Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-08-11
ADDRRss ON TEMPERANCE.

Disclaiming all intention of forming po-
litical party, or interfering with those already
formed, and urging our friends throughout the
State to do the same, we boldly and solennily
declare, without reference to the consequences
TO political organizations, that we will vote for
no man for any Legislative Office, who is not
fully committed to the principles ayowed in
these resolutions; that is, who is not in favor
of entire rohibition.-ResolHtion of State Con-
oentioz, adopted January 6, 1853.
Fellow CITIzENs:-We invite you to
consider the propriety of returning to
the next Legislature such men, and
such only, as are known to be in favor
of law entirely prohibiting the manu-
facture of and traffic in, intoxicating
liquors to be used as beverages.
In the consideration of this question,
you will not ask us to demonstrate by
facts and figures, that all the interests,
physical, pecuniary, moral, social, and
political of the great State of Ohio, would
be prompted by the entire Punishment
of distilleries and dram-shops.
Every neighborhood and almost every
household furnishes melancholy evi-
dence that the liquor traffic, like a
scythe-armed angle of destruction, has
been doing its desolating work. The
great and good, the pure and lovely,
have fallen around us like harvest
flowers. "Rachel weeps for her child
rem and will not be eomforted, because
they are not. I"
Everywhere and under all circum-
stances the liquor traffic is attended
with the same terrible results. As il
flourishes in any locality, every other
interest is prostrated; its prosperity is
built upon throne of human skeletons;
it crushes beneath its mighty tread the
hearts of thousands, while shrieks and
groans of murdered innocence are the
music of its march.
That the liquor manufacture and
traffic are trades of death, is generally
conceded, and most intelligent men
acknowledge that we cannot be pros
porous and happy people. till they are
abandoned
A MORAL QUESTION.
Those who resist the effort now
making to outlaw liquor, urge as a
reason for their course, that the whole
question is moral one, and that how
ever desirable it may be to rid the land
of the evil, it cannot be done by legis-
latien, but must be wrought out by ap-
pealing to the understanding and heart
of those engaged in making and selling
liquor.
The friends of legal prohibition dc
not invoke the aid of government In
the prosecution of mere moral reform
They only ask that the civil govern
ment shall carry out the great design
and object of its establishment. 1t i:
both the right and duty of government
to protect all in the enjoyment of life
and liberty, in acquiring and possessing
property, in pursuing and obtaining
happiness and safety. There is, how.
ever, one condition which each citizer
must comply with before he can ash
protection, and which must be per.
formed before government can properly
grant it; namely, abstain from Injuring
and respect the rights OF his fellows.
II enters into the very definition o
civil liberty, that no man shall pursu
any trade, occupation, or calling, incon
sistent with the general interests of tn,
community of which he is a member:
The principle has been affirmed b,
the Supreme Court of the Unitel
Statns. and It's soundness will not b
Questioned, that "no person has righ
to introduce into any neighborhood, an,
thing which viii endanger health or life
peril the property, corrupt the morals
or disturb the peace" If such a
element of mischief is introduces, th
agent becomes trespasser, and it is nc
mere question Of morals, but oneI
civil liberty.
Hence. Chief Justice Taney declare
that, if the internal traffic in intoxics