Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-06-16


5b of MAY, 1853, over which w. A. Gray +
presided as clNirmsn. and W. $. Holland as
secretary, The following preamble and reselu-
ton wess uhaEslnously adopted, and The uRder-
signed coshnsi,tee appointed 20 carry out the
prcfisions Of the resolution:
Where's. Many citizens, voters Of this coun-
", have Sighed a solemn pledge that they viii
vote for no man for representative who is not
in favor Of the Maine Liquor Law: There
fore. 20
Resolved, That the chairman appoint com
mittee Of three 10 write an address, setting forth
the plan u operation which we have adopted,
and its advantages asking the cooperation OF |
other counties, and requesting all papers in the |
Stale friendly to The Name Law 10 publish the |
address.
Our object is IL possible 10 have the Maine |
Law adopted By our State al the next session Of
the Legislature, and in order 10 do this we pur-
pose electing men who ere in favor OF the law,
and 10 secure the election Of such men, we are
signing pledge Of honor Of which the following
Is copy.
We, The undersigned, by these presents do
mutually pledge our sacred honor TO our cOun-
try, and TO each other that we will vote for no
man to represent Us in the lower house of the
next General Assembly Of the State Of Nilsson
ri, who is not ayowedly in favor OF the adop-
ton by this State Of the Maine Liquor Law, or
law Of similar provisions and like intentions.
But the condition Of this pledge is such that il
shall NOT 90 into effect or be considered until
twenty-five names are pledged in good faith.
The object Of putting the condition in the !
above pledge, was 10 leave men free 70 act as
they chose, until enough were found willing to /
work in unison, 10 make their influence felt in
the selection Of candidates; but we now have
the pleasure OF knowing that The condition is not
b,,fs lei
that number have already signed the pledge, and
that we are procuring more names daily.
Henry county is awake 10 her interests and
Is setting the noble example OF county actve-
" and efficiently engaged for the Maine Law
and the good o. the State.
And now in behalf Of our county, we call on
every county throug bout The Stale 10 lend
helping hand, to make au early and powerful
struggle for the accomplishment o. this great
desideTatum.
We know that some counties can do but little,
but in most counties the friends Of Temperance
have the balance Of power, and the only ques
ti0n worth considering is, how we shall get
them around so as 10 exercise the power tkey
hold.
The spirit Of do-nothing seems 10 hold the
friends of Temperance spelbOund-so much so
that great many whe would be with hear
lily, If once aroused, are lying supinely quiet
and il askedto do anything for the cause, will
only say, we can't succeed, and it is therefore
useless 10 Try Now suppose we admit that
the chances are against our success, which we
do not with the friends at their posts, that is
surely no reason why we should not make ev-
cry effort Of which we are capable. Suppose
any portion az the State 10 be needing railroad
and we tell :hem that they cannot get it, be-
cause other parts of the State will defeat them,
L. 81. Il
vote for a man opposed 10 the road? They
would tell us no. Our interests require tina,
we should go for The road, and we will do it re-
CARELESS Of what the rest Of the State may say
or do.
Thus il should, and we believe will be, with
the friends Of Temperance. Ii is the interest Of
each county and Of the whole State 10 have
the Maine Law adopted, and we hope and ex-
pect TO see men voting for their best interests
and the principles they approve, without stop
ping TO ask whether not we will be likely TO
succeeds for the only way in which we can sue
coed is 10 go boldly 10 the work, nothing doubt
ing. Henry county has taken this noble stand,
and single handed and alone If need be, has en-
listed for the war.
The passage of the Maine Law is surely Z
matter Of the first magnitude Of importance tc
the people Of Missouri. Drunkards can never
be reclaimed while their resolves TO reform are
Constantly tempted by an influence or power
which leads them captive al IFS will. Mer
whose appeiites and desires are ruinously in.
creased and perverted. can never refrain FROM
drinking while rum is placed 10 tempt them al
every corner of the street. Young men will bt
tempted and gradually ruined just SO long a,
fashionable grOggeries are permitted 10 hold
place among the business establishments of OIL
country. The only way TO disarm this alarm
ing monster of its potent sting, is 10 remove i
from the reach OF those who would gladly throw
off its embraces but cannot while it holds il
present close proximity 10 their dersnged, en
fesbied and yielding powers Of resistance; ant
the only way in which the removal of alcohol
beverages can be effected, is by stringent legis
lali0n.
~ Perhaps no man in our community can b
found who would contend that the drinking 0
intoxicating liquors except as a medicine (i
which NAY the nj iine Law would not debar it
use does them any real or material good; bu
on the contrary, not a man can be found wit
sane reasoning powers who does not know thf
strong drink is annually running thousands
Then AZ intoxicating drinks are doing us no gooC
and are doing our friends and neighbors an IRE
parable injury, every Christian man is bound b
the Golden Rule TO use his best enGeavors
ward oil The curse from those on whom it
likely to fall. But II is not sur province TO de
scanl on the evils Of intemperance, the blessing
of total abstinence, the advantages Of III
Maine Law, subjects with which our fello,
citizens are as familiar ourselves. But
many have doubts of the cOnstitutionality {
the Maine Law, we will quote the highest at
thority in the United States, in favor Of IFS cor
stiiutionaliiy. Chief Justice Tuney says
"Every State may regulate its own intern,
fr:die apcordnp 10 lis owH Indictment and mr.