The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-11-18
New. Temperance Movement.

New Temperance Movement.
.s G :ss: ii
. doing they hevs we must frankly state shown little
This new Temperance Movement has but one
plank in its platform, which is long, strong, and
broad enough for all parties and denominations to
stand upon. That plank is Total Abstinence.
Here follows few more arguments
All who are engaged in the temperance reform
are anxious to apply to it radical remedy. In all
their efforts, they had found themselves met by
this fac-that the vendors of sprituous liquors do
1t under license from the Legislature of the State,
granted under its provisions. sanctioned by its au-
| thorty, and issued by one Of the officers Of the
Government. Here is at once q power to vend,
with patent from the Stale. The calling is made
respectable by act Of law, the evidence of which
the patentee carries in his pocket to reute at once
| any imputa,ion upon his character. &
| Well, what is this license 1t is authority to
make men drunk, according to law, The temper
ance men of this State-those who have been long
engaged in the cause, think that in order to put
| down intemperance, you must abolish the license
SYSTEM and so far take away the responsibility of
| the business Of making men drunkards. There are
! some who think otherwise. For my part, believe
that these men who have thoroughly investigated
the subject, the safest councillors. They ask
| that this monopoly shall be put down-that the
protection shall be taken away, so that public
opinion may be brought to bear directly upon this
subject. Is there any thing unreasonable in this !!
Any thing improper! Any thing that in the least
inierieres with the rights of our citizens! Think
not. But have been astonished to see some gen.
tlemen who have holy horror of monopolies, still
uphodipg this, the most odous Of altmonopolies
But believe some of these gentlemen that are
earnestly opposed to intemperance, are afraid that
the result will be to increase the amount of liquor
sold, and thus defeat the object. How i! Can
there be greater facilities for obtaining than now
exist! doubt it. The temperance men say take
away the responsibility of the traffic" give us a
clear field and a fair fight" and the coffee house
keeper g free trade and sailors rights" Repeal
the license law; take away that shield and the
parties are placed upon equal grounds. If the peo.
pie willing turn the horrors Of incompetence
upon themselves, and then to bear them without
an effort TO rid themselves of the evil, let them
do it. r- '
The truth is, the great obstacle to the temper
ance reform is the responsibility of those who en-
gage in the traffic. And that traffic being legal
ized it is respectable by law, and respectable men
may make it business. If every man who
pleased were allowed to buy and sell spirituous
liquors, it would bring in all sorts of men, and the
calling would fall into disrepute, and become de-
graded men of character would not resort to the
places where spirits are retailed Now it is not TO-
So long as the places are respectable, men will
resort to them, and drunkards will be made out OF
sober men. If we could take away the splendid
temptations of the liquor shops where the upper
ten 60, there would be few drunkards mads As
to those other places, where drunkards are finished
of, it is not so much matter. Another great OBJ
lection to the license law is, that it gives kind of
sanction to traffic that ought not to be encour.
aged; and that the law sanction is, with many.
their standard OF right. One cam therefore, hardly
assail one as engaged in wrong, who is acting
under a license paid for and sanctioned by law.
Men are slow to believe that law would license
wicked or sinful trade of business. Nor shonld
law ever countenance wrong or immortality. Ii
should never come in contradiction with law of
God; it should follow that higher law, or remain
S lent. THERE'S no use in preaching moral sua.
sion to the cofee-house keeper, who has license
in his pocket; you may as well throw pearls be-
fore the swine" to talk to them about giving I'D
their business, while they can obtain license Nor
is this all This system of granting license rem.
ders the traffic profitable, by securing it to few
and excluding all Others 1t is, in fact an odious
monopoly. Now, if the traffic is left free to all
competition will bring down profits until no re.
spectacle man with capital will engage in it. As
it now is it is the most lucrative business one can
follow; and hence men who are eager for money.
and whom nothing but high profits could tempt.
are drawn into it. Now, legislation ought always
to act in aid Of useful trades and in discourage.
ment of those which are injurious. This species
of Legislation granting license, seems to us to az,
the other way, to the encouragement, and not To
the encouragement Of trade highly detrimental to
the public welfare. Again, it organizes large
body Of men, and makes it for their interest to en-
large this traffic; to encourage others in doing that
which the public welfare requires them not to do.
We do not think this is correct legislation. Be.
sides all this, we know that most of these house,
are the hiding places Of other and deeper crimes
and vicss--vices which the law has declared
erimes tits idle to disguise the truth that such
s the natural alliance between crime and intoxiea
ting liquors. that the good character of those who
are engaged in the traffic is no protection against
this union. Here we know men are inveieled m
70 infamy, disgrace and ruin. Ought law to lend
it, sanction to traffic which necessarily carries
with it such fearful abuses? We think not. ,-
Repeal the license law 1t will have good
effect; it will be declaration of the people against
system which encourages wrong, and in favor
of the passage of laws in restraint to the evils
which grow out of this traffic in intoxication.
ionis' respectfully w. w, McG.i
A8 Louisiana Election. 49,.