Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-12-15
THE pRoHrsIToRY LAW.

recent grand rally Of Pierce and Douglas
LSeaccoism in that place, not one OF tDe
sable speakers" had the temerity to open
.h,smou,h IN favor Of the repeal iof the Ii
ouor Law, a set forth in the resolution a.
dopted Il the office-holders Convention at
Fort Des Moines.
= Il Is amusing to notice the variety OF ar
ruments which are used by the opponents
OF a Prohibitory Law. ProfaRe and sacred
history are searched Tor facts that m'iitlte
against il. The sumptuary laws Of the Ro-
mans, SD other similar laws OF ancient and
modern times, ere cited by one class Of OPP
sponen,s, for the purpose Of arouslng the
preiudices tina, result from class legislation;
Noah's planting vine and the miracle OF
/. ahs Savior at Cana, are urged BY others as
reasons Why the people Of Iowa should not
pass law prohibiting the sale ofwhisky ma
vored with creosote. Awriterin Pafnam tries
his strength on the physiological argument,
and appears At least TO convince himself
that large namber Of persons Of peculiar
tenn peraments absolutely require the assis-
!. lance Of alcoholic stimulants. Another
writer in the Wesiminister Rerie,e, with the
proveibial pomposity Of a quarter.y..reviewer'
aruues that drunkenness is not curabie BY
legislation, that the enforced establishment
of Maine law would totally destroy our
free agency. and that even If universal So
br;ety could be obtained By such legislation,
",ke remedy would be worse than the dis
ease, md an external sobriety would be
dearly purchas ed at the price Of the saneti-
" Of family life and the moral worth OF
man." JulgMg from the description given
by the London Times, of the situation OF
the English army in the Crimes, something
like Maine law is required there, and per-
!. haps the positive conclusions of the West
Minister reviewer would have been some
what modified if he had previously studied
the statements of his contemporary. Accord.
inc 70 the Times, the quantity of strong Ii
suors drank by the English soldiers is al
most incredible, and totally unprecedented.
On Sundays especially, the whole rank and
Gle of the English army. except those inn
medately on duty, are in state OF gross
{ drunkenness, and objects of contempt or
remuneration to their French allies. The
strincency of military law is powerless to
rastrain the indulgence ofthe soldiers,-and
itseems to us that il they could be cons,rsin
! ed TO obey Maine law, though it might
infringe upon their free agency, il could
scarcely depreciate their moral worth.
But the writers in Putnam and the Westmin.
styRepier, take rather philosop hical view Of
the subject, and sfec, to argue it in the alb
stract. The opponents Of prohibition in
Iowa. whose labor is to make that opposi.
ton stepping-stone to office, come to
elosor quarters and embrace its naked beau
ties. II will be seen however, from the
abatement with which we commenced this
srtis!e, that even they are somewhat shy
Of preaching the doctrine Of the Fort Des
Moines Convention. II brings blush even
to the bronzed cheek of a Douglas tLoco TO-.
co, to tell the people of Iowa, that by enact
ing prohibitory law, they have bartered
away their free agency or destroyed their
moral worth. The people OF the State are
satisfied that thus far, in spite of some draw
backs, the balance Of good is in favor OF the
experiment. They know that the prohibit
tory law has not interfered with their mate
rial pros perity, that il has not interrupted
their intellectual or moral progress, and
they look with contempt upon the efforts of
those who, for selfish purposes, are striving
to make appetite triumphant over reason,
and to. derive an easy or splendid subsis-
tence for themselves, from the crimes and
mieeries Of their fellow men.
But facts in regard to this subject are Of
more account than any amount of declama-
ton, or any long processes ofinductive rea-
soning. The following extract from the
St. Louis Ixteiieencer shows the effect Of
even a'modied prohibtory law. If instead
of being confined to Sunday, the law opera
ted throughout the week, We see not whv
St. Louis would not receive q seven-fold
benef; from its influence. 1t is facts like /
these, which entirely coincide with their /
own experience. that prevent the intelligent
majority of the people Of Iowa having any
intention of repeating the presen, Jaw
The Inteai9encsr says
"Whatessr may be said ss TO the mode
In which the Sundfy Liquor Law OF las,
winter was passed, il is not to be denied
that its operstion has been most beneficial.
We hate oil clandestine legislation, and if
the Liquor Law Of St. Louis, passed last
session. war got through by fraud. it was
iscrediiable success. 1t was able to stand
On higher grounds, as the result in this city
has most fully proved.
IfMr. B. Gratz Brown is trying to make
amends for his neglect TO oppose the fraud
last winter. we might suggest TO him, in all .
kindness, that he is in danger OF making a
failure of his coveted quaniun Of resulting
popularity, bv running against a ner pubic I
senti,aeni, an favor Of the iar."
The truth is, the law, we believe, i. ex- !
tremely popular with ,hree-fourths of on,
citizens. Its enforcement under Mayor
Kings dministration--irmly and earnest I
" rpholden by 4 corder Cady-has work