The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1858-07-23
rae Liquor question.

The Journal having .funked out On the AZ
darkey Sunday school issue, is now devoting
its tremendous energies to saddle the respon-
sibility of the prohibitory law upon the Re-
publican party. 1t assumes that ali the ad-
vocates Of temperance are Republicans, and
that the Republican party in the Legislature
enacted the Prohibitory Liquor law.
Those who remember the history of the
matter will recollect that the prOhibitory law
was passed by the Legislature in the winter
Of 1854. before the Republican party had an
existence. The Senate had Locofoco ma
jority and the House had an opposition ma
jority. The Locofocos being in tn. majority
10 the Senate are equally responsible with
the opposition who had n majority in the
House. Either House could have prevented
it's passage, but both voted for it and thus
took away.all party responsibility, or rath er
shared the responsibility between the par
ties.
In the House Judge Boyles, then Locofo-
co member from this county, was IN earnest
and prominent advocate Of the law, and in
the Senate Judge Love voted in favor of it.
The Law was submitted to 3 vote Of the
people and obtained majority at the polls
in nearly every county in the State. In this
strong Democratic county, il we remember,
the majority was about one thousand, inclu-
ding most Of the prominent Democrats.
In speaking of the meeting Of the liquor
dealers the other night, the journal says:
"a number Of gentlemen made speeches.
al expressing the belief that the law is un-
constitutional and should not be enforced.n
Judge Clagett was present, and spoke just
that sentiment and denounced the Supreme
Court for it's decision in favor of the consti.
nationality Of the law, and yet many Of our
citizens may remember tina, Clagett made &
speech in Concert Hall in advocacy of til.
Law, in which he boassed that lac introduced
into tho Maryland Legislature the very frs
stringent temperance law ever enacted in tn
United States.
Why then, after advocating this Law an
voting for it, do these leading Locofocos 0,
seek 70 make political capital by charging
upon the Republican party which had no
come into existence at the period of its pas
sAgef And why defame the Supreme Coui
for sustaining the constitutionality Of la,
approved by the votes Of the leading Locc
focos OF the State, and in the Legislator,
and endorsed by majority Of thonsnn
citizens Of Lee County and more than te
thousand citizens Of the State?
1t isavile and contemplate trick sustains
by hypocrisy faisehood and fraud in de
psrate effort u deceive Liquor sellers a,
their friends and obtain their united suppo
for the loeofoco ticket.
The Journal attempts shameless tier
ton OF iss previous charge that the rece
movement, for the enforcement Of the Ia
originated Al this office. All our citze
know better, and having previously sta,
that the editorial notice was published by
on request OF democratic lawyer, we "
nov settle that matter effectualiv, we sra
BY saying that ii. Scott Howell, Esq, e.
ployed for the prosecution, was the gent
man referred TO ~ us-
When We deem il essential TO the intere
OF the community to take position on
subject, the public will have no difficulty
learning where we stand; in the meantl
We intend to 'scsoah every rascally atter
70 make political capital out Of this matt