Smyrna times., 1856-04-23
Communication.
Correspondence Of the Smyrna Times.
Temperance and Politics.

Mr.. Times In the Dela0are Stale Re-
porter of the 18th instant, is an editorial arti-
Gle of much interest. II should be earefalIy
read by all who are interested in the temper.
ance movement, because it defines the posti
of the Democratic party in regard to the prohi-
bition of the sale of liquor as beverage. The
Reporter says, that party is favorable to tenn
perance, but is, everywhere, opposed to Prohi-
bition.
The Reporter having thus defined the posi-
ton of the Democratic party in regard to Pro.
hibition, | will, with your permission, try to
define the position of the temperance men in
regard to RRIitics. Il.
The temperance men do not wish either party
to make Prohibition part of their PLATFORM
If they have political principles TO commend
them to a sober and intelligent community, let
them stand upon them, and hold themselves
aloof from Prohibition on the one side and Rum
on the other. This course will be perfectly
satisfactory TO the temperance men. We, as
temperance men, are in favor of Prohibition
because we believe it to be the only consistent
course of Legislation, and at the same time the
only salvation for the poor unfortunate drunk
ard and his family.
Among all the objections urged against the
Prohibitory Law, there is not one to be found
that will not apply with equal force against iii
criminal laws. Ii is the nature of law to bear
hard somewhere. And the liquor license law,
in every shape or form which it has assumed,
has been violated by rumsellers That very
class of men who are now selling liquor con-
trary to the Prohibitory Law, carried their boz
ties and jugs to camp-Ineetings, political meet
ings, vendues, and other public places, and sold
run with IMMUNITY.
Drunkenness abounded, not only Though the
week, but on the Sabbath. Hence an effort
vas made in 1851 TO get law prohibiting the
sale Of liquor on that day. The effort proved
successful-the law was passed by the Legisla
ture, but it was objected to, because it inter
fered with the tavern~keepers business-hil
Sunday trade being the most profitable. So
in order to keep fare weather with the landlords
the same Legislature which passed the law re
pealed it. This was not to be wondered at, fo
it was the hardest Legislature that ever con
vened in Delaware, and no party (it is to b.
hoped)wil elect another like it. The democratic
party lost ground by the conduct of their repre-
seEtatives which they have not regained to thi
day. And, it was there and then that the ten
perance men received the impression, or had j
deepened, that the party was opposed to tenn
; perance--and IL was enough to make such al
impression where il did not exist, or to deeper
it where il already existed We are informe
by the Reporter that tho party now favors,th
Sunday Law, and believe it does--and Pro
; hibition, too. if il is the wish of the people.
In 1853, another law was passed, prohibitin
! the sale of liquor on Sunday, and in all III
school districts, except those In which its sal
was desired by majority Of the legal voter,
. This law, says the Reporter, was passed by
: Democratic Legislatures, and Of course is al
!, proved by that party. But this law was fouu
!, to be Intellectual, The Sunday clause was viz
!, lated at some Of tho iaverns, or there was NOR
/. generosity exhibited by The landlords than the
have generally received credit for. via In tai
!, ing care Of other mems aruniSafds--ford DRUM
!, ards were found about these places on Sunda
and in towns, too, where none but tayeEn-xeel
ers were alloweu to sell. With these facts b
fore them, 10 what conclusion wsuId tho ten
q perance men be likely 10 come That the la
was Intellectual, and that il must be so amend,