The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-06-02
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Although some " hat late in the day, We
hope, if apy Que has not yet made mp his
mind how to vote on the prohibitory law
next Monday, he will examine the facts set
forth in The following communication, for
which We are indebted to an able correspon-
dent at Mendoza:
The use of alcoholic liquors as beverages
never has, and never will add anything to
the productive industry ofour country. On
the contrary, ii always has, and always will
increase the puapcrism and crime in our
midst, and continually add 10 the load Of
taxation already borne By our people. If
any proof be needed We find it in the fol-
lowing statement made by minister Of OF.
lava, after rel, renee to the county record
whole number Of commitments to the La
Sale county Jail, from january 1t, 1851, to
April lGth, 1873 II. OF these 10 persons
were temperate, $ doubtful, aud g. intern
perate. Whole number Of criminal eases
tried, or on docket for trial in the La Sale
county court for the same period, ~. CO
these q were not caused by intemperaucr, 3
were doubtful, and 10 clearly t.ae.ab.e to
Intoxicating liquors.
Il would be al interesting item just of this
time, If wc could ascertain the amouGt of
costs paid by the county lor the arrest, con.
, lincmcnt in jail, and prosecution Of those
criminal cases; and if 10 that amount we
could add the costs Of prosecutions arising
from the same prolific hot-bcd Of impurity
before the municipal courts Of Peru, La
Sale, and Ottawa, and other courts OF rec
ord in our county; then add to these totals
the value Of the time consumed in dancing
attendance day after day, or week after
week at our courts Us jurymen or witnesses,
oftentimcs in the busiest season Of the year;
and then, if we knew how to estimate and
express in dollars and dimes the loss Of
health, the wreck Of talent and genius, the
degradation Of character, the corruption Of
morals, the signs, and tears, and blighted
hopes, and crushed feelings Of broken hear
ted wives and Hothers, the dcbasencnt and
ignorance Of neglected children and youth,
the loss to the wealth Of the country by the
worse than waste OF time spent in low dog
gCries among vicious associates, or consul
med in drunken sleep or revclry, all cOnse-
qucnt Ola this nGlsriDlIs traffic, how iumca-
surably would we swell! the already accumu.
lated amount Of taxation and costs accrung
from the injudicious legislation heretofore
had really in favor Of the liquor seller, and
by which the power Of the civil government
has been prosttutcd 10 the NOTORIOUS work
Of iinparting the sanction Of law 10 the pol.
luting and soul destroying liquor traffic.
Again, from the report Of a committee ap-
pointed by the ottawa Maine Law Alliance,
aud published in March 1851, we find that
the expense to the county on account Of the
liquor traffic for the year ending March 1851
was $ll 300
Contra amount paid into the treasury for
licenses $500.
Leaving the county minus - 900.
We have about one hundred counties in
the state; many are smaller than La Sale,
whlst some few are larger. We will proba-
bly, be safe in estimating the average amount
Of taxation consequent to the liquor traffic
at a little less than haf---say $4,000. This
will give $3.50, 900 as the cost to the state Of
maintaining the legal responsibility Of the
liquor traffic.
Now who pays these taxesI The loaiers
and hangers on of these low dOggcries, kept
in countcnancc by law No, the little pro-
perty they may have is being rapidly absorb
cd by the piratical procliyitics Of the rcspec-
table and law supported liquor seller, the
tears and entrcauci Of the poor victim wife
to the contrary notwithstanding. No. these
taxes are paid byth farmer, the mechanic,
and the man engaged in legitimate mcrcan.
tile pursuits, whose daily toll and honorable
use Of capital add to the productive industry
Of the country, and enhance the value Of
property, real and personal. These arc the
men who pay the taxes, and these are the
men, too, who will be most likely TO stay at