The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-06-27
11crNsr QUESTION.

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Perhaps wogusod language last week in speak
inc of the ordinance passed by our Corporation
,ha. some may have deemed stronger than cir
cuns,ancss justified. When is taken into con-
Alteration the fact THAI We viewed il in the light
Of almos, a direct insult, the expressions used
nav not be accounted harsh. The author has
since disclaimed to US any such intention, and
Councilmen have assured us that twas in part TO
proiec, ourscit as druggist in the disposition
Of wines and brandy as medicines, that i was
passed. We regret exceedingly that we saia
augh, against those who were seekinsto benefit
US, but still must objec, TO the ordinance os be-
ing impcrfcc, in every feature and wholly unca-
culatcd to effect the object desired.
However well.worded sentence may be It is
liable to erroneous constructions carelessly
written there are those who will not fail TO con-
strue il differently from what the author nlend-
ed. There were m ny constructions gwen y
portions Of the article we wrote upon the license
question last week, and there was ono error,
which. Of course, we will correct. II was the
simple statement tina, the druggis, had been su-
ed for selling brandy, when in fact il was tr'ne.
Complaint was made before the Mayor and not
before Justice OF Peace, as our remarks imPii-
ed. We intended in the remark no reflection
whatever upon the druggist; as being engaged
in the same business we were as liable to De 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 suppressins
the traffic in liquor have resorted.
The proposition made by Mr.. steinhelber, we
had from his own lips, was made to the Mayor
and one at least Of the most prominent members
cumstance on Monday, and as We understood the
| proposition to have been made some time preyl-
ously, conceived We had good grounds for using
the expressions we did. But TO what does it
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 foigu sur
prise ,ha,wo 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 in relation to tn mode ofconductng such an
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 candidly stated, that
We believed such course would result different
~ from what It's friends anticipated, bu; that are
hoped Il soUh not. For this expression of opn-
ion, not content with attacking us through the
medium ofano.her paper, an iiinerani Temper
ancc lecturer was persuaded to say something
against US, but evidently no, having seen the ar
ticle, he said but little and that foreign to the
subject. The unfairness Of such proceeding
and the confidence We fell in the strength OF our
position, resolved us to observe narrowly the
course pursued and to mark its progress.
| We are willing TO cooperate with temperance
men SO long as they pursue consistent, mild
though firm course, but SO soon as we see them
acting in a manner we feel will not rcsu!. in the
good of the cause. and which we know from
personal observation has resulted in its injury.
we TN speak and wiH warn them Of the conse-
quences, though in so doing we come in direct
contact with ps.5lic arprc6atioa-,he highest re-
ward an editor receives for his arduous duties
We have spoken our o,cn sentiments ard for ii EN-
we alone are responsible. We warned the Cor
pora,ion 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 trust that time will speedily
| prove the correctness of our position, show TO
our friends that their course was not the proper
one, and that we may all unite in suppressine
intemPerance-thc greatest curse tina, afllicts
community.
A PRESENT INDEED!-Llst week a tub