The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-12-02
Reply Of the State Temperance Com

Through the columns Of the "Chroni-
Gle, the Boston Union Association, ohas
the associated fum-sellefs of Boston, have
made their appeal to the people OF Mas
sachusetls, to aid them in their efforts 10
secure the repeal Of Gan Act concerning
the manufacture and sale If spirituous
liquors." passed in 1852. To the under
signed has been entrusted, by the State |
Temperance Committee, the labor Of
viewing that document, and of present.
ing it TO the public with such comments
as the interests of truth and temperance
may seem to require. No new charge,
Of any considerable importance, has in
this document, been brought against
law for the suppression Of the liquor
traffic. Old ones, thousand times an.
swered, riddled through and through in
time past, by arguments from all quar-
ters Of the country, are here pompously
paraded in large capitals, to give them
a show of consequence, and mingled
with the most bare-faced and impudent
ialsehoods, together constitute a docu-
ment every way worthy oftthe deStruc-
tive and vile system, for the perpetuiiy
of which, the "Boslon Union Associa-
tion" are struggling When we recol-
lect the purpose for which the address
was formed "a copy Of which may be
found above), we are led TO wonder
whether the writer did not blush with
shame as he penned the first sentence.
Intelligence and integrity are tie
foundation of republican form of gov
eminent" H.'.e
True; and one prominent argument
against the liquor traffic is, that il has
destroyed the intelligence and integrity
OF vast numbers OF the people of this
State. Thousands of children ia Massa-
chusetts are growing up in ignorance,
because their parents are liberal patrons
H of the liquor shops. To the truth embo-
died in the second paragraph Of the
j "Appeal," we fully assent, and would
call special attention to the following
Il sentence:
"An unjust principle, incorporated into
a law, ciTculates like poison alcohol |
\ in every channel of the blood, and soon
palsies the heart of the Commonwealth"
H Such was the principle of our former
laws, which licensed the rum seller to
engage in the business of poisoning his
fellow.men with villainous compounds,
and then punished them for exhibiting the
/ legitimate effects OF ihe poison. Under
the law existing in the year 1851, more
than five hundred men in Boston were
licensed by The city authorities to 60 into
the business of producing Drunkenness
and disorder, while sober citizens Of BOs-
ton, who had nothing 10 do with the
traffic or use OF liquors, were severely
taxed to pay the expenses of the opera
lion. The liquor traffic has never paid
its own bills, and never can. A law
compelling the tratficers TO pay the bills
of expense, resulting directly from their
business, would be as fatal to them as
the Maine Law. We join you, gentle
men of the "Boston Union Association"
in depIoring the sad results which follow
from the incorporation Of unjust princi-
plesinto law.
Immediately following the last para
graph above, we have the following:
IA cruel law begets cruelty in private
individuals"
True, thou mercifnI "Boston Union
Association" Men licensed To sell poi
son under the "crueI' laws Of former
years, became themselves cruel, and
when they had stripped their poor de-
Iuded victims of their last sixpence, kick
ed them into the streets without mercy
or remorse. Scenes OF cruelty, at which
humanity shudlers, have been constantly
exhibited wherever the law has licensed
or tolerated the Infamous traffic in inlox-
icating liquors; and not till laws formed
on tue principles Of justice aud mercy,
like our present law, shall be made to
triumph over the organized opposition of
unprincipled and wicked men, will cru.
city, such as we have referred 10, wi b
which community are but too familiar,
give place 10 justice and mercy.
Further on in the "AppeaI," }" we are
told that our Law, which they denouncc,
was stan exotic in substance and almost
in form. narrowed from a neighbOtinQ