The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-09-08
For the Minnesota Pioneer.
Maine Law and Democracy.

Maine Law and Democracy.
Democrats What about the Maine liquor law q,
our Territory? Do you believe in il! There ara
some reasons ~hyi, seems proper that you .houa bo,
believe in it, and excr, yourselves to secure il.
IL consistent ruth democratic principles? Yes. nc,
cause !, seeks 'thc greatest good Of the rrea,e.f
number" Il wouldn't be democra.ic--n,t 81 ALL,
let few scorc1 Of liquor sellers food our ins.et
munity with pauperism and crime, wre,efted .e.s and
vice, that they-he )e'o---Inight grow richer b, ii
1t is a dsgraceful and very unden,ocratic ,,.,,of
that permits the majority to suffer in their b,ghss.
interests for the mere rscuniary advantaea Of tie
few.
Then, too, il has been rendered certain tt -, ,o,s
jor'ty OF the people arc not only prepared t. sec Tho
liquor trade annihia.ed, but they actually ds.ye II 5000
Once and again they have given cxpression to thu.
earnest desire for legal protection from trafc which
exposes them to insult and violence. to heavy public
burdens and private degradation. Let it MT he for
gotten that they have voted that there be sucb
law. Nor be it forgotten that the mass Of the nooe
did not particularly relish the treatment WI h ,hc
petitions received at the hands Of last winter Is,,
lature. Those who petoned were, in ratio to those
who demonstrated, as nine is to two. Now, If . ma
jority desire such law, is it democratic to seek to
defeat their wishes BY oisns upon the caucuses can
didates who are known to be opposed to IL Surel,
not; for democracy itself is the unfettered -ea Of
the people. An honorable minority will never ssas
by under-handed measures, to hold the majority in
sulJection to them.
True, majority may act the yrant; and there are
those among US who pronounce this darIin. o1ea..re
OF the majority Of our citizens tyranical and onn,.s
s'Ve one, and declare that it robs liquor-venders OF
their rights but has it ever been shown that aev
man has a right TO live at the expense of the health
peace, and happiness Of his felow-beings!"
But, believing though do that the Ma ne las. i
only application Of that old Democrat pr,c;
pie which permits community to put away from
among them great public evil, I do not ask ,aa, /,
may be made the Shibboleth Of party nor test Of
party membership. only desire that democrats
may see that ii wi be perfectly consistent With their
principles for them to support such law, ans, iueon
sistent for them to do any other way.
Muudes of wings sympathize fully ~itl. re-
publican principles, and seek as sincerely the pubic
rn'','.t r,s.1'rs, anu ,Inccrcy me pubic
good, as any Of their political opponent So far
'hcy are democratic Ia their feelings, hence they
go in for prohibitory law.
The other day, asked rabid wing how e was
going to vote. 81 shall VOTE said he the wLiy
ticket, if they nominate Maine law men: bat # tbe2
nominate men who not reliable th,, question
and the democrats nominate Who are reliable I
shall vote the democratic ticket; and foni, "a part #
each are the ght kind Of men, shall nh. Maine
law ticket cut of the two.''
That's the way shall do, neighbor. J. 4 rel no.
stiocO foco," $50 he calls himself saws he - an H. =,
7 Sa OTnp hmm reHs fft.1a
lion at ST. Paul, last February. On the Fourth Of
July, at another conventions that purpose was re-+C
Grmed, and the Maine law all over ,se Tesrito-
~. were solemny advised to insist on the nous.--
OF "known and reliable" friends of said law. aol. ~
no case, to vote for others. This coaar..,- az
partes-this knocking the tickets into I-,sas 7or
the work OF temperance men:-the Leg isstI.e did IL
last winter by disregardng the emphatic l Of taeir
"sovereIsns." So no cauc,s-no par w. ne TENN,
to ignore the fact that the liquor au issue Giry L.
! fore the people at The coming election.
/ Can We not iscern the signs Of the time. P.,re
feel much more earnest about having the honor .as.
! than they ever did before. Greg shops n t. bee,
multiplying among US; and Of course, il-ir .-s-
chiefs have multiplied One drunken ctiz,n. ,iriv.-
by the madness of dcIirum trenen. has i.at,i ip,e
the river and gone over the cataract at ST A1,b
another has been terribly shot in the face /, I,.L
comrade; another has fallen under the 8, he's ~
his carriage and been killed; another has cir, j,,,,
IN Jail al st. Paul Our ha cen I,le's d, nm,
gle at stories of violence committed by dr. ken lodi
ans Nhiie many OF our own young men, be Ute be
have been hopeful ornaments to the Terri, lave
spent all their earnings at the bar Of tn, eedl~inr
vender Of liquid death. Rowdyism has ia On a f..h
START and gambling vssitanis 10 the Ter i.ov lave
reaped rich harvest. Think YOU these 4ci. mai,
People care any less about arrohibitcry law An.tf
er thing. Michigan has just adopted sue :.,N >,
"A maiotity Of twenty-five thousand. Wiseon.-, -
wide awake for a vote on it next Noven.l,.r ri,e
states have It on their statute books and ten nose are
coming The whole land is moved by }la,a7 lsv
agitation. Every item Of news from abroad G., i!is
subject touches sympathetic cord in the ~. or
people. If we do not shield ourselves the - ,h3s
from the states below, driven BY the Va Inc sv
will pour in upon our Territory and convert Il into
shahtation of every unclean thing"
The people will insist upon Maine law. ara ,c;k
ing short Of it. If you doubt, do YOU pea So IA .,
notice of the action of the Territoriai Yersu-
rance convention, which is to meet at St Aathoa,
Wednesday, Sept. i4ih. If you skepticai man.
age TO DE there and whether yonr feor-ci.i,o,
care anything about Minnesota Maine law
QrHL.