The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-08-10
TuEINTEMPEaATE ORGAN.

The CHtOH Says ~ 0iN NV Il
LIQUOR dealers as highway robbers, murdere
&c., &C., but said ''it is only wonder .1
he 1.-THE LIQUOR seller does not take 70 n.su
way robbery which is quite ss n'' $500
and differs only in the one case sno 1oo.
-..;...a .,ow,y in licensed grog-shop
-;,h Eou;d poison at SO much per dose, while
-. ether il is quickly committed in some
bv-piacs by means of powder and ball. we
confess that we can see no more dinerence
than that between 'tweedlede" and "twee- |
a,aaum." He says they are no more honor
able than highway robbers and differ only as
to the means.
The Incorporate organ also asks the fol-
lowing question, viz: "ls it not as moou
crime for him 1.-THE liquor DEALER 20 take NE
slowly as for the robber TO do 1t quickly
We answer that, he commits no crime at all,
no more than does the druggist who sells
deleterious or poisonous articles by which life
ia DESTROYED. The crime is committed by the
one who takes it, and the fault lies IN his
education, his principles, his morals, &c.
&C.. and not in the man who sells the drug
Equally nonsensical is it for the Union to
say "he 1.-THE liquor dealer is also the means
of causing other murders" He is no more
the cause of murders than the gunsmith or
the powder maker. 1t would be very absurd
to hold the gunsmith and the powder maker
responsible for ell the murders and highway
robberies committed with the articles he
makss-yet it would be just as reasonable
81 Ia nt the of the
new temperance party.
The Incorporate organ also says 'he the
liquor dealer is the means OF filling our
poor houses with paupers and our Ialls and
prisons with criminals" He is no more the
cause of this than are the men who raise the
grain OF which the liquor is manufactured, or
the men VINO make ne barrels, Jugs, bottles,
spoons, tumblers. sugar, &C., &C., used in its
sale. The responsibility lies with the man
who drinks the liquor, and with no one else.
He is and must be responsible TOR his own
acts. Educate him properly and he VIII
never be drunkard, or a criminal, or a
psupsr. But it wont do to denounce all the
grain growers, the coopers, the copper smiths,
the house builders, the miners, the glass
blowers, the sugar growers and manuiactur-
ers, the liquor manufacturers and dealers,
the growers of lemons aud mint, and all the
people connected with this business as no
more honorable than highway robbers and
murderers. The men who drink the liquor
and commit crimes while under its influence
are and must be responsible for their own
acts, and no amount of sophistry can shirk
that responsibility upon other shoulders.
The Onion seems TO be IN want OF INFORM
alton. It asks:
Ifthe sale of ardent spirits beverage is a
lawful bust ness or a good business why does tn e
state restrict It'll Or ii it is wrong why does the
state permit it for monied consideration
We answer that, the state does not restrict
1.-THE state regulates it. as it does the sale of
gunpowder and other dangerous articles
The state also authorizes the people of cities,
towns and counties to restrict its sale entirely,
or to license it, under such regulations the
people of the city, town or county may think
proper.
The Usion also turnishssj the following
valuable information. 1t says:
The state does not think of restraining farming,
merchandising, or the labers of the mechanic
Should every man In the state open d store ne
law would be made to restrict the number.
Now, we do not wish to misrepresent our
neighbor, either In letter or spirit, and we
therefore ask him if he is in favor of having
no more law or restraint upon the sale OF
liquor than there is upon the various branch
es of business he names above?
Having some regard for temperance, we
modestly suggest to the lew party, of which
the Union is the organ, that, instead of de-
nouncing liquor dealers as no more honora
BILE than highway robbers and murderers,
and threatening the girls, if they speak to
any man who drinks, it confine its efforts to
convincing and persuading the young men
not to use intoxicating drinks. In this way
some good may possibly be accomplished
Let the old soakers go-they are very little
account. anyhow, and any effort to save them
will, most likely, prove failure. But 90
earnestly, and persuasively, and convincing
ly to work to educate the young against the
use of intoxicating drinks. Don't denounce
them, or anybody else-and don't threaten
the girls if they speak to these young men,
But-persuade them. You can catch great
many more flies with molasses than you can
with vinegar. Repudiate your Incorporate
organ and use moral suasion with the Young
and you may possibly do some good. Any
other course will be likely to end in a miser.
able failure.
The tenn nerance convention at Saratoro