Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1853-1853, 1853-09-03
For the Journal.

not think their mothers know they are out; l
know their cOnsistency(2) is not fully Oppre-
ciated
In few short sentences they state that they
are friends Of the temperance cause-tempe-
rance men thems eves-that they prove their
love for it by practice and precept, and then
devote four columns week, nearly oil the space
usually devoted to editorial, to disappearing
the positions and intentions Of the friends Of the
cause i'll this city to twisting and torturing
the meaning Of the journal" into canvass
for the Maine Law, as if that law was TO be
voted for in November, and 10 crying out to the
few democrats that read its columns, or apprs-
ciate its efforts, to stand Off" keep alooI,
because, suppose, the liquor traffic in this city
happens to be wholly in the hands of democrats
as if the influence of four or FIVE liquer.selling
democrats could stop the mouths or bury the
cOnsciences of the many, very many democratic
temperance men in our midst. They sing out
the drunkard's old argument, free country
as if our being in free country gave us the
privilege Of pouring poison down our neighbors'
Threats, or the privilege of making widows and
orphans without number. What an argument
Why, according to it, l could build slaughter
ing house anywhere OH Main street. that would
by leaving all the o0al lying around it, breed q
miasma that would be death to hundreds OF goot
neighbours. Let me ask, then, was there ercr
slaughter house that did or could breed such
miasma of murder and misery, destitution snt
poverty, such sw eeping destruction TO all the
dear ties of families and friends and kindred a,
liquor selling establishment? Oh! 'tss "fret
country" When by paying tribute into til,
State treasury the liquor seller can sever the
sweetest bonds of social life; can cause the Grai
and delicate partner Of man 10 be turned ont Il
the ptiless storm in midwinter, and the starving
children 10 beg from door to door for bread
Who says lis not a " free country
| They call it the Force Law" All mer.
Chants pay into the State and County treasures
tax in proportion TO their business. One law
governs all their licenses, whether they sell cali
Goes or iron, sugar or fish; but for the benefit
of the whisky seller, the Legislature has made
a special law refuses to class him with mer
chants claims and exercises the right to regu
late or prohibit, if proper, the trade in liquor
and fixes a special license for the liquor seller
to pay--high above the license of the merchant
If they would place the license in amount il
proportion to the evil they do, and have dam
ages assessed by jury of the widows O' de
ceased drunkards, there would be more justice
in it.
But wish to call their especial attention l.
their consistency. If they would come out ant
confess their fOndness for the "creetur," an,
fight under his banner of the skull and eros
bones. wOuld respect them better.
} They are the "friends of temperance = stil
they style the many ministers of the gospel
members of the bar, merchants, mechanics, an
ladies' who are using their influence morally I
advance the cause of temperance in cur city
|" fanatics" They pirate about their practising
Temperance, then use their paper to instil int
the minds of the democracy of this city the ide
that whisky selling is plank in the demOCrati
, platform. Are they not worthy opponents O
Jefferson? Il think he was the father of demo
cracy,) Well might the genius of Mr.. Ben
toms old " demos crateo" exclaim :" Save m
from my friends!"
Yours, ETC.,
}, A TEMPERANCE MAN.