The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-02-14
Memphis Position.

Memphis Position.
The city OF Memphis contains a popuia-
ton conscrvatively estimated at 1000
and the sentiment OF the people is Prsc-
ticsliy unanimous against prohibition II
is not confined to one class but en-
braces all classes
river. great interstate artery ard
boats from north and south discharge
their cargocs a. her NhaTves-
The state has not the power to prevent
the carrying an6 landing by these boats
OF liquor fer this trade. and il would
come under the protection Of the inter-
state commerce clause OF the c0nstitu-
ton
Twelve lines Of railroad radists from
Memphis 10 all points OF the compass,
and shipments Of liquor on any OF these
roads y oUid be similarly protected There
fore. with unlimited means for obtaining
LIQUOR. and with the sentiment Of the peC-
pie opposed to prohibition law. what would
be the result? An inevitable reign Of law
lessness. an outraged citizenship and con-
fusion worse cenfeunoed.
What would Be true IN Memphis in
corresponding degree would be true in
Nashville and Chattanooga
% IL IS that when the Democratic party
declared that these communities should
have the right 10 decide for themselves
whether or not liquor Should Be sold. It
by other communities. ard its position vas
fair. wise and temperate.
To follow this declaration is the best
solution Of the question; to abandon i
Is the worst
To force a prohibition law upon these
cities cannot be justified upon any ground
recognizable By justice or morals II will
breed crime instead Of preventing II II
will weaken the faith Of the people in
law and constituted authority instead Of
strengthening it
It will impair the revenue Of the state
which We can III afford TO lose. and in
benefits
II viii foment discord.
II will substitute The counterfeit for the
genuine and deteTioTate the standards Of
truth and manor
Since tie DAY the principle Of seif-gev-
eminent was successfully asserted our
governed BIZ a lsw 70 which they have
not consented. It is inherent il our ira
diticus, cur blood and institutions, and
any legislation which runs counter TO 4
vii prove a curse and not q blessing.
Provocative Of Diseord.
The very discussion OF the prohibition
question in our state has provoked angry
and passionate uttsTsuce-
Men high in authority whose Office. II
not their persons. should have been re-
spected. have been illuminated sad Sian
dered. sometimes ignorantiy ana often
willfuliy.
We have witnessed the distressing spec
tscfs Of good women and little children
srTsyed In behalf OF cause Of which
they know nothing no matter how ECod
their intentions may be.
We have seen ministers whose calling
We reverence and TO whom the people
have the right TO turn for guidance and
consolation IN spiritual matters descend
from their high estate TO make political
platforms Of their pul7its and in the name
OF temperance utter incorporate and in
flsnustory speech
we have had the new and strange test
applied to character by the self-constl-
tuted righteous who would pronounce IL
good or bad according rs its possessor was
for OF against prohibition
We have seen n n who have assumed
the outward semhlau-e Of prohibition zr.d
who never practfeed 70, side BIZ side with
some reiiziouiSts who Tssr the Tsstulerts
Of Christ. but have never known the
spiritual in His teachings. who have
never applied to others the Golden Rule.
and who are strangers to charity IN its
highest and DuTest sense
Then. too. OF the other hand. we have
heard iHt0leTsnt speech applied 10 all
ministers because q few have prostituted
their sacred calling, railing al religion
because some Of its professors are hvpo- {
srits. and claims that all prohibitionists
are fanatics because some Of them are
VIGOROUSLY intOleTsnt and extensively es-
-entatious in their assumption OF virtue
II ali Of this has come from q discus
sion Of prohibition. what shall result II
L should become law without the con-
sent of the people7
In view Of these conditions and the far
reaching consequences Of any act Won
nav pass. ] again urge upon your fo--
1rabie bodies that YOU proceed with de-
Liberation and caution and with due re-
gard to the welfare Of the state
7 have never falteTed OF wevered from
The time 7 first came before the peoo1a
n my fixed belief that prohibition was e /
senually wrong without the consent Of I
he people. and now after a service Of /
w0 years as governor. with full opportu- /
llty TO know and to speak with fntefIi-
renee, ] warn you against the evils
which viii follow the passage Of a com
1ulsory prohibition bill
An obnoxious. undesirable ana punitive 4
lothing good or true or lasting can come /
II It
MALCOLM r. PATTERSON
r - - Governor.
Prize Masquerade. Federation Labor
lal. We'd, FEB. Il, D. s. :. lodge Sd