Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-03-08
For the Grand River Times.


of What Next?" there appears the following
wholesale statements, in relation to our Prohib-
itory Liquor Law, and its effects upon the coun-
try, which are so far from truth and the facts in
the case, that as citizen of the State, and
friend of It's best interests and the honor of its
inhabitants, can not suffer to pass unnoticed
and unrebuked. The statements refer to read
as follows:
"At the present time we doubt whether there is
not more liquor sold and drank within our borders
than at any prior period; and during the brief ces.
sation of the open traffic succeeding the flrst or
December (the day on which the liquor law took
effect), we venture to say that there was vastly
more drinking than for the same number of con-
secutive days during the whole year,
1.-THE liquor traffic in this city, and, we are adj
yised throughout the State is carried on as openly
as before the day on which it was provided the law
should be of force. All efforts at executing the
law have ceased. The trade is as free in ardent
spirits both at wholesale and retail, as in flour or
potatoes. Practically the act is an utterly dead
letter upon the statute book"
Every part of these statements are utterly
false, and must have been known to be such by
the writer, when he put them forth, or else he
is grossly ignorant of the state of things in the
State he so much disgraces by the publication
of his foul sheet, the known and acknowledged
mouth-piece of rum, vice and oppression. In
this part of the State, the law has been, and is
now enforced ana Observed. Several seizures
and prosecutions have been made under it in
this, Kent, Ionia and other adjoining counties,
and mostly, too, since the action of the Supreme
Court, on the constitutonalty of the law. Ev-
cry known infraction of it, in this vicinity, has
been promptly attended to, and grog. shops, as
such, together with tipping and drunkenness,
as consequence, have principally disappeared
from our midst. The liquor that is sold and
drank is so stealthily done, and consequently in
such limited quantities that very little injury re.
suits from it.
Indeed, think that for the length of time it
has been in force, and the many embarrassing
circumstances in its way, few laws of the State
have been better observed, and produced more
happy results than the one in question; and so
far from its being true that there is now, or has
been since it took effect, more, or even as much
liquor sold and drank as previous thereto, | can
with perfect safety say that here, in the Grand
River Valley, the quantity used is not more than
about one fifteenth or one twentieth of its for
mer consumption!
Many heart, and family, and community
have already been largely blessed by the saluta-
ry and timely protection it has afforded them
against the enormously great and mutifarous
evils of intemperance and should it permanent
~ remain law of the State, in few short
years, when those who have already unfortu-
nately fallen into, and been entrapped by the
willy meshcs of that fell destroyer-the legiti-
mate fruits of the free sale and use of inoxica-
ting beverages-shal have passed away, or be-
come reformed every citizen of our whole State
will have become entirely freed from all further
encroachments of that arch enemy Of mankind,
and TEMPERANCE with its thousands of balmy
and healthy influences, will peacefully and tri-
umphantly reign in our midst! This glorious
result will be achieved, for the enlightened peo-
pie of the State have decreed it and this law,
with them, is deservedly popular, and they will
stand upon it and enforce it as long as plank
of it remains; and when it is annulled, if ever,
they will imperatively demand Of the Legisla-
ture tho enactment of another! know of no
person except those who have been engaged in
the traffic in the intoxicating beverages, in this
part of the State, who would for any consider
alton, return to the former state of things but
on the contrary could mention dozen bust
ness men in Grand Haven and Muskegon, alone,
to say nothing of other localities, and scores of
Others who would be equally liberal, according
to their MEANS who would cheerfully give one
and two hundred dollars each to arrest so dire
calamity. Do these facts show that "The
trade is as free in ardent spirits, both at whole
sale and retail, as in -four and potatoes ?" or that
" Practically the act is an utterly dead letter up
on the statute book :"
submit to the judgment of every enlighten-
ed and observing citizen of the State, if the
statements have copied from the Free Press
are not utterly false, and vile Islander upon
their character and honor, as virtuons and law
abiding citizens! AS one of the people, | will
hurl them back with Indignation to the source
from whence they came and spurn their author
from me, MS inimical to the best interests and
most sacred rights of the people Of the State,
and totally unworthy of their confidence and re-
spect. If the editor of the Free Press cannot so
far overcome his natural propcnsties as to make