Smyrna times., 1854-12-20
a Fr2hibitOry Liquor Law,
:, . ~ I4IINO-N'5I 7
E. d. DALEY, Scc'y p. /.

-
We take pleasure in presenting to our read
ers the following article, taken from the SUSSEX
NeUs. The Editor of the Ne,os, in thus speak
ing out in favor of Prohibition has set an ex-
ample that other Editors in Delaware mioht
follow greatly to their credit. Such voice
from old Sussex, in the present crisis of the
Temperance cause, is cheering indeed, and we
trust tina, it is indicative of a general feeling in
that county in favor Of Prohibition, and that
that feeling will be made manifest by the num-
Der Of petitioners before the next Legislature,
by the 18th Of January next:
The necessity of Prohibltory Liquor Law
is being discussed by nearly all the newspapers
IN this State, and we deem II to be right and
expedlent that we should give our views on the
subject.
In order to perceive the necessity of Pro-
hIbiory Liquor Law, it will be necessary for
US to consider the evils growing out of the
use of spurious liquors.
10 see the evils resulting from the sale and
use of intoxicating liquors, we have only to look
around and about US. Every where we 90 we
see the bllghtlng effect Of lntempcrance We
see 1t IN every city and town we see it in our
respective neIghborhoods. If we go to our
County Prison, We fad there almost every pris-
oner victim of intemperance If we 90 to
our County Aims House, We find that about
two-thlrds OF Its Inmates have been Carried
there either directly or indirectly by the effects
OF mtemperanse. If we 20 to our Courts, we
lind that at least One-half Of the business done
there Is the fruits of Rum.
Nov let US consider what all this COSTS and
ln1 tn no H.. h 1.
the nsolvent condition of the county. The or
ders OF the County 90 unpaid year after wear:
and so much in debt has she become, that our
merchants often refuse to take the orders for
goods. And the sober, hard working tax pay
ers OF the County have to pay the expenses of
all this crime and pauperism which is caused
Oy Rum. The debt that now hangs over this
county together with her increasing indebtedness
caused 10y lntemperance, will all have to be paid
at some time or other, and mostly by the sober
part of the community.
We may look at The numerous victims fin
temperance that are III our Country, and see
the woe, the misery and the distress Which
they bring upon their families, friends, and the
community at large. 1t is a well established
fact that the Incorporate man is violator OF
all domestic rights. The testimony of thous-
ands prove that the drnnkard is d robber Of his
own children; for on whom may the child de-
pend for daily bread, if not the father, whose
bounden duty II is to provide for his own house
hold, and who in the neglect of this duty is
considered to be worse than an infidel. And
does not the drunkard neglect this duty -
Does he not lash his wife, the partner
OF his BOSOM, with sorcr scourge than
scourge OF hot scorpions! Does he not bring
down to the grave with sorrow, the gray hairs
IF uhp nd ha. H..
him! lie racks with torrents the hearts that
are bound to him by loves deathless Attic
tiOns@
Now we ask, is it not in the prerogative of
civil power to put a stop to such nlquities
We are aware how many men argue that civil
power Is for the protection of temporal inter-
ests alone. Well, we admit the plea, and what
IL gained by ita We ask in the name of hu
manIty-have our citizens no temporal inter
ests that pertain to the homes, the hearts, and
the social life of themselves and their loved
ones! The civil power Furnishes the man who
INJURIES his nelghbor's cattle, but leaves unpun-
ished the man who Injuries his neighbours chill
dren. lie can rob the piece ofmnd ofhis nigh
bors, but dare not rob one mans pocket. lie
can break cur hearts and go unpublished. but
he strong arm Of the laW prevents him from
breaking our WdLkihg sticks! The man who
Is leper Is quarantned lest he fill the dir with
contagion; the pOsOner of our wells is COM
PEELED to go to prison. And why! Because
the civil power guards the lives of our lsved
ones. Then we inquire, shall individuals be
licensed by the civil power TO fill Gods pure air
W tn pestllent blasphemies, and destroy all the
peace and the purltles of our households, until
they bring the Utmost souls of our beloved ones
as cnrpses to the sepulchre!
No: AS members of society, and subjects of
government, we may have bank stock and real
estate which require the protection of law but
we have hearts, too, and souls, which call for
protection. All the interests Of our souls and
our hearts are under the protection of the civil
law, as our bank stock and as the products of
our farmere,-and our real estate.
We say then, in our humble Judgment. it is
the bounden duty of the General Assembly of
this State ut their next session, to PASS such a
law as will not only restrict, but altogether
prohibit the sale Of the cause of so much dis
tress, poverty and crime. e.
We believe that the right thinking norton
Of the citizens Of this State, wish and desire
such law. II is true, however, a large por-
tion OF our citizens are opposed to such law,
and IL IS equally true, that large portion of
our citizens have been opposed TO every rood
and moral law that is found upon our statute
book. DO we not hear them cry out against
the laws that are now in existence, prohibiting
Sabbath breaking, horse racing, cock fighting.
gambling. &c. The question that arises then
Is this Which class of tho community. is the
most competent to judge what laws will be the
most beneficial to our citizensl We leave our
readers 70 decide the question.
II 10 urged that moral suasion will accom-, |
plish gil that isdesired by the temperance pso.