The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-04


views of the hqsor traffic On the first Monday IN
June, if you wish to have Intoxicating drinks
sold-under sanction of iaw--at your own respon
sibiIity you will vote s1License;'' il not, "No Ia
cease.'' --trr
Do YOU Wish THEM solD9 If 80, for whom?
FoR raE sxsEFIr or Your FAMILY? Which of
your sons would you ike to nave drink these H.
ouors Zoe the fatal appetite, mingle with inebri.
ates, and imbbe the seeds OF vice, disease, and
death2 se
Foa THE BENEFIT or VoUa NEIoHsoRs? Would
you introduce into their families an evil from
which you would shrink as from the touch of Gre?
FoR THE GOOD OF rHE wsErcHED lNEBaIArE2
Would you send him to his miserable home once
more, with his breath tainted, his blood boiling nd
his passions rsging9 Would you send another
thrill OF anguish to the aching hearts of his wife
and children?
FoR TEE USE OF THE TEMPERATE AND vIRrUous2
Since they are now free from the tyranny of APP
petite, would you have them bow down and put
on the CALLING yoke? Would you desire them 10
lay the fatal train which must ultimately over
whelm them in infamy and rulnS
FoR rsr YOUNG MEN TO DRINK? Would you
have The hope and the strength OF our country's
future crushed by the fell destroyer What doom
would be too terrible for the man who should pre-
sent the burning draught to their lips?
fHgs wAoA WOULD RAVE IT SOLD?
Before you vote 60 Liceasc,' we beseech you TO look
deliberately through your own family, and then
through The city. and lind the individual ON whom
you would invoke curse 50 bitter as the curse OF
drunkenness. But II 10 most be sold; rr"s.
WoULp you HAYS SOLD USDkR THE SANG.
TON Of Law? Law Is designed to protect the
helpless Would you make 1t legal to ruin the
husband and father, and leave the wife and chill
dren redress? Law Is consecrated to the preser-
vaiion of social rghts. Would you render it Les al
for to accumulate a fortune at the expense
eli the resources and health, and morals, and hap
piness of whole community Would you avail
yourself Of the potent arm OF the law to open the
Hood gates OF vice, and let its raging, whitening,
scorching waves roll out over all that ia fair and
lovely in the land2
''B,si tciH be sold against laSo dan roudsr
as sanciOn! BE 1T Do the friends of the traffic
wish to commend it by asserting that it is above
the control Of law? That they have under their
keeping one mode of invading the rights, the
peace, and the safety Of community, which can
boldly DEFY the power OF the people! What farce
then to insist upon lsgGli=jRg the traffic. la what
stronger language could men say, We wish the
moral force OK law 10 relieve our business from the
odium which belongs to iG We wish general
prohibiioTy LGl1, that lew OF us may monopolize
this lucrative traffic. We intend to impose taxes
and other enormous burdens upon our fellov-citi-
Zens. lt would be more convenient to do IL by
their consent, and therefore We ask it,
Ii IL were true that dealers generally would go
ON sell in violation of the law still would not
license Them We do not license burglars and
incendiaries, because law does not always restrain
them. Law Is a sacred thing. Ii its voice cannot
be heard against a public wrong, it cannof-rn,,si
not be heard IN its favor. Bot We confidently
submit that the objection Is not true. The hearts
OF thousands have been gladdened by the dissp
pearance of sroggeries and drum kenness and the
Teyiyng of virtue, OF domestic comfort and public
prosperity. Lands which, under the old system,
have been withered as by desrth and pestience,
have, under the ~, smiled in beauty and lowell
ness, the garden of the Lord There doubtless
may and will be- dishonora Bile exceptions; but, in
the general, respectfully submit, fellow
citizens slsndered by the assertion that they
viii sell IN defiance OF law In their behalf, in the
name OF patriotism, and of public virtue. repel
the imPutation, and rely boldly upon history for
our vindicauon.
license public evils ior the sake of gans Then
should license lotteries, gaming houses and places
for all the vices. Are willing that the Gov
eminent should say, we will allow you to take
bread from the starving, clothes from the dssti-
tute, money from all classes without making any
lust equivalent, and even returning the worst ot
injuries. provided you will give US part of the
money! Never But, instead Of source of reVe.
nue., "hcense" Is enormous tax upon the people
We are forced actually to spend more money TO
take care OF the orphans made by rum IN this city,
than all the avas of license. And then, estimate
the cost of police, of poor house, Jail penientiary,
and incendiarism, and more than the three fourths
Of the whole are drawn from Lhe people to pay ex-
penses of the traffic. Who will promote "iicense"
for revenue when some SO, 900 cost US more than
1000, and untold misery beside?
g. But u IS an infringement Of liberty" No, gen.
tlemen. There Is a broad distinction between
liberty and license. Ii is held by universal CON
sent to be no violation Of liberty to restrain by
law those acts of individuals which incompati.
BILE with the public safety. When the most de
grading and ruiDous habits 10 be superin-
duced-when the lowest pa sions of men to be
infiamed-when the peace Of families is to be in
yaded-when private and public virtue is to be left
bleeding in the sight of Heaven and Earth, let no
man invoke the sacred name Of liberty in defence
of the net. There Is not, we iearessly assert,
prohibitory law upon our statute books, which is
against public wrong, OF half the ntude OF this
IL is not therefore, strange that the ablest jursts
ofthe age, among whom we proud to include
every Judge upon the bench of the Supreme Court,
have decided that the people of any State may, if
they deem it necessary, in the Just exercise of
sovereign rights, ''prOhbit altogether the sale OF
intoxicating liquors Il is deemed no infringe
ment of liberty to prohibit by law, under severe
penalties, ninety nine out of a hundred freenen
from engaging in the traffic; why should il be TO
prohibit the remaining one!
eve are opposed 10 he traffic and 10 The use, but
feel compelled TO Uote License" Ia it possible? You
believe that intemperance Is a monster vice, and
therefore liquor ought to be furnished to the people
under the authority of law. Rum ought to be BAN
ished from the land;l shall hereloreyote 10 license
its sale in the city Of my own residence. dread
that my children shall fsl under temptations; will
therefore permit my neishbOrs TO exhibit it in all
its artificial splendor and attractions before their
eyes, and will let my know | voted for the
license. J am fearful of stimulating and in
greasng this enormous evil that will go straight
to the polls and vote in favor Oft. Gentlemen,
protest against such logic, and appeal to those who
Opposed to the tTgfic, in the name Of humanity,
10 vote against it, and not for it.
''H ought 10 be done, but temperance are too
hdStY. W G Deg you 10 near US on thlS matter.
We have made our approaches to this issue eau.
tiously, but with firm step, for period Of twenty
years. And even now il does not come before you
upon our petition or at our suggestion. 1t is the
act of CoUNCILs alone which calls you To the polls
upon this question. And they, with a sound dis
cretion have removed the final decision far enough
into the future TO allow Of the most mature reHcc
ton, and the most thorough preparation of the
public mind. " No License" vote is but pre-
liminary measure. Ii Is, in that event. by "joint
resolution" to go up 10 Congress, and then come
back to Councils pending whose decision he PEG
pile may reach it and dispose of it as they will
through the ballot-box Deliberate enough in all
reason, but We do not complain. We want ii ex
amined in every phase. Truth has nothing to fear
from free discussion Let the facts be placed fairly
and fully before The Esope, and trust in perfect
confidence their calm, unbiased decision. But If
it be licensed, shall B be at your responsibility?
Citizens of JVashiag kon- Members Of Councils
Administrators of La,oi We earnestly ask you
tehdt result of the liquor traffic have you
(you have had experience) in the houses Of the
people, in the pubic streets at the offices Of police,
in the criminal court, in the aims house, in the
Jail, in the peniIcnliary, for which you would be
willing 10 be responsible? And If these horrid
scenes are TO be re-en enacted, shall it be under
sanction of your vote? ...l..
Tar payers GVoTkingmen! Can you remember
3t -, -.