Kenosha tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1855, 1855-06-21
A Prohibitory Law---Its Character.


After all that has been said aud sans-iterated
and reiterated, of prohbitory law; aud moreover
after such laws have been before the pullic 70
years,t is passing strange that people will still peri
sst in misunderstanding their character. Let us
say to P. o. w. of the Democrat and the many
others who seem 10 be in neei of the information.
taat Prohibitory Law, as Lar, has no reference
whatever to reforming drvnkards- Itdoes not seek
to coax, coerce, or drive men into temperance. Ii
does not prescribe what men shall eat or drink, IN
short does not as a low, either know or care, wheth
erthere ever was, is now will be drunk
ard in the world its length and breadth Its heghtii
and depth, Prsscrbes only that certain articles
the rein speeieed shall be afcked IN and SOLE
1t hath thH extent-no more-and do, pray, VI !
P.O. W and every person else needing the infor-
nation impress the fact, for fact it is, on your
minds By so doing, you will keep clear idea oi
the Is,y before you and save yourselves much la
Dor and precious time in combating what does not
eyt
$50 far as this paper is concerned il has 10 conf
dence in coercve measures to fleet the reform Of
fthe drunkard, has it lost any confidence III nor
alone TO moral suasion to accomplish it, But it
cannot see the particular relation of this law to
that question:: for we said the law knows nothing
about the drunkard or his necessities. Il nterferes
with no mans powers Of moral suason, nor pre-
vents prohibits his active Of them to the best
Of his abilities. TN the contrary It's great merit,
as it seems us is that il powerfully aids moral sua.
-. r..
of our ability in that spect has lifted The drunk
ard to of his condis ion and led him To re-
solve TO drink more, it is effective in keeping
temptation from his reach, thereby enabling on
moral suasion to work out its end 1t certainly
must have occurred to z. o. ". that moral suas:on
has no more powerful enemy, no more effeciv, foe
than the groggeries templngly fitted up at every
street corner in our land, ana that to abate them
would consequently be lending to moral suasion "a
most powerful aid. Surely if our friend wants the
drunkard reformed and has confidence in moral
suasion 10 accomplish it, he ought to be willing to
aid IN so obvious step to assist this moral suason
And we trust should probitory law be- pas ed
in this state, he will not conceive he is thereby re
leased from his duty in the premises as a moral sua
feature of the law which releases or seeks 10 re ease
him from that duty; On the contrary ii has 10 rea
ton whatever to that field of labor except ndrect>
ly TO aid the efforts of these embarked in it, w.
wish to say again for ourself have no confidence
in coercIve law to reform any person in any walk
oil lie, and we are not aware of coercve law on
the statute book that looks to the reform Of any
al IL ~:
book, this prohibitory liquor law, it seems 10 us is
ahe least stringent, and the most liberal for i does
neteven prohibit maa from getting drunk o. drink
ing what and as much as he pleases. 1t prohibits
only the purchase and sale indiscrmnately, of
substance which all experience has proved in It's
indiscrlmiuats and general use, to be prsjudcial
all the interests Of society. Can any thing be more
reasonable or less objectionable or can it be doubt
ed tina: society has the right to thus egisate for
its best interest. Can p O. w or any person doubt
that the same power which can prohibit the St ing
OF veal in market which has not attained certain
age, can also prohibit the selling of intoxicating
liquors? or can r. o. w. o: any person else serious
~ contend that if il is the duty Of society to see
dhat young veal is not sold in the market it is as
much more its duty to see thai intoxicating liquors
are not sold, as the latter are more hurtrul aud
more productive Of mischief than tie former. Shat
We not hear from p. 0. w. clearly OH this point
AS to the comparisons Of stimulating beverages
and the necessity ofprohbling aIlofhem to be con
sistent, we have only TO say Don't be in hurry,
Every thing in good time. We find trouble enough
just now in getting rid Of this evil which is apps
1 \ &C.,
remote, doubtful and to a great extent imaginary
Society now demands prohbitory liquor law, be
cause it needs it. Should ii ever need law on
these other points we have doubt it will be en-
acted
Know Something's.