Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 February 1882 — A Political Problem. [ARTICLE]

A Political Problem.

For The Republican. The interest which the temperance question is now awakenhu; is but a toretaste of the interest which will be felt in this subject during next summer and fall. There will be a hard light and it is doubtful which side will w in. The question is not whether or not prohibition can be made a success, whether or not it can bh clothed in liesh and made a fact as wejl as a theory, for that is very questionable, and pertaining to it there is great diversity of opinions. The constitution of this Slate provides one by which the people uiay amend their fundamental law. it requires the consent of two legislatures and lastly of the people to eilect it. The first legislature proposes the amendment; the second decides whether or not the proposed amendment is proper to be. subputted to the people, if it fails to pass the second legislature, the amendment fails then and there, but if it secures the sanction of the second legislature it then goes to the people as to a court of last report, who either accept it and thus make it a part of tne fundamental law of the land, or reject it as unworthy. Tlie people then conclude tins constitutional ceremony. The question therefore is not, stiali we favor and. support prohibition, or will prohibition be a success u passed. 'The question is simply th.s, shall the people, the sovereign, of this comruonvea til, settle the question or the status of King Alcoiial, a question whim vitally concerns everyone, or shall one hundred and fifty men, amid the scenes and turmoils <V legislative life usurp this natural rigid of ihe people m general a m torever put an end to all discussion upon the subject? \ iewisg tne subject in tills light I am heartily in favor of supporting and putting those men in the legislature, who will consent that ills people ateeicle whether or not we shall have prohibiten, and if ill rough ihe good .Providence, of Omnipotence, and the consent of the majority, it is tested and sifted and found “hot wanting,” then being backed up by public opinion it will certainly prove a success, otherwise if the people disapprove of the law it will full to the ground. Within the people lies all strength and efficacy in laws, all power is inherent in them and all laws, and amendments aie instituted for tlieir peace, safety and well being. The great democratic hobby and bugbear'is now as it always has been viz: That prohibition is a relic of <ie >polism, and a sumptuary law which does not deserve support,' for its conJicvts with the divine rights of man to enjoy ii e, liberty aid property. Although this is rot the question noVwefore the people, yet I desire to say a word on it. By the constitutional provision that the rights of life, liberty .and property shall be sacred, is not meant that the State shall pass no law in relation to these subjects for the whole statute hook is in some measure,,a standing interference with and regulation of these very things. It might therefore he said that this wail of the opponents of prohibition is absurdly true. It is undoubtedly lawful for a State to protect itself from effeminating abuses, it is right for the people to rise in their might to preserve and . protect rising generations, from the direct snd indirect use of poison. T reedom is only enjoyed according to lav. “To that extent, all government is tyranny, all political discretion despotism,” all 'interfer“eiice to regulate the enjoy merit' of life and property an invasion of right. In the language of old Justice Stuart, of tiiis Slate; “Bor my own part J could not readily conceive what government was made for, if it had hot the power both to punish crime and suppress, if it were deemed necessity to the good,the means, instruments and incentives to crime” TIIO firs! law of.political as well as natural beings is self preservation. How frail and inconsistent is man, how different does lie act and think even for himself in different circumstances, one moment lie strains at a gnat and applauds himself for sagacity, and the next he does not suspect himself of credulity when he shallows a camel. This may account for the wonderful mental acrobatic feats of prominent democrats in our {State,

county, and town, who when nothing was at stake were . the loudest advocates of prohibition, but put to the test they wilt like the last inteof summer which stood the blast for a little while but finally succnmbed and thus they go under, the pressure of partisanism. 0, consistency, thou art truly a jewel. Let “we the people” decide for ourselves the all important temperance question, for we are most affected by all concerns and then we will be content. r V Indulgent parents who" allow their children to eat heartily highseasoned food, rich pies, cake, <fee., will have use Hop Bitters to prevent indigestion, sleesless nights, sickness, pain, and, perhaps death. No family is safe without them in the house.