Year: 1874

Whatever may be the merits and de-
merits of the measure known as the Lo-
cal Option Law which is now creating
such intense excitement in many places,
all must grant that any community, de-
sirous of prohibiting the liquor traffic
within its bounds, have an undoubted
right to appeal to the law for that pur-
pose, aud to use all proper and legitimate
means to secure success. Nor does the
right belong to the voting population on
ly-it is a question in which every man,
woman and child have as deep an inter
est as those who are privileged to cast
the ballot. For law, being made for the
government of all, all have like respon-
sibility and must yield like obedience.
That some are privileged beyond others
in the creation and application of law,
gives no sufficient reason why they should
attempt to debar others the exercise Of
such rights, or privileges, as they do pos
sess. Therefore, we say, that the action
VI SOliit VI bllC lJAl blCo WI NliI5 III WV
license interest in some or the elections
recently held, notably at San Jose and
Alameda, was such as to call for the con-
demnation Of high-minded men Of every
nationality and every shade Of opinion.
The published reports Of the scenes at
tendant upon those elections show, that
the ladies who attempted there, as at
Oakland and Santa Cruz, TO influence
voters against License, were insulted,
threatened with violence, and finally com
PEELED to leave the vicinity of the polls.
Such line of conduct, if persisted in,
can be productive of but one result. 1t
may be attended with present success,
but is sure, in the end, to rebound to the
disadvantage Of those who resort to, or
countenance such proceedings.


The influence Of woman is great,
whether exerted for right or for wrong
We hail her presence on every occasion
where the object sought is the ameliora-
ton of human suffering, or the elevation
Of the standard Of morality. We are
proud to recall the memories Of the Wo-
men Of the Revolution and other hours of
our country's trial, whose patriotism and
self denial emulated that Of their hus-
bands and brothers, giving and presorv-
ing us an independent nationality. 1t is
inherent in the American character to
treat woman with the utmost respect, and
nothing will stamp a man as being desti-
tute Of the instincts Of true gentleman,
quicker than the knowledge that his de-
pertinent in the presence OF ladies is not
invariably in accordance with this ma
tional trait. The use Of insulting and
threatening language to ladies, for no
other reason than that they arc endeav-
oring to persuade the privileged class,
the voters, to cast their ballots against the
continuance of traffic they believe to be
wrong, is brutal and cowardly in the ex-
tremc. For to woman Of sensibility
and refinement, insulting and abusive Ian
guage is more cruel than blows. And
the employment Of such means Of intim-
ldalIon shows conclusveIy that those who
resort to it know that the traffic is viewed
with disfayor by women in general, and
fear to permit them to exert their infu-
ence when the moment for decisive ac-
ton arrives.


The returns from the Local Option
elections which have been held lately,
show that the excitement has had its day
and achieved about all the victories of
Importance that it can. But such pro-
ceedings as were witnessed at Alameda
viii only servo to check this reaction,
arouse and strengthen the feeling for pro-
hibition more than any thing else that
could be done, and may lead to legisla-
ton more effective than any yet devised.
1t is but justice to the better class of deal
ers to say that these rulianly acts do not
meet their appreciation.