The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-01-18
Thursday Evening.........Sah. TO-

rr,ya IYcrNsy,-The Argus insists that |
the next board of supervisors grant hcenses W
sell LIQUORS in this county. We hardy thihA mo
the board will take upon themselves the resPonst |
bility of legalzing rowdyism, pauperism' aha
crime in this county at present, at leas' 30 % |
as they have before them such alarming resu -.
are constantly being presented oy a .ramu nj
has long since been ou'ia"eo "
wisher of his race.-Unton.
Is not our neighbor assuming more than
facts will warrant? 1t seems to US that the
first sentence of his item is the only one which
snnroximates to truth,-and that would be
strictly true if it read advises instead OF
"insists."
Is it true, as our neighbor asserts, that he
ensing the sale of liquors 'legaiizes rowdy-
ism ?" Are people thus authorized to disturb
the peace and annoy their neighoors! are
the laws enacted to preserve peace and good
order suspended where licenses are granted
We had not 80 regarded 1t.
Is it true that licensing the sale OF liquors
''legalizes pauperism ?" Is 1t true that 1t Is
unlawful to be poor where licenses tor the
sale of liquor are not granted Are all men
rich. where no liquor is lawfully sold? Does
the Maine law prevent all people from being
Door We reckon not.
Is it true that licensing the sale OF liquors
"lecalizes crime?" Are our criminal laws
suspended where liquor is lawfully sold we
rather think not.
Is it true that the ''tratic has long since
been outlawed by every well wlsher OF his
race p, The United States government leg
10 hnupH 10 nrOtSGt those
who deal in liquor as well as III any o'her
article on which a revenue Is derived. "a
large majority of the states authoriza, regal
ize. Incense and regulate the tramo. oar
own state authorizes counties and towns to
legalize the traffic Shall We say that tho
people of the Unitei States, or OF majority
of the states, or of our own state. or OF our
own town are not we'll wishers Of tho human
race?
Is there any truth, then, in the article
ouotsd from the UasoR We think not.
But some one may say, that paper meant
10 say.that the sale of liquor produces row
dyis.n, pauperism and crime" Very we'll.
Is this true? Of course not
Well, says the Maine awite, what | mean
is that, the use of liquor, the habltual drln&-
ing of it, produces 'rowdy ISM paaper.sn
and crime"
Is this true? We say it is not. But,even
if it were true, does the licensing and re5u
lating the sale of liquor compel people IL
drink it? OF course not. Does the a5tempt
to enforce the Maine law stop people from
drinking? Not T. bit of 1T. Ga tue contrary
we believe more drunkards are found wae r
an attempt is made to suppress the sale o
LIQUOR than where its sale Is licensed.
Are the people OF Massachusetts any NOR
vrtuous, honest, aud temperate than the.
were before the Maine law was IN force ? l.
pauperism less known, crime less frequent
and rowdyism unknown? Not al ali. Oi
the contrary, with ali the claimed advantage
of the Maine law, we believe Mus.achuooE It,
never consumed more liquor; supper tee
more paupers; OF presented ii more dlabollo
al record OF rowdyism aud crime than now
How is il at home? ASK MIR. Bailey, sup
erintendant of our county poor, how many
in all the poor of this county, were made 81
By the use of liquor, He will tell you, VERY
few if any.
Compare the rowdyism pauperism AM
crime of our own town, where licenses ar
granted and the traffic regulated and con
srolled, with the rowdyism, pauperisrn an'
crime of Moline, where the Maine law is il
force Will the result be favorable to tn
Maine law? We think not
We think the supervisors will find that, b
licensing, regulating and controlling the sa,
of liquors, and deriving good revenue there
from, will be much better for the peace, til
morals and the pockets of the people thai
the course now pursued.