Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-12-06
THE LEGAL STATUS OF
THE LIQUOR QUESTION
Judge Jewell Enters Quite Fully
Into This Topic in An Inter
estins Ma nner.


heiug said on the saloon question, pro
and con, and some Of our people fail
to understand why the signature Of
the county judge is found on every
saloon license in the county outside of
the county seat, permit me to offer a
few words of information through the
columns of your paper.
1t matters not what or any other
person may think about the saloon,
we must recognize it as a legal in
stitution, and entitled to the same
protection that is accorded to other
creatures of law. The people Of Ore
gon in their sovereign capacity have
made the saloon and have given it
legal standing. The county judge is
bound TO sign the saloon license of
every applicant who complies with
the law, de has no option in the
matter.
Now if the saloon 10 bad thing.
there is just one way to get rid of it.
The same power that made the law
can repeal it. But just as long as the
law remains in force, it is the duty
of every loyal citizen 10 respect it,
Not only should we respect the law
in general way, but every detail of
its requirements should be strictly
carried out. Obedience to law is one
of the evidences of good citizenship.
Saloons should close on Sunday, not
that Sunday is any better than any
other day, but simply because the law
requires it. There 10 just as much
harm in getting drunk on the Jewish
Sabbath rs there is in getting drunk
on the Roman Sabbath.
l take issue with those learned
gentlemen who claim that the saloons
have no legal rights. In discussing
the subject of rights. we sbould dis.
tinguish between natural rights and
legal rights. A thing may be legally
right and naturally wrong, or IS some
would say. morally wrong. We
democrats hold that man has , right
to do as he pleases. provided he does
not please to interfere with the rights
Of some other man. Nature has given
every human being the right to enjoy
the fullness of manhood and woman.
hood. and has denied the right Of any
human being to in any way prevent
it. We should discuss the saloon
question Just as we would discuss the
tariff. money, or any other Political
question. Our American government
is founded on the doctrine that all
legal rights should harmonize with
natural rights. And II the legal
rights of the tariff lords. the banking
syndicstes, and the whiskey dealers
are out OF harmony with our natural
lights, then the way 10 clear to every
citizen who loves his country better
than he loves party or some self-h in
terest. To determine this, however,
brings into requisition our best
thought and most unselfish patriot
ism. The true American is alwsy
ready to settle any question at the
tribunal of justice.
If the saloon is public necessity,
it should remain aud he protect d /;
but if tits a public evil, the sooner
we get rid of it the better it will be
for all. But whatever we do. let us
be honorable and manly about it. |
believe that majority OF whiskey
dealers are willing TO do what is
right, and to retain or abolish the
saloon as she interest Of the entire
people may require. This is the way
the question is being settled in the
southern states.
Southern democrats with that
patriotism, intelligence, and moral
refinement for which they have always
been noted, have .eached the conclu-
sion ths. saloons are more of an evil
than a blessing. And acting on this
conclusion, they have practically
made the saloon thing Of the past.
The temperance people Of the South
j have gained this great victory with.
out making enemies. In a dignifed
gentemanly way, they invited the
saloon men to friendly discussion of
the questions involved. with the usual
results that reason prevailed.
The southern people have solved
this great question, and they are going
! TO solve all other great national
d questions. The time is coming when
4 the high sense Of honor and justice
with which every true southern soul
is imbued will be appreciated the
4 world over. STEPHEN JEWELL.
Badly Mixed Up