The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-06-10
rForthe Evansville Journal.]

Mr.. EpIroR:-The article in this morn.
ing's Enquirer, on "One- Idea-ism" or the
prohibiiory liquor law party, is, OF course
meant for the Wing party, as it, in this locali-
ty, espouses the cause OF soberness and amen
ab,.ity to law. Wonder If the Enquirer ever
retrospects on his prior false representations
that the Wing party was the gen eral amalga-
nation sack into which oil the current tsns
of the day were chucked; which certainly
does not seem much like "one-ide a-lsm,
but rather mult-idea-ism; and which is con-
Trajectory. Consistency is truly jewel
Well may would-be party dictators squirm
when they are compelled to appeal, uuder
cloak, to debauchees and their kindred range
| i'm support of their measures-or rather ne
gatous, measures their party has none;
Congress Of negatives, the NO to true affir-
native American principles. When tits
said the interest of our industrious and pro-
ducing classes must be supported they say
"No" When tits held that oar government
needs rational conservatism in the admin
| stration Of its domestic progress, foreign
and territorial policy, they say "No." And
when at present ii is deemed expedient Tor
this locality TO restrain intemperance, de-
bauchery and arrestation of the multiplied
ton of crimes and murder, by the enactment
of that law which has proved itself efficient,
as evidenced by the empty prisons and poor
houses of those States where II has been en-
acted, they interpose and calculate, it is not
i Democracy-we must not be restricted oy
law to do what we list. or what the whiskey
distempered mind OF a drunkard has so often,
and will lead to. Is not order, equabiity and
Justice to our fellows, and laws which bring
this about--the greatest good to the greatest
number, truly Democratic! And such is the
eject of this sw--apd such our cause, prin-
ciples and policy contemplate.
The temperance question has not been es-
poused as party measure for elec;ioneering
. purposes as the Enquirer would fain make it
appear. Far from it. The anti-side taken
by that party whose unmstakable Object,
from Douglas down, is office conquest,
through the gullibility OF the dear people and
dear foreigners, by the hue ard cry OF
search" and "confiscation of property" and
the patriotic bachanalan call of the canGi-
dates, "Come boys, it's my treat" would
doubtless be much more effectual election
eering means. And yet they fearful oil
moral chastisement and honest rebuke from
the law and order abiding constituents, and a
sham espousal of the cause is proclaimed in
, an evasive shillv-shaly resolution Of the late
indianapolis Democratic platform. Why
does the Enquirer attempt to fasten it down
as distinct or unconnected move, saying
that " higs and Democrats are asked to re.
nounce their principles and join it. All, he
fears but too justly the known fact that il
will be a creed in future of one Ct the great
parties. That this great moral question, the
prevention of crime, the establishment of
-, nd oil ,f oft
tie great mass Of law-abiding American i'm.
telIigence. Civil laws were instituted to pro-
mote morality and harmony; for thft pur.
: pose was our constitution adopted. II the
: opposite effect should have been the object,
0 certainly oligarchy, anarchy and orgies
would have been the best promoters. The
statesman vino draws Up and aids in the en-
actments o. laws for the suppression oil crime
aud immortality, must al-o, 10 be consistent,
aid in the removal of the cause which origin
h ates it--intemperan%e, the king Cause
Again, il is false that this is to be the domin-
nant or soie principle OF the opponents Of
d the Lpcofoco party The afirmations of our
great party principles stand out in boil relief
as ever To your negations.
, lie adveris to the fierce contentious in the
old Grid, and asks, "must we shirk from
: these!" What does this mean! Is it bum
. cclnbe or does Pierce calculate TO involve
# US! To this. as party, we answer: mo
entangling alliances He enumerates the
questions, greater than this moral one, on
the tapis before every Legislature: Taxa
: ton, common school system, liquor la,os, &c.
e Not half the legislation for taxation would
be required, il the Causes that give rise to the
, demand from the State treasury, for the pro-
secution of criminals. for the support of
}. paupers, State institutions. &C., were sup
J. pressed by the Maine liquor law 1t is an
undeniable fact that three tourths Of the
off nders that the State has to prosecute,
). have become such through this agent which
the State licenses. Legislation cannot be
better engaged than in the suppression OF
causes which give origin to crime, and the
,, promotion of mOrality-common schools not
e excepted.
8 Liquor laws are gravely stated by the edi.
tor. Have not the whole batch of liquor
laws proved farce so far, wherever enacted
in whatever State, or however stringent, ex-
! ceptthe one which strikes al the root prevents
the manufacture, importation or sale as a
means OF profit or business! And more, il
! is audaciously assumed by anti-men, that
s personal property, that is liquor, can be
r reached for even in the private boudoir, ana
without any process oil law. All of which
Is fallacious. Arrests nave TO be made ac-
cording TO due process of law. Prosecution
cannot be brought except upon Tire affidavit
i of two respectable citizens without malice,
It having good cause or reason to suppose that
. liquor is kept in such house for illegal pur-
poses sale.
:, II then this great moral question is adopt.
II ed as a party question, by the Wing parry in
e the coming Senatorial canvass, which the
Enquirer Indirectly essayed in the article to
which this is response, certainly it cannot
4, be styled "one-idea-sm."
Evansville, June 8. VICTITO.
Failures.