The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-09-29
THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 80, lsss
rErYrRANcE Ann POLITICS.

There are some singular ideas r,rvadinr
the editorial corps Of Iowa at the prcscn,
time. with regard 10 the blending Of Tenn
rcranco with politics. One individual, who
occupies the same political side .; the fence
that We do, j. clearly OF opinion that TEN.
perance will prove disastrous to the Wing
party ii ass GATED With politics. On the
CONTRARY, With scarcely an exception our
Locoivco contemporaries maintain that the
Wings wish 10 adopt IL as a party measure,
And il this be SO, though i, Were a dtrfae
injunction, they are bound to oppose IT.
All are unanimous, however, in the express
sion, that Temperance should have nothing
to do with politics-that il is purely ques-
ton of morality and no: of politics.
This is true in some sense. bu, SO far as
Temperance is the subject OF legislation il
becomes political question Ii govern
ment would cease to legislate upon Tenn
perance it would then become question
of morality and the pulpit would be the APP
propriate place for is discussion; but SO
long as it occupies large share of the at
tention Of our Legislators il must be more or
less involved in politics, and it will continue
TO receive and TO merit their attention so
long as incompetence is the parent Of crime
and the source Of increased taxation.
That government is best which admins
tiers the public affairs with the most happi-
ness and the least expense to the people.
In order to do so, sources Of oppression and
Of taxation must, so far as possible, be re-
moved. Now if more prolific source Of
crime and its attendant results, oppression
and taxation, than In,emperance exists, po-
ltical economists have yet to discover it.
Every criminal prosecution involving an
expense to our county, is a draft upon the
pockets of its people, and considerable
amount Of our taxes is thus annually appro-
priated. The great bulk OF crime commit
ted is. directly or indirectly, induced by In
temperance. II is so fruitful source Of
crime that il has been deemed necessary BY
our government. since it had an existence.
in some OF its minor capacities, to make it
subject OF action. Every question which
demands the action of the Legislature.
claims the attention Of the people. In pro-
portion to its Importance the necessity ex-
lists for them to elect Legislators who will
reflect their wishes upon the subject. Now
1t a more important question in all of its
bearings, political, social and moral, exists
in community and effects its welfare, than
Temperance, our scrupulous contemporaries
will please make il known.
At the present time, there being no prom
inent and purely political question before
the people, or for the action of their SER
wants at the next session OF the Lecisla-
ture. and the Democratic party having a.El-
lated Wing principles in respect to internal
improvements, it is policy, j, is just. right
and Is demanded. that something be done 10
crush an evil which is entailing upon man
so much misery and expense as is Intern
perance. Up then, freelaen. and desp
the wheedlings OF political demagogues, and
the fear OF blending little morality with
your politics, rear the standard OF Temper
anoe upon your political platforms and
maintain il there.