The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-06-27
LICENSE QUESTION.

IN, some may have deemed stronger than cir
cumstances justified. When is takcniinto con-
alteration the fact that " viewed it 10 the light
Of aimos, disret Insult, the expressions used
NAV not be accounted harsh. The author has
since dsclained to US any such intention, ana
C,uncilmen have assured us that il was in part 10
protect oursclf as druggist in the disposition
Of wines and brandy as medicines, that II was
passed. We regret exceedingly that we saia
auah, against those who were seeking to benefit
US, bu, still must object 10 the ordinance as be-
ing imperfect in every feature and wholly uncal-
culatcd to effect the object desired.
However well.worled sentence may be II is
liable to erroneous construction, II carelessly
written there are those who will not fail to con-
strue it differently from what the author intend-
ed. There were m ny constructions gwen 10
portions Of the article we wrote upon the license
question last week, and there was ono error,
which, of course, we will correct 1t was the
simple statement that the druggist had been SUI
ed for selling brandy, when in fact it was scsne
Complaint was made before the Mayor and not
before Justice Of Peace, as our remarks imp'i-
ed. We intended in the remark no reflection
whatever upon the druggist; as being engaged
in the same business we were as liable 70 DC ms
taken for the individual as any other one. We
introduced the circumstance TO show to What ex-
,remes the advocates Of this mode Of suppressing
the traffic in liquor have resorted.
The proposition made by Mr.. steinhelbcr, we
had from his own lips, was made to the Mayor
and one at least of the most prominent members
Of the Council. We wc,c informed Of the cir
cums,ance on Monday, and as we understood the
proposition to have been made some time previ-
ously, conceived we had good grounds for using
the expressions We did. But TO what does il
amount! Would the Council have listened TO
such proposition if made to them in propria per-
soma when assembled for business! We have
been assured they would not.
We have few words for those who feign sur
prise that We should have pursued thecourse We
have in this matter. When the question was
first agi,ated last spring, We were in favor of
placing licenses so high that not more than one
or two individuals in the place would be able 10
obtain one, then to enforce the law strictly upon
them relation TO The mode ofconduc!ing suchan
establishment. We feared that some, urged BY
too much zeal in the Cause, would resort TO ultra
measures, and those fears were realized at the
frs. meeting of the Council, after public meet
ing OF the citizens had been held. Then we
came out and mildly and candidIy stated, tina,
we believed such course would result different
ly from VIVA, lis friends anticipated, bu that zee
- t. a. r.
ion, not content with attacking US through The
medium ofanother paper, an iiinerant Temper
ancc lecturer was persuaded TO say something
against us, but evidently not having seen The ar
,icle, he said but little and that foreign to the
subject. The unfairness of such proceeding
and the confidence We felt in the strength of our
position, resolved us 10 observe narrowly the
course pursued and to mark its progress.
We are willing TO cooperate with temperance
men 50 long as they pursue a consistent, mild
though firm course, but SO soon as we see them
acting in manner we feel will no. resu!, in the
good Of the cause, and which We know from
personal observation has resulted in its injury.
we nil speak and riH warn them Of the co,.se-
quences, though in so doing we come in direct
contact with public appro6atioa-the highest re-
ward an editor receives for his arduous duties
We have spoken our orn sentiments ard for them
we none are responsible. We warned the Cor
poration Of the danger of pursuing an extreme
course and for~our friendly interference have
been charged with opposing temperance. When
the good OF community is weighed in the bal
ance against the appreciation of friends, we have
the independence to hesitate not moment in
the choice; but we trus, that time will speedily
prove The correctness of our position. show TO
our friends that their course was no. the proper
one, and that we may all unite in suppressine
lntemPerance-thc greatest curse tina, afTlicts
community.