The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-08-26
For the Organ.
Temperance Sketches.
BY MEzEQUR.
No. i.

law. the right was conferred upon a
favored few to traffic in ardent spirits,
at the expense of human suffering and
woe. But legislators have at last dis
covered what common sense always
dictated-that if Dick Hardcase had a
right to furnish the penitentiary and
gallows with victims, Jack No-souI
had an equal right to supply the asy,
lum and almshouse with maniacs and
paupers: and if these two individuals
possessed such responsible rights,
there were others who possessed It, in
common with them. In short, thew
have discovered the true state of the
case-namely, that if one man has
the right to traffic in human agony,
and scatter the seeds of suffering
and sorrow broadcast upon the earth,
10y whomsoever authorized, J all men
have the same right. We say, legis-
lators have at length discovered this
truth, and in some States have acted
upon it. Ohio, in her conventional
capacity, asserted and subscribed to
this doctrine. So far, SO good: but
who will assert that all efforts to pre-
serve the peace and harmony of soci-
ETY., by legal means, should end here?
The license system proved itself to be
one Of the most hypocritical, corrupt,
base laws that ever found its way
upon statute-book. It was moral
Janus. With one face, it ffeianded to
frown upon vice, and curb the de-
praved appetites Of men: while, with
the other it sanctioned and gave every
encouragement to the commission Of
crime Of every shade and degree,
therefore defeating the very ends Of
its creation. But its own corruption
proved its ruin. Like the cancer, it
eat its own way out of the body poll
tic. The end failed to sanctify the
means. 1t had shed too much blood
starved out too many poor, filled too
many prisons and pauper-houses, un-
der the sanction Of its corrupt provis.
ions, to be longer tolerated. Man
kind would rather suffer injury
through violence, than by the sanction
Of an unjust law. The license law
was therefore expunged from the
statute book, and now what are we to
have instead? Are we, in future, to
be governed by the rGs influence,
With0ut prohi5itOry or restraining Ian
upon the subject, or by law, soithout
the rues This is an important ques-
ton, and one that must be decided
this winter. That the people of Ohio
voted down the license Jaw, in order
to give fuller scope to the work Of
destr ction which was going on
through the liquor traffic, none, we
presume, will assert. What, then, |
ask in all candor, was intended by
that important step?
If it was intended to give room for
the Maine Law, or some such prohib-
itory law, (and certainly the inference
points in that direction, how have the
peoples trust been betrayed! The
suppression of the license law was
followed with the most ungovernable
and licentious use Of the liberty of
liquor traficiug that could be inn
agined. This was to be expected for
time; but it was fondly hoped THAI
the Legislature would respond to
the wishes Of the people, as did the
Convention from whom it derived its
powers to act in the matter. But to
what extent these hopes and expec-
tations were justified, the result, thus
far, has proven. For two whole
years, or more, have the people Of
Ohio been suffering from the un-
resisted tide of liquor vending, for
which this long interregnum has af-.
forded such great facilities, And
still we are told that we must leave
the temperance question outside Of
politicsl Politicsl and what are theVl