The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-01-13
TEMPER ANCF.

|
I A late number OF the Banner conial'
the petition, which follows, said 70 ha'
been adopted by = meeting Of about ,hr'
e hundred citizens Of Davenport held al q
{ Court House. We were not present, b
i lpresame our German citizens to have con
posed the large majority in attendance
i We publish tho petition circulated, III
the people Of Scott county may have
! opportunity OF reading before signing It,
j We make tho remark from the fact that Il
paper was thrust The face Of respects
bic larmer last week, BY man whom
: more seldom see sober than drunk, VII
: the request 10 sign IT, "What Is II sal
E the farmer. "Oh, its paper" "Wel
what kind Of a paper?" "Why, merely
paper about temperance" "And wins
does it say ahoat temperance! oi
farmer was rather more inqnisItlve tina
many would have been, otherwise b
4 would have affixed his signature TO Il With
Io4i so many words ITS against iht
Maine Law replied rulnmy. "Th
M.ine Law! why we have 20 such law Il
This State" said the farmer. ''Well,
know that" reloioed red eve, "but par
eel OF fanatics wish 10 get one. ! came Il
this country because thought il was {
| free land and don't wish my freedom
abridged" This bruiser had an idea thai
when he left The land Of turf, he came to 9
country where every man was privileged
TO get drunk, knock down bis neighbor and
fire bis premises. Oar farmer settled the
question with the emphatic remark, "Weit,
sir, have lived in this country for forty
wears, and have observed enough to know
that the greatest curse in il is intempor-
ance." The man Of the demijohn left.
perhaps in search Of 4 customer who would
sign his paper ignorant Of ils contents.
With regard to the ''auaticsn who sign
ed the petition 10 favor Of a law similar in
lis provisions 10 that Of the Maine Law,
We would state that that petition was sign
pd ~ the mos, intelligent and moral por.
lion ofonr community. We doubt if there
be man belonging 10 Protestant church
in Davenport who would refuse to sign
such petition.
In receiving petitions va trust our Leg
islators are governed quite as much by The
character ii those who sign them rs by the
numbers, aware as they are that so maas
persons unwisely sign petitions before tal
Is acquaintag themselves with their par
port Our representatives. are old CIT
zeus aud acquainted with the people a
Davenport. 80 that VIC trust they viii eN
nine the names upon the petitions, and
not assist t. iadlct upon this city the deep
slrse II iicensed tipping shops.
To the Honorable Senate and Honse of Representa-.
tives ofthe State of Iowa:
ianutical party having preSented To your
honorable BODY petition for similar provisions
as the Mtiae Liquor Law, which petIton has
been signed partly by children and by person,
not living in this Steta. the undersigned take
leave 70 present YOU also their views concerning
| liquor laws We are, Ike many other citizen;
Of tits State, convinced that beer, wine and 9th
er spiriuous liquors Of good quality, used mod
eratolv, are beneficial 10 the health and strength
Of many, without being dangerous 10 their NOR
ais: that the abuse OF these beverages by the
few is not sutiiclen, reason for prohibiting their
use 10 the many that morals, originating only IN
the free will and moral sentiments, cannot BE-
enforced BY laws, and that a great part OF the
beneficial effects expected from such legal pro
visions az The Maine Liquor Law, are mere de-
lusions: whereas hatred, enmiies, odnus della
tors, costly law suits, pharsean set-eonceited-
ness ard contempt Of others OF different OF ons
civil discord and other evil passions are the bat
fruits OF legal provisions not respecting the nat
ural boundary line between morals and law tina
similar provisions as the Maine Liquor Law
! (beIng Of the same character as the penalties in
TENDED to create an uniform religious belief. o
as the obsolete laws Of the old puri,ans, for en-
| forcing wha theg considered pure manners an
the right creed, and being contrary to the spiri
| Of liberty prevailing in this country,) are fl L
check the immigration OF many industrious an
sober men, and TO induce them and others VIII
have already settled here 10 immgrate into 9th
pr States, whose citizens have not she inludiciou
assumption 10 prescribe by penalties their die
and their morals.
We therefore pray--the now prevailing sys
I TEN OF laws concerning ardent spirits being gen
orally disproved, that, as il has been propose
| By the Governor, judcious license system, pia
| eed under the control oil the local authorities
NAV he introduced