Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-03-31
LfaEU SANDERS, Ed,,er.


eAae NJ ohOOld make coMmentary ON
handful or circalsr. headed "vote against
he Prohibitoey Law" which has been cir
snlaGed 70 considerable extent in this
cnnnanity. yet We scarcely see that any
sseA comment is very imperstively called
for. The handful in question seems 10
have been gotten up almost exclusively for
The purpose Of operating upon the Germans,
sad only to have been written in English
in the Arst place, because the person who
had to translate it into German. was apter
II transl,tion than original composition
He was not 20 fnished an adept in the
use Of sophistical arguments, and as the
thing had 6ne % Be snglieised, it was con.
sluded b ID sashoss thss few copies
might q veil be printed in English, bu;
che main object for which it was intended
IL evidenced By the numbers which were
issued from The s4ice Of sThe Democrat"
-sul6eient, no doubt, TO supply the whole
German population Of the county.
Ifwhat we wrste could be read BY Ger.
mans. it might be advisable to criticise the
production under consideration in detail /;
/ hpt Is there is no likelihood Of tla,, any
serious attempt to explain the mis-state-
ments and refute the bad arguments of the
handful, would emily operate to give il an
importance which il does not really pos.
seas.
No person who understands English is,
1t this day. in need Of any further arguments
10 favor ofthe necessity and propriety of a
Prohibitory Law. History records no ex-
pertinent which has been Sc triumphantly
suecessful or which has been 90 immediate.
y attended BY the most beneficial conse-
quences. No community which has adopt
ed it, has ever showed the least inclination
70 repealit. and the present situation of the
States where it has been enforced, is the
most encouraging exhortaiion to the States
which are now celebrating upon its esiab-
lshment. 1t 10 not necessary that this
statement should be supported by citation
Of particular facts. II 10 known to be true
By oil who are at al conversant with the
history Of the county and With the progress.
Of the Temperance Reform, and will be
denied BY none except those who practice
. habirual disregard and violation Of the
ruth.
There 10 one point upon which the au.
thor or authors Of this handbill particular
harp. and which proves both their dis
ineenuousness and their Inconsistency
They are constantly reterating the charge
that the temperance question is made a
hobby BY designing politicians, who, void
Of any sincerity and of any real interest in
the welfare and improvement ofthe people.
are merely using and deluding them, for the
purpose Of advancing their own selfish pur-
poses. Now, in the name OF common sense,
where can be found more designing politi-
clans than those who are opposing the
temperance movement Where can be
found more selfish demogogues than those
who are systematically appealing to the
baser passions and sppetites OF human
nature, for the plain and only purpose Of
elevating themselves round or two on the
ladder Of political .preferment! The ques-
ton is entirely too transparent to admit OF
any doubt or to demand any discussion.
Another point which the authors of this
handbill particularly labor 10 impress upon
the prejudices of their German supporters,
is.ihat the Prohibitory Law is Of an extreme.
" tyrannical nature, and viii abridge the a.
mount and the value of their constitutional
liberties. Now, no one denies that every
naturslized German has political right to
vote against the proposed law But Ger.
mans, who believe SO much in the idea OF
democracy, ought TO remember that the
cardinal doctrine Of q republic ID that one
which says that the majority sha! govern.
The law in question is now being discussed
BY the people. and il will be enacted or re-
jected according as the majority may deter
mine. ltseeks to make no inyidiuus dis
unctions, it will give to no class privileges
which are denied 20 another, it will bear
eqssily upon all, and il the G ermans really
love our republican institutions, they should
be ~ strenuous supporters Of the Law, after
It's enactment, as any other portion OF our
citizens.
This mach, We think, is a sufficient no.
tics of the handful. We believe it well.
calculated to effect the object for which it
was intended, and to exert considerable in
daence in the quarters where it was de.
signed to operate. II is perhaps idle to ex-