The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-02-01
On the Suppression ofIntemperance

Ed. Ielegrapb:
Allow me, through your columns to add
another word to your patrons on the sub
/ ject of temperance, or what would call, a
new plan for the suppression of intemper-
ance" In the Temperance article which
you published on the 4th inst, intended
to make it popular by taking only such
measures as would meet the public approba-
ton, and remove all grounds Of opposition
The Maine law, as well as all kindred laws,
failed because it asked far more than the
public mind was prepared to give. 1t asks
for the law to suppress the use, as bever-
age of all intoxicating drinks. q 4. =
The great majority of men are not yet
prepared to surrender all of the milder forms
of fermented stimulants into the hands of
an arbitrary law, which forbids their, use
as beverage, under any circumstances,
whatever. But believing the masses could
be induced to unite with the temperance
people in putting the deInonizing article of
distilled spirits into their appropriate place,
for mechanical and medic nal purposes, sug-
gested the plan alluded to, and believed it
the part of wisdom to unite with the masses
in putting down the worst features of intern
perance, if they will not unite with us in
putting down all forms of it. In this enter
prise oflocking up the distilled article
think it is a wise policy for us to buy up
all that is in the hands of retailers. -
First, because we need stock for every
town and city in the State, to supply the
public demand, for mechanical and rnedicin-
al IMPOSES; and secondly, it will silence
heavy opposition which would otherwise be
arrayed against us and thirdly, it will
remove the liquor from the hands of those,
Who if left with it on hand, would coutin-
ne the traffic in spite of written statutes
and the only way we shod have to stop them
would be through the slow, uncertain, ex-
pensive operations of law. hold that the
very best way to succeed in an enterprise
is first to remove all grounds of opposition.
We appeal to the State for aid because
she is the only legal power we have
which can lay its hands on this traffic, to
regulate it. But for the heavy liability
which all the northern States have assumed
to aid the government in putting down the
late rebellion, it might well be urged that
the State could assume the responsibility of
buying and holding all the distilled liquors
in the hands of retailers Under the circum-
stances, believe it best for the State to is
sue its scrip and appoint her agents, and
thus take possession of all such liquors, as
any retailer may have, and wish to sell to
the government and within four months be
prepared TO redeem the scrip, by special
tax, levied on all the real and personal prop
erty of the State.
This last proposition may startle the tim
id, but you will see that it will require some
considerable time to organize aud discuss
this question throughout the State, so as to
f make the public mind adopt it; during
which time the amount of liquors will be
greatly diminished, for the consumption, at
present. Is much larger than the manufac-
ture, and as it costs 50 much, under the
heavy tax, to hold liquors, there will be
but little manufactured until the amount
beconres very much reduced; and as our
cause becomes popular, it will deter persons
from engaging i'll the business, so that by
the time we are ready to buy, there will be
but little to be sold.
You will understand, the liquors SO
bought will be sold for mechanical and me-
dicinal purposes, at a price a little above
: their cost, so that the full amount of outlay
shall finally be paid into the State Treasury
ard applied in payment of your indebted
ness, (your State taxi In short, it asks
you 70 pay your State tax a few years in ad.
vance .,-.frt ~.
; Is there a mau, throughout the length
and breadth of our land who would not will
ingy make So small sacrifice to plant ouI
nation on Il more permanent basis for it is
no fancied vision, TOR one, as he looks into
the future, to see that our nation will be
greatly imperrilled, if not ruined, through
the influence of intemperance Many O
our wisest men, who are always watching
the signs of the times, are already giving
the alarm that our nation is in danger
In very few years the educational reli.
gious, political and all other interests of thii
q nation will pass into the hands of our young
men; they have got to provide for all Of on
institutions if they are provided for
! at all Nomatter what their moral charac
e ter may be, it is their birthright, and there
y is no power on earth, which Can prevent it
and it is believed that more than one bal
a Of our young men, that are over twenty
years ofage are tipping: and tipling means
!. drunkenness sooner or later; and drunken
e ness means the departure of reason. and fill
ing tue man with everything which is vile
f Vicious and desperate. sA 10 4L
/ The perpetuity of all our good institutions
: and the Government itself depends upon
the virtue of the, people. 49, .....-.,5
Shall we sacrifice million of lives and
=. almost untold millions of treasure, to save
!, cur nation from dissolution, by the hand Of
: traitors, and then let our own sons at home
: overwhem US, by their. debauchery? No
, never Then let us unite i'll one band Of
q union men, women and children, temperate
E and Incorporate. with the pledge to use all
our social, moral, and political power to put
e down this the worst Of all forms of drunk
4 enness, and save our nation as we'll as thou
t sands Of our brightest young men who are
fast vending their way to tie drunkard'f
A grave u ga .n. '..e.-
ae | remain. Yours &c,
E s.. -#..-. 70 f #t4. G. BRIGGs
| -
President InhuXOu IN Constitutional Anne n n.