PROHIBITION' IN MICHIGAN, U.S.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4487, 31 March 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

PROHIBITION' IN MICHIGAN, U.S.

To the Editor of the Herald. Sir, —Some short time since you published an extract from the Argus, to the effect that the Prohibitory Liquor Law in the State of Michigan, had been repealed. Tho Hon. S. D. Hastings, who resides in the adjoining State, being here at the time, I pointed out to him the statement, and he at once said that it was not, and could not, be correct; since prohibition is a part of the State Constitution in Michigan, and can only be repealed by a vote of the people, which certainly had not been done. I have just received an official report from special Commissioners in Canada, appointed by the Canadian Parliament, to enquire into the working of prohibition in the United States. It entirely confirms what Mr. Hastings said, and shews how easily unwary readers may be misled on this most important question. The report says ' —" The Constitution of this State (Michigan) forbids the licensing of the sale of intoxicating liquors, in these words : «No licenses shall be granted in thi3 State for the sale of intoxicating liquors.' In 1567 an amendment to the Constitution was submitted to the people, by which licenses may be granted; it wa3 rejected, and the old Constitution was continued. In 1873, the Legislature permitted the Governor to appoint a committee to revise the Constitution, and the committee recommended submitting alternate propositions for prohibition or licence to the people. The Legislature refused to sanction it, and there will be no change in this respect, even though the revised Constitution may be carried." It is probably . this recommendation of the committee, which has been mistaken for a repeal of the constitutional law. Ido not suppose that either the Argus or the Herald would wish to mislead, but it is very necessary to be a little cautious in receiving unauthenticated statements. It is true that in many parts of Michigan the law seems to be a dead letter, since its enforcement depends on local authorities ; but the fact that neither the people nor the Legislature will consent to its repeal is very good evidence that it is not thought valueless. The advocates of prohibition have never Bupposed that the mere passing of an Act, without its enforcement by the authorities and by the public generally, would be of much advantage. But tho same is true of every other law. Nor does it seem wise to reiterate the failure of prohibition on no better ground than these; while .we are fully prepared to prove—from the many places in which prohibition is enforced—that it is the only remedy of the evils of intemperance yet discovered.—l am, &c., Samuel Edoeb.