The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-03-06

dignity and Dsesasy tbs Liquor Question.
We do not wonder that the Democrat "
disposed 10 ridicnle .sthe dignity of the Ca
zette. The Democrat seems 10 moe, heart
~ &eNeeMAsDsAiessy'' which prevsntr 7
paper from prosiituting It's columns TO the
grossest political ends by the employment
Of the worst mesns-frem usins the West
misrepresentation 10 place IN opponent 70
positions he NAV scera 10 ~occapy--snd
from becoming a more thing Of party. with
no aims, objects or independence outside Of
that party. That sense Of dignity which
prevents the Gazette stigmauzing oppo.
meats Is liars, aud abusing 9 man because
he differs from the editors o the Gazette in
u~p.nien-whieh preyea.s q FROM ever viii
iuily stating a falsehood or misrepresenlins
an opponents position to weaken his cause
which makes il the advocate OF morality
Instead OF All illustration Of yice--can new
Or perhaps 6ad an imiiator in The Democrat.
But when the Democrat charges that the
editor. of the Gazette fall back on diss'ty
10 escape the truth or the blows OF an ad.
versary. and that adversary the Democrat
itself, il can only secure that which 1t seeks
" draw upon o~thsss--,hs contempt 81 the
community, IL Processes 4 contempt ier
ia as an opponent which !. cannot feel
The Dsmoesat grossly misEspfs.snsed
=
our position on the several liquor laws II
mas misrepresented us so trs9asntiy aud ~
shsmsls.siy of late, that in answer TO that
which needed no reply, We merely said that
lae time had not ye, come when the readers
Of the Gazette were compelled to look to
he Democrat to ascertain out views on any
question under discussion-that we had ai-
ready given our opinions in detail on TINS
subject. And this 10 standing on our digni.
" to escape the terrible blows ofthe Dem
ocratl The position Of the Gazette on
the liquor question Is no secret. In dis-
eussing 1t we have never avaded any phase
OF the question. II those who have read
the Gazette do not understand us, We do not
kaow how to make our opinions plainer.-
For the benefit OF those few who are not
hsbi,ual readers of the Gazette, but a0 IN
any disposition 10 aecede TO the demands OF
the Democrat, we shall briefly give the po-
~stions we have assumed in our editorials.
The Democrat il perfectly at liberty either
10 give or withhold our remarks. Our "dg-
nifty" VII very likely prevent u noticing its
comments, unless their language Is very
materially improved over thst to which We
have beer treated lately
The Gazette lie, as i, always has been, en-
advocate OF temp eranes. as a great mora
question. Honestly believing q Prohibito-
" Liquor Law in this State would assist
this cause, the Gazette sustained such .
law, and claimed a fair trial OF the present
law, although we did not like 1t In all Us
features. The Prohisi,ory Law has prov.
| en- in many parts OF the State a ''dead let.
itsr.n In alluding to this law . few days
ago. We said-"se believe in no kind o.
laws that are violated with impuuiiy; So
so1a as i law becomes a dead letter 1t
the present Prehibitory Law. II is a.dead
letter. and should be repealed, or 50 modi-
led as to be OF some practical effect. 81
tar IS we can SEE within the range OF our
own vision, it is 10 its present form doing
the en.peranc cause more harm than good.
Il was the intention OF the Republicans 10
tbe late Legislature to modify this law
A oil as passed in the hurry and conla.
sion Incident t. the close Of the session,
which they considered q modification OF tn
law. Under the construction as given here
Of this act, it is not SUCH a modification as
the Republicans thought It TO be, and II
could never have passed through the Legs
| isturs had time permitted a close examine
ton OF It's features. We are opposed 10
that amendatory act. We DO not ike the
License Law. that pet Of the Democrats in
| The Legislature. ss We think some OF its tea:
lures might be materially changed. The
principle difference between the Democrat
and the Gazette 10, that the DeGocrst in
all its teachings, influences and objects, is
| opposed to the cause Of temperance, and TO
my law whatsoever tending to promote thar
sause. Cor position is most decidedly In
aver Ct Temperance, and any good las re
lily and uuthfuiiy calculated to prosper
. smps c among the people.