The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-11-14

question on the Mayor or any officer, who was
to be voted for generally by the city. Two candi-
dates for these Offices were already in the field
and the voters were already committed to them but
in regard TO the Oard elections which embraced the
Councils was willing TO 60 into ii with them This
view was CONQUERED in and by request of the league
prepared an address to the city on that subject
which was printed and circulated generally as you
may well remember. But as apprehended, it was
too late Other questions had arisen, which took
possession OF the public mind, and upon which the
excitement became so intense, completely TO over
shadow the Temperance cause. In a few of the
wards Temperance men were elected to the Coun-
cls--it was 80 in the ward in which lived But
as general thing, the whirlwind of politics which
swept over the city completely overshadowed it, So
great and exciting were these questions that for the
tune, they completely sienccd Temperance. The
Division-rooms and Tents were deserted The mem
bers went after other gods One by one the Divisions
went down, and their camp-fres went out. Not 30
with the fires OF uatemperance; as the others went
out these ragged with the greater fury, and the city
literally revealed in drunkenness; in the intensity Of
the feeling thus excited many Temperance men forgot
their vows, took again to their cups and in their
peaceful dwellings, which had been made happy by
the victories of Temperance, was once again heard
the voice of wailng and woe. The voice of the Tenn
perance lecturer was no more heard in the public
meetings OF the people, and silence prevailed in the
halls where they were wont to meet to cheer, and
comfort each other in their good works and labours
Of love. From that day to this the cause has been
dead. The two parties in the city have been alter
nately successful, each electing Mayor. The first
served out his term, and voluntarily retired, and
since then he sickeRed and died. and has gone to his
account His administration was signalized by no
action on the Temperance question. The new license
system worked on, with the police he selected to
enforce it. as it had done during the term of his pre-
decessor. 1t failure and produced no fruits Of
Temperance, but an increase Of intemperance. His
successor the present Mayor, a0os one of usa Tenn
perance man-and wholesome and good were the
lectures have heard from him on that subject. But
the question did not enter into the cleo
tion when ne was chosen. And though there was
change of the men who constitute the police. the
course OF things about the same the licenses have
been renewed and increased in number and the
rafc IN liquor has increased, and drunkenness has
Increased, and vice and crime have increased. The
Mayor mag, and his police may desire to repress all
this-and they may do all that they can to accom-
psh it, but it will all be in vain The fault Is in the
system-it i radically wrong all the efforts that
human a:s,slduity can make, will avail nothing Nor
lslt possible for human wisdom to devise license
system or for human vigilance and energy to execute
it, SO as to repress the vice OF the disorder and
crime which necessarily flow from it.
And now, in view of this state of things. what shall
be done? Shall the liquor traffic be leh to run its
course to l the city with vice and crime. and the
habtaons OF its citizens with want degradation and
misery? Or shall it be resisted?
Ny own views and opinions remain unchanged,
and the Obligations and duties resulting from them,
cannot
must perform them. or incur the guilt of falling in
duty to God and my fellow man. And these respon-
siblites rest upon all alike who see the subject as we
see it. - ~
/ am firmly convinced that Alcohol in Il. nures,
form, whether produced by distillation or fermenta
ton, is subtle poison, which cannot be taken into
the stomach OF person in good health, without
injury That, naturally, we have distaste for it;
appetite for it, which will increase and grow
by every drink that is taken until the thirst for Il
becomes so strong that it cannot be controlled or
strained, and Its victim is maddened and urged on
ana on until the health of the body is DESTROYED the
moral sense corrupted, and reason dethroned. and
in this state he sinks into dishonored gravel Nor
is this all It is followed by loss of character and
property, and by want and suffering to helpless
women and children, which tongue cannot tell or
pen describe. And this every one NAV see. who will
take the trouble to walk through the outskirts of the
city, and visit the habitations Of the poor.
Mayor Lenox described the matter truly when he
SAID that ne was fully satisfied not only from the
returns Of the police and the asylum but from Official
observation and otherwise that intemperance IL the
CAUSE almost eccbusigey of all the disturbances and
P auP,erism winch aifilct our community Our laws
should seek to restrain and not foster an evil of such
frightful magnitude The charter does not regard
the retail OF liquors business from which direct
revenue Is to be drawn but as evil to be restrained
or prohibited by the exacon of licenses or such other
means as are authorized by it," Yes il is true that
the Charter does not look to "license to retail
liquors as business from which revenue Ia 10 he
derived but it looks at that business as an "ey 10
be restrained or prohibited" by all the means within
the legal power of the councils The Mayor MIGHT
have added that the provisions of the charter were
not ndhddtory, but simply perissioe If the public
gooo demanded these licenses then the charter gave
authority TO grant them, if not then there was
equal authority to refuse them. And after full CON
sderation the voters of the city declared by vote of
two to one, that the puplc good required that no
licenses be granted. ~
But instead of following the wishes of the people
as declared in their solemn vote the councils as we
have seen, adopted new and improved system of
licensing. The declared object of which was 10 re-
nc tne number and classes Of these licenses, and
absolutely to prohibit the granting of any licenses
any where, unless demanded by the Recommendations
and approval of majority of the white
OF the square in which twas applied for.
THIS looks reasonable and right on pape,-it is in
insuoSs w.Ih he great principle on which
iuiiy expressed, shall govern But in this case II il
deluson. Licenses not puJlicly canyassed for.
they are obtained secretly and quietly by Strategy and
cunning; men are appealed to privately and be-
sought To sign the papers requesting the Mayor 10
grant he censes and every sort of entreaty Is used
to induce them to sign it Il is wonderful to zee The
appliances persuasions and arts that are resorted TO-
Many sign II reluctantly, and doubt not II the ma
pers on which many licenses now existing could Il.
Drought TO light and puplicly canyassed that MANY
OF the signers would be ashamed and the fevest
number Of them could stand the test of public scru
tiny. remember one instance where the canvass
was made, and, leaving out one poor woman the
vote on the square was equally divided And that
poor woman was widow, whose husband LIQUOR had
taken from her. and reduced her TO poverty and want
and TO induce her TO sign the petition every sort OF
effort was made She was first besoupht with boned
words, then threatened, and then her poverty and
want was appealed 10, and efforts were made 10
brbe her. money was actually offered TO her and
pressed upon her. Yet she stood frm-she had
courage to face poverty, and defy persecution She
would not aid in what she too well knew was great
crime i speak what know for one of the Fem
perance associations heard of these proceedings and
went 10 her with vote of thanks and rendered her
the aid and succor which her vrtuous and heroic
conduct 80 well merited learned all the facts from
her own mouth.
~ Is no part OF my purpose TO stir up strife by
making war upon the Mayor or his police believe
both have sincere desire to discharge their duty 10
the city, and are making commendable exertions 10
40 so. Yet in my opinion, important errors have
been committed. The Mayor has Numbered in grant
ing licenses, by following the example set 6y his
predecessors. He has forgotten or overlooked, as
they md the important fact that the traffic in ntoxi-
cating liquors is not business looked TO by the
charter as source of revenue but as business 10
DC restrained and prohibited by the exaction of heavy
license fees and all other means within the lawful
power OF the Corporation. It's existence is looked
upon as the cause OF Pduperism disorder and crime
and, therefore, not to be encouraged. The charter
hOriaa tho MAJ, H..