The Anti-prohibition Platform

A State Lácense or Anti-Prohibítion Convention was held at the Opera House. Detroit, on A"ednenday, about .'500 persons being present and everjr Congrewioual district being representad. A very radical addreas v.-is dolivxred by Levi Hisliop, of Detroit, after vvhich ttuj following resolutions were adopted : Whtreas, The trafric in spirituoua and Dialt liquois, wiuu and eider hit tor ïuany yeais past been made the subject ol experimental legislation, with no practical results tor good, thereforu, tur tliis and other reaaons which will bc mude to appear, it is liy this convontion, Hetohed, FirU, That sound public policy demanda a radical oh auge in the inanuer ot dwaling with the subject uauied. Second, That prohibitory legislation, socalled, has had no other practical results than an increase of the very evils which it was in tended to cure, and tbs incurment of great expense in prosecutious inutigated in icany cases by vindictive malice, by factional and local joalousy, and by paid spies, informers and harpies, who have themselvos becouio violators of an ill-advised law for the vcry purpose of beiug witnesses of its violation by others, involving neighborhood bickering, strife, enmity, hatred and violence ; henee, that viewed in the light of policy it ought to be abandoned. Third, That government is a co-oporative agency for the equal benefit of the people, to bo secured by affording protection to life, person and property, and by the establishment of roads, public works and public institutions for the convenience, comfort and improvetnent of the whole people, and that it exceeds its legitímate functions, and becomes oppressive and despotic, when it attempts to control the opinions, or to prescribe, regúlate or prohibit the practices or observancos of individuals or associations ; henee, that attempted prohibition is wrong in principie, and an invasión of the personal rights of the citizen ; and that it is not within the power of legislation or of the courts to díctate the tastes or habits of individuals. Fourth, That this oonvention, coniposed as it is of persons engaged iu various pursuits and professions, hereby declares itself in favor of a tax or license upon. tho liquor traffic, but not as a penalty upon those engaged in it for perpetrating a wrong, nor as corapounding with iminorality or crime. Such tax or license is fully justified as a means of public revenuo. Fifth, That upou the abandonment of the present policy of prohibition and outlawry of the traffic, a tax uiay be ïraposed even under the present constitution ; and that we recommend this course unttl such time as a change in the constitution can be secured. SixUi, That the vote upon the license clause in the spring of 1868, in conuection with the then proposed new constitution, showing a majority of nearly 14,000 in. the State in favor of license, is on record as the formal and solemn verdict of the people of Michigan on that question ; and that existing legislation has been continued in defiance orthat verdict through the persistent efforts of those in nvor of such legislation, and the indifference and inaction of those who oppose it. Seventh, That we believe that Kational legislation can be easily secured by, cooperation and concert of action, and we hereby pledge ourselves to make this issue one of paramount importance to all others, and that we will not vote at the polls for any candidate for the Legislature who does not openly ayow biinself in favor of a license law and in favor .of n;pealing the prohibitory law. Eighth, That we declare our belief and firm conviction that the evils are not curable by legislative enactment, by rusolves of conventious, or by spjsmodic outbursts appealing to the sympathies, the sentiments and prejudices of the people ; but that they can be best reached by means of an education which shnll inspire a personal discipline and selfrespect, by the removal of causes leading to poverty, and by those safeguards and lurrouudings that are inseparable from a ' svell ordered social svstem. Ninth, That we protest against the perversión of the word temperance from ita broad and comprehensivo and sacred signification to be the representativa of a single vague and impracticable idea ; and that we deplore the absorption of the public inind in this single idea to the neglect of other causes that are sapping the very foundation of society, as shown by official corruption and speculation, by the defalcations of persons ín the employ of individuals and coiporations, by a too prevalent dishonesty in trade, by repurely mercenary purposes which, the gardless of principie, actúate too many of our public men, by the repugnance of the youth of the land to engage in productive industry, by the iruprovidence and extravagance of fashionablê society, by fcetal murder, and by a social demoralization which wantonly expresses itself through those holding the highest positions in the social and intellectual world. Tenth, That we are in favor of stringent laws to punish persons for the adulteration of auy and all articles of commerce. Eleventh, That by passing a license law the business of retailing liquor will be confined to the hands of responsible and honorable men, and the character of that business elevated and public moráis mrroved. Twelfth, That the organization of the Michigan License Assooiation is hereby continued and made permanent ; such association to be adniinistered by a State Central Committee, to consist of two from each Congressional District and a chairman to be eleoted to this convention ; such committee shall have power to appoint a secretary and such other offieera and agents as it may deern necessary tor carrying out the objects of the association, including corresponding membcrs in different parts of the State. The Central Committee was instructed to lay the resolutions or platform before the coming pohtical State Conventions. - -