The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1852-04-03
HEAR BOTH SIDES,
Are you ready for the Que stion /:


The question before the people of Min.
nesota to be voted upon next Monday i:
this: "Shall we stop the liquor traffic
by law ?"
Citizens! you have heard the argu-
ments on both sides.
On our side have spoken the Judges O!
the Supreme Court, nearly all the editors
in the Territory, nearly all the ministers
of Christ's gospel, nearly all our most
substantial and valuable men, together
with the eloquent voices of our wives,
sisters and daughters. They urge that
the public peace, the public prosperity,
the public health, the principles of morali-
ty and religion, and all the better senti-
ments and promptings of our nature-that
all these demand that we arise as one man
and put away from among us the abomna-
ton that make,h desolate-the ruinous
traffic in liquid poison.
On the other side you have heard inter-
est speak, saying, "By this craft we
have our wealth. You are invading our
constitutional liberties. You would rob
us of our property" Prejudice has said,
Wherefore should we be wiser than
our fathers? This is tangled no.
ton. 1t creates some excitement now,
but it will soon die out" Passion has
spoken, ''Cursed be these temperance
men. We will shed blood rather than
submit to such a law"
The friends of the Law have replied,
We do not believe you have right to in
flict on the public a gross and continued
wrong; and SO far as playing the tyrant,
and robbing you of your liberty and
property, we simply wish to free our
land from the execrable tyranny of in
temperance, SO that we may all enjoy the
highest freedom, and have fair chance
to get rich. To be sure, we feel some
what excited; but it is not the effect of
strong drink. 1t is rather our love for
the public good, and our earnestness in
opposing vice. 1t is the stimulant of a
deep conviction that we are in a good
cause; and whether the Law passes or
moi, we shall keep busy at our work, just
as long as our opponents continue to ''do
evil.' Your threats do not terrify US
We will die in the discharge of our duty
as patriot citizens.
The enemies of the Law have reioined,
u You are hypocrites. You are manulac-
turing political capital. Let law alone.
Moral suasion is your only proper tool +;
and we VOW that we don't care a snap
for that. And we will smuggle liquors
and break the Law if it is passed.
The friends of the Law have said
The most of us are honest men, seeking
by proper means to stamp the liquor traf-
fic with public disapprobation as criminal
We shall not cease to use moral suasion.
We are arguing our cause all the ardy
through. We have printed our reasons.
and brought them TO every mans door; and
we are willing our enemies should do the
same, since they regard moral suasior
with so much respect. But we cannot
trust those who hate our cause to dictate
our measures.
The enemies of the Law say, We
will rely upon the moral suasion of OIL
flashing decanters; and on election day
we will
-'Fill our flowing bowls,
Until they do run ovcr.'
We will keep a number of men drunl
until then, and thus we shall be able tc
command their votes''
So then it seems that one party gains
votes by spreading light, to make mer
wise, and the other party by giving then
liquor to make them fools.
Citizens! such are the arguments such
the attitudes of the respective parties.-
Can you innocenHy stand between them
and be neutral! There is truth ant
candor; there is a right side and a wrong
one. Truth and candor belong 10 thu
right. You are left to determine.
Citizens! are you ready for the ques
ton? Those in favor Of the Law will
please say "Aye!' Those opposed
there are any-will say Mo-"
PHILAHrRoPos.