Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-02-24
From the st. Louis temperance Battery.
Prohibition t. ... H.rH


We have yet TO learn of the first objection 10
the legal suppression of the traffic in liquor as
"a beverage, which, after a candid examination,
shall be found TO be valid and substantial
The consttutionality Of the movement is now
generally unquestioned by all whose opinions
Iare Of value. Whatever the State says is OPP
posed to the common welfare, the State has
right to abate or destroy, is new doctrine, and
was not discovered to be strange or heretical
till within recent days; and the possession OF
this power necessarily implies the possession
Iof all others requisite for its execution. Pro-
Inhibition calls for the admission of no others
The only question it asks is, is the liquor traffic
opposed to the welfare Of the StateP Il is no
part Of an answer to say that a man has a right
to sell what he pleases if other people choose
ITO buy. Where is the warrant for any such
right? Besides, this and all other such asser-
tions are in the face Of the first admis sion that
society has right 10 protect itself; and TO say
that principle as old as society and as neces-
sary as law, loses its character and becomes
Oppressive and in'quitOus when applied TO rum
selling is simply absurd. The only pertinent
and Legitimate question, then, is the one stated,
is rum selling nuisance? that is, does it annoy,
injure, the public or individuals? If does, this
fact itself is decisive as to the ability of society
" HldhC du cllu vi IL. lie OIl1 QUIET IeRlllI01le
question is, should society exercise the right
This is 10 the expedienoy Of the measure. Isit
expedient to make an end of rum selling? For
the present we leave the question to the answer
ing of our readers. 1t seems strange to us that
there Should be need 10 ask it.
While our thoughts were turned to this sub
ect we noticed the following redsons for total
prohibition given by the New York Tribune,
which we add as appropriate:
/. 1t is impartial. There can be no pretence
that such law Furnishes little sins and sinners,
but gives impunity TO rich and respectable vice.
1t has, at least the merit Of treating all offenders
exactly alike.
2. Ii rests on a clear moral bdsls Its funda-
mental assumption is the immortality ard evil of
the liquor traffic. 1t does not, like our License
Laws, assume that this traffic is perncious and
dangerous and then give any one dispensation to
pursue it on payment of ten dollars. 1t does
uot pronounce the traffic immoral, and then at
tempt to confine it TO men of good moral charac-
ter But contemplating and approaching the
great fountain of crime, pauperism and misery,
it makes a manly, earnest and straghtfor ward
effort TO seal up and stay It's bitter waters :or-
ever. ......... ..
3. II can be enforced. License laws, espec-
tally in great cities, never can be; they rest on
no moral sentiment. No one can render a NOR
al reason why, if man can afford TO pay ten
dollars for license, he should be allowed to
sell, while a man who lacks and cannot scrapc
together that sum should not be. Thousands
are now selling without license in our city, but
those who know the fact will not complain of
them, because they have no means Of distinguish
ing them from the licensed. If our License
Laws were meant to be obeyed, they would at
least require every seller TO display his license
conspcuously in the room where the traffic is
carried on; but being intended only as blind,
and an anodyne for the public conscience, they
are constructed accordingly.
4. The Maine Law embodieS no netD princi-
pie. Itis simply the application to the insid-
ious poison, Alcohol, of the common law prin-
cple which regulates the general dispensations
of poisons. No man is now at liberty TO sell
Arsenic or Prussic Acid except to persons who
he has good reasons to believe contemplate an
innocent and salutary of it. The fact that
many imbibe Alcohol in ignorance of its poison
Gus character, is all additional reason for strin-
gent public safeguard against its pernicious
sale.
5. The Maine Law does lts Dork. True, it
does not stop all selling, any more than our
laws against theft, forgery, and murder, pre-
vent absolutely the perpetrati0n OF those crimes;
but i; renders the traffic infamous, and dooms it
to secrecy, stealth and darkness. 1t confronts
every tippler with the warning that he is ma
king himself an accomplice of offenders; it start
les every youth who may be tempted TO take
his first lessons in dissi patton with the fact that
Public Conscience and Public Judgment deliber-
ately condemned and stgmatized the traffic he
is abetting. He who shall become tipper in
defiance OF the Maine Law, can never plead ig
norance as an excuse, nor saddle his degradation
upon the community.
g. And finally, Il is popular. The enemies
of the Maine Law, though they rail against it
as despotic, odious, obnoxious to public senti-
ment, &C., &C., are very shy Of submitting it tc
the people. They wiring and twist every way
to dodge that ordeal. They are trying hard to
repeal the law in Maine, Massachusetts and
Rhode Island; but in neither State have they
desired submission to the people. They have
the power in our new Legislature; we dare
them to 20 with us to the people, either at q
special or general election. But they are entire
ly too cunning for that . ... ......
The Cincinnati Nonpareil says there is man
IN that city pasSionatcly fond Of music that he
mistakes his " fe for bass drum, nightly, and
beats her like the mischief.
How late is it Bill?
Look at the boss, and see if he's drunk yet