Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-03-18
Eiquor-Earp Reform.
LIQUOR SELLING ON THE SABBATH.

LIQUOR SELLING ON THE SABBATH.
The imbecility and impotency Of our Legis-
lature within the past few years in enacting|
laws for the restriction, and regulating the sale
Of spurious liquors must be palpably apparent
to every sensible mind. As the matter exists
now, every man, woman or child that can pro-
cure a pine table and bottle Of whisky, has a
perfect right to open coffee house in any quar-
ter of the city, and it is lamentabe fact to re-
cord, that hundreds are springing up in every
section yearly.
Within the same period Of time, let reflect
ing mind refer to the criminal records Of the
county, and the Police dockets Of the city, and
camly note the terrible increase of crime in all
its various phases. Scan the newspapers and
there the records Of riots, street braws high
way assaults, fighting, and a multitude Of crimes
committed, wherein the offenders are not
brought to the bar of Justice and after so doing let
any one dare say that all this has not been pro-
duoed by the dd libitum sale Of spurious liquors
Moreover let them seek out the reports Of the
Poor House, and the administration Of relief
to destitute and impoverished families, and learn
from the far worse than widows and orphans
that their husbands and fathers are the victims
of whisky. Let them go into the thousand ho-
wells, garrets and squalid abodes Of misery and
crime that are so prominent in every street. Let
them open the doors and cautiously glance into
the hundreds Of groggeries, the respectable, and
those Of the lowest and most degraded charac-
ter, and there see the bloated besotted oounte-
nances Of both old and young men,. And then
dare eXclaim that rum is not devastating in its
maddened career.
But, we especially intended at the commence.
ment of this article, to refer to the sale Of liquor
on the Sabbath day. On Sunday last, from ear
ly morn 10 the dawn of the following day, our
streets and coiIee-houses were filled with drunk
en- debauchery and midnight orgies of the most
deplorable nature. Intermixed with the b'hoys
ragamuffins, loafers and brothel DULLES, could BIZ
seen the laboring mechanic, the usually prompt
and sober business man, the merchant, and the
professional mon-all splendidly drunk, and, for
the time, "hale fellows, well met" Such
sights are shocking, yet are but too true.
There are ordinances for the prevention OF
the sale of liquor on Sunday, that need but the
hearty cooperation Of the municipal authorities
to be- at once put in force, and to carry them out
to the fullest letter. ...
Yesterday the Mayor instructed the police
to enforce the ordinance, and to complain Of all
selling liquor within their respective beats. II
now remains 10 be seen whether this is prompt
ly done if not, there is but little hope for the
redemption of the city from crime, or the pro.
lection Of our citizens, unless a public meeting
is called, and the matter canvassed by the PEG.
pie themselves Cincinnati NOnpareil.
john CAPIc and CARsoN EMmEs, charged
with the murder of Mr. SoHAN at Philadelphia
and who have been on trial for some days il
that city, have been found guilty of murder il
the first degree. The murder referred TO wa,
committed:u under circumstances more than usu
ally alarming Capie and Emmes, in a state Of
partial intoXcation, after avowing purpose Of
committing violence, rushed into the street, ant
in mere wantonness Of outrage, struck down ant
killed laboring man who was then on his way
to his home. This occurred only some three
weeks SINCE and the murderers as above stated
have been arrested, tried and convicted, ant
from this speedy vindication of justice, the pro
lection of the citizens derives one of its strong
est guarantees.