The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-03-01
Ths 'messenQer.
THEORY AND PRACTICE IN
POLITICS.

One hears a great deal these days
about the rights of the people. the
glories of self government. 1t is a
mighty good thing surely to write and
talk about for stirring up the people,
but when it comes to putting ii into
practice in this state those politicians
who bawl the loudest for it on the
hustings anu write the most fiery edi-
toriaE about it in their papers do not
hesitate to advocate measures directly
in opposition to the theory.
HI present legislature has given
several examples of this Inconsistency
the difference between theory ana
practice in this matter. For example;
The Watts and Ward laws declare mat
the question of prohibition or saloons
and distilleries shall be left to th3
qualified voters of the towns and cities
and these two acts have been made
parts of the democratic state platform.
Still whenever the Legislature secs fit
to close the saloons, a ~dlspenSary or
distillery in any town ii does so by an
act even if it has to be passed over the
will OF the people as expressed in an
election held in accordance with the
law of the state and the platform Of the
democratic party. In reality the people
are given the right to decide these
questions for themselves provided they
decide in accordance with the wishes Of
party leaders; if they do not so decide,
then their wishes in the matter are ig-
nOred and the views of the party madlp-
ulators are forced upon them. This is
like CrOmwell's idea of free religion
expressed in his announcement to the
people of England that they might
worship God according to the dictates
of their consciences, but they had bat-
ter be careful as to what their consci-
ences dictated".
SO long as the Watts law is on our
statute books and is a part Of the
democratic platform the legislature
should pass no act closing saloons, dis
pensary or stills in any city or town
where they exist nor allowing them 10
be established in such towns where
they have not been in operation there
tofore. 1t is wrong in principle, no
matter ON which side of the question.
1t the legislature wishes to exercise
that power the Watts law should be-
repealed, or, at least, it should not be
retained as a plank in the party p!at-
form. If the legislature will repeal the
Watts law then the democratic ma or-
ity could, without being inconsistent,
pass laws prohibiting the sale Of liquor
in any town or city in the state, or, as
to that matter, by n sweeping act
wipe out legal traffic in the article in
the entire state.
Prohibition is extending rapidly in
this state through local action by the
pSOpIC. IC TX AobACAIANAAoSS1 ASN
who advocate it from principle, are
satisfied with the progress of he
cause. We believe that in the near
future there will be extremely Jew
cities and towns in which liquor can lie
legally sold. This progress is being
made by educating the people up to the
idea, not by legislation. Let the people
They will do it more completely and
enforce the law more Thoroughly if they
conditions by their own free will. The
matter was put in their hands by he
democratic party through the Watts
law, on the theory that the will Of the
people should govern locally in dCcid-
ing the question. There should be no
arbitrary interference by the legisla-
ture with the exercise of that popular
will SO long as the law of the state
provides therefor. So long as the Watts
law is in force the legislature should
vote down every local liquor bill,
whether for permitting or prohibiting
the sale or manufacture OF the article.
ABOUT OUR DRINKING WATER.
In conversation with one Of Our