The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-11-11
for Ina tjrsssshl,



new Tempsfancs Movement.
In the first place, incompetence 10 universally &C.
knowledged to be an evil.
Secondly-There is nothing found in human or
divine law sustaining or supporting an evil.
Thirdly-By Withholding from it the protection
of the law, we strip it of all espectabiy-leaving
it to stand on its own basis, which is like sandy
foundation, that, when exposed to the penetrating
and all searching eye of justice, must crumble.
The effect of law in creating public sentiments
is seen in the license law. If you license the sale
of liquors, you create public sentiments in its
favor take the protection of law from it, and pub
lie sentiment will be against it-then it will not be
fashionable or respectable to be seen in an unli-
censed grog- shop-respectable men will no longer
be seen engaged in the traffic.
1t is ridiculous to talk of putting down intern
perance by moral suasion. While one or two are
being convinced of the evil of tampering with such
| a dangerous enemy as intoxicating drink, dozens
| are imbibing the drunkard's disease through the
contagion of beer-houses and grog.shops. Those
interested in the continuance of the traffic profess
great horror at the idea of mixing temperance with
politics, and well they may; but that any real
friend of temperance and morality, making any
pretensions of information upon this subject, who
has watched the temperance movement for few
years, should join to denounce legal suasioas, or
temperance and polite, is mystery to us; would
they undertake to cure and put down all other
crimes and vices by moral saasion? If so, why
have we law for their prevention and punishment? ?
If minor offences require to be suppressed by law
how much more do the greater, against the peace
and virtue of society? We know it would be said
that prohibiting the traffic by law will not prevent
drinking. To certain extent it will not, but i,
will destroy many temptations to drinking, and
will break up the large army of those who live by
tempting their fellow men daily into vice. 1t will
greatly retard the progress Of the evil. 1t will
save many, while it will violate the rights and in
lure the real interest Of none.
Government should not license the traffic for
if men will push their way to wretchedness ant
infamy, it is part Of the business of great com
monwealth to help to build railroads and furnish
locomotives to help them on.
We would prefer to have free trade in this bust
ness, and that every body be permitted to max,
drunkards, that the traffic may be followed on tn,
same grounds with farming. We want equa
rights If the traffic be just, every man has
right to engage in it without paying for the priv
lege; and if it be an Internal business, then Gov
| crnnent mas no ISHt u pTotecl IL, any mcre tndl
to grant permits to perpetrate any other wrong
So you see, be business right or wrong one is, b,
the principle Of equality, near its privileges
another the poor as well as the rich should hav
access to its benefits, if any it has. 1t is wrong ii
the State Legislature to license any immoral prac
tee Public sentiment in Louisiana would nc
tolerate the Legislature Of the State in authorizing
license to keep gaming house house of il
. fame, or band OF oounterfeiters. Yet there
really no difference in principle between egalizn
those employments and authorizing man to kee
a mere ram-drinking house. All of them ar
wrong in notwithstanding and tending to ditferer
consequences to be sure, but all pernicious to goo
order and the prosperity Of society. The Stat
ought to desist from the policy of levying ia
upon the appetite of man, when the gratifcatio
of that appetite is at the cost of the peace, pro.
perity and happiness of his household, as well a
destructive of his spiritual interest, forbidden b
}, the law of God and the best interest of societ,
. The Legislature ought not to give man licens
to make his neighbor drunk. But under the e,
+ listing license law, such man goes out and NEE
his fellow man, and stands up in society with til
u endorsement of the law in his pocket.
Yours respectfully. w. w. Moe.