOlygamy in Utah when
Utah wants it1
Much can be said, no doubt, against prohibition
on the score OF impracticabiIity But prohibition
had nothing TO meet save the Outook's theory that
it is very wrong fundamentally to impose q COM
muDity any law or restriction which majority Of
that community has not expressed desire for, then
it's position would be unassailable. The basic idea
under which this republic operates is that there are
certain questions of general character which must
be met by general statutes The liquor question is
one Of them. The handling OF pOisOns is another.
Crime is another. Property rights is another
There is not state in the Union which has eOnsd
cred the LIQUOR question IS one to be left entirely to
the small communities. The traffic in liquor is
everywhere regulated and restricted by state enact
ments. The degree OF regulation or restriction may
be an open question, but We believe the Outlook to
be the FIRST highly intelligent journal of the country
to enunciate the doctrine that state may regulate
up to 3 certain point in any community without the
consent Of that community, but is estOpped By .
fundamental right from regulating any further.
The Journal has before this expressed the Opin-
ion that much Of the talk both sides of the pro-
hibitOn question is worthy Of better character-
cation than pettyfogging. We may start fairly on
the proposition that it would be violation Of the
QH Nu4s EUNCIuIMGul II CoukEEsey cA-
pressing the presumed wish Of the people, should
stop at the manufacture or importation Of any
kind Of liquor. II the Of Alaska, congress did
pass just such act, absolutely f0rbidding either
the Importation or manufacture Of an intoxicating
beverage. The question is hot whether some state
or community wishes the liquor traffic to 60 I'M
disturbed, but whether the great American people
as whole desire such law enacted. Considering
the present state Of public sentiment, however, it
would be foolish to talk Of national prohibition
as 1t is to argue that the nation has no proper right
to enact such q statute. Both of the propositions
evade the live issue of how best to lessen the evils
Of incorporate use OF liquor. This is question
as broad as the world. Every European country is
wrestling with it. Every European country is GO
ing steadily in the direction Of prohibition. Russia
for example, has made the liquor business public
Junction. and not only controls the sale and manu-
faeture of it, but regulates the amount any citizen
may buy and drink. Over in Kansas it Is claimed
that the prohibition law, though not perfectly
enforced, has been mighty force making for tenn
perance. II that is fact as it seems to be, the
Law has been tFiumphantly viHdicated. Still it
does not follow that because prohibition has been
success in Kansas it must be success everywhere.
Prohibition adopted IN Kansas as the result 81
great temperance awakening. While it is alleged
with probable truth that the Kansas people have
been made far more temperate BY the operations Of
prohibition, it cannot be denied that the policy
builded on q strong foundation. And the grand re-
suit Of prohibition experiments in Kansas and else
where points unerrngly 20 the conclusion that it Is
good system for those Who are up to i and ready
Fnr II md q had fnw auhn ere