Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-08-11

thority has always provided criminal
code, and established police regulations.
If this is the meaning Of this clause, it
means nothing at all, and leaves the
Legislature Just where it would be with
out such declaration.
Again: we maintain that ''the evils
resulting from the traffic" are insepara-
bic from its very existence, and you can
not provide by law against" the one
without destroying the other. If the
Legislature would provide. against the
evils resulting from horse-stealing, or
gambling, or lottery-vending, it must
necessarily prohibit horse-stealing, gam
bling, and lottery vending.
This Constitutional provision simply
declares that this crime against society
shall not be licensed, and may be pro-
hibited. True, the right to prohibit the
liquor traffic existed in the General As
sembly without any such grant of pow
er, but it must not be asserted that,
with this express permission, the Gener-
al Assembly is circumscribed or limited
in the exercise of its authority. If, "to
provide against the evils resulting from
the liquor traffic." it is thought neces-
sary to outlaw it, and destroy all the Ii
quor in the State, the General Assembly
may "provide by law the ways and
means for the attainment of that end.
THE INTERESTS OF AGRICULTURE AND
THE MECHANIC ARTS.
As we are not now regarding the sub
ject as one of morals, but as one of po-
litical economy, it will be entirely proper
for us to consider the effect of the liquor
manufacture and traffic upon the great
agricultural, mechanical, and CONNER
cial interest of the State. The distiller,
we are told, ''buys the surplus produc-
ton of the farmer, and thus promotes
the interests of agriculture. Let us
very briefly examine this argument, and
understand its force. What does the
distiller do with the surplus product?-
He fattens-or more properly speaking,
bloats-as many hogs with his slops as
the corn uxd by him would fatten;-
thus he enters the pork market in COM
petition with the farmer, and, of course,
if there is a supply of pork greater than
the demand, the corn7grower is injured
by the operation; if supply and demand
are equal, the farmer derives no benefit.
But the distiller has something more
than slops! How is that disposed off,
Those who consume the liquor, are less
able to purchase the pork, and flour,
and other products of the farm. There
are thousands of men in Ohio, who, but
for liquor, would employ mechanics to
construct comfortable dwellings,, and
would be able to purchase furniture and
clothing of better quality, and more
of it, and the mechanic arts would be
and artisans multiplied in
every department, thus opening wider
and more profitable market for the agri-
cultural product of the country. Where
one liquor-seller is enabled to build him
a house and provide the comforts of life
for his household, twenty consumers of
liquor are robbed of the means of secu-
ring for those dependent upon them the
same blessings. Fellow-citizens, exam
inc this subject, and you will come to the
conclusion, inevitably, that the highest
pecuniary interest of every honest pur-
suit, absolutely requires the demolition
of distilleries, the entire extinction of
dram-shops. Twenty millions of dollars
are worse than squandered, annually, in
Ohio, to say nothing of the loss of life
and health, the prostration of public
and the insecurity of your house
holds, by these accursed occupations
and benevolence for distillers,
and their families, ought to de-
mand a law of determination, for most
of them are rendered, by their business,
bankrupts, both in property and morals.
1t is a fundamental principle Of politi-
cal economy, that state is impoverish-
ed in proportion to the number of per-
sons who live upon the productive in
dustry of others, adding nothing to the
common stock. The distillers and IL
quor-sellers are consumers only. They
and their families are the most expen-
sive class of paupers, eating up the
earnings of honest labor, and impalring
the energies Of those who feed and clothe
them. Better, far better, and less ex-
pensive, to support one hundred thou
sand helpless paupers in your aims
houses, than five thousand liquor-sellers
and their families. But both classes Of
paupers would be almost entirely dis
pensed with by the enforcement of a
Maine law. This branch of the subject
viii admit of indefinite expansion, and a
variety of illustration; but our end is
answered, if the reader is induced to re-
feet. There can not be doubt, that
the entire removal of this evil would
more to the real wealth,
physical, well-being, and commercial
prosperity of our State, than any or all
the other subjects upon which the Gen
eral Assembly are called 20 act. All
mere party issues are Insignificant and
contemplate, when compared with this
measure.
MINGING TEMPERANCE WITH PoLITIcs-
at will not do to mingle temperance
with politics; sit is holy cause, and
viii be injured by being involved in po-
litical contests" So say whining hypo-
critics. If what we have said be true, it