Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-08-24

to grant the city authority to protect the rights
Of all her citizens.
No man has the right to rob my brother Of
his innoeency, his health and his fortune, and
to pay him poverty, disgrace and death in re-
turn. No man has the right to rob his wife and
children Of his love and protection, and the city
and country Of his valuable services and upright
example. No man has the right to burn his
own house down, il by so doing he may jeOp-
ardize the property Of another. And if his own
sense OF propriety will net do it, the laws Of
our land should protect the community from the
reckless course Of the man who pursues a call
ing merely for the sake Of money which does
infinitely more harm than good TO the commu-
nifty in which he lives.
But again, it has been said, that elf we step
these reotifying establishments we will impo-
verish those who are engaged in the business,
and beggar their families
| have TOO much confidence in their good
sense TO believe they originated this objection.
Will any one say TO me that these mcu have
only sense enough TO stew, TO boil, 10 strain, to
barrel and sell whisky? that they are simple
tons upon all other subjects, and are not men
enough to compete with our other citizens in a
thousand useful, profitable and honorable EN-
ploymentsP Such an imputoton is foul SLAM
der upon as sprightly and competent men as our
city affords.
And what are the great benefits conferred
upon our city by these liquor-selling establish
ments, that are to counterbl'nce and compen-
safe for all the unhappy effects which they &C.
casionP
know of no benefit they are to Hannibal
Yes, there is one advantage they are to our city.
l must not forget that, as it is the only one
Aever heard claimed for them. "Render TO all
their due" is an oracle from heaven. L there
fore freely admit that they swell the receipts of
our city treasury, by paying directly, in the
shape of licenses, about $500, and indirectly, in
the shape of fines, rer'aa. as much per year.
So that, if these esta .-..4..., DO Ly,ch forth a
herd of bowling deSp,.D1,,s, IL prowl our
streets by night; if they do convert few kind
and provident fathers into prOaigate and abusive
monsters; il they do change few virtuous,
smiling and happy homes into dens of misery
and corruption; if they are striving, with
hsver-dying energy, to poison the fountains of
morality and virtue, and to delugc our city with
a food of iniquity, why they pay US 5000 for
the privilege to do it! And can we blame them
for doing the very things which we have sold
them the privilege TO do 4?
"Oh, shame where is thy blush?"
Give man the privilege to stand in the midst
Of our citizens, our friends, our children, and,
with the poisoned arrows of corruption and
death, drawn fresh from the culver of hell, to
shoot in every direction, from morn till night,
and night till morn, during the space of one
whole year, for the paltry sum of fifty or one
hundred dollars!!
Citizens of Hannibal! shall this state of things
exist foreverP Fathers and sons will you
continue to barter the temporal and eternal in
terests Of those whom you should die to pro-
tect, for the contemplate sum of fifty dollars ?
May God forbid!