Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1866-03-23
LIQUOR and Law.

FRIDAY, MARCH ~, 1885.
Liquor and Law.
The Prohibitory Liquor Law Of tn,
State of Iowa was passed by the Fifth
General Assembly, January 22d, 1865
and took effect on the LIST of July follow
ing, having been submitted to the PEG
pie of the. State and Endorsed ut tn,
April election. This law forbids tn,
manufacture and sale of all Intoxicating
liquors, except beer, cider and domestic
wine. The law provides that,
"If any person by himself his clerk, servant
or agent, shall for himself, or any person else
directly or indirectly, or on any pretence, or BY
chase Of any other property. give to any person
any Intoxicating liquor, he shall be deemed
frst conviction for said ofiense, q fine or TWEEN.
~ dollars and the costs of prosecution, and
shall stand committed ten days. unless the
tion for said offense he shall pay fine Of fifty
dollars and the costs Of prosecution. and shall
he sooner pMid and ON tSe third and every
subsequent conviction for said offense he shall
pay fine Of one hundred dollars and the costs
county Jail not less than three nor more than
six months"
The law is equally severe upon man
ufacturcrs, and Others engaged in the
traffic contrary to its provisions. 1t is
easily understood, and has ample pro-
vision for its effectual enforcement. It
IL an act entitled IAN Act for the Sup
preston of Intemperance," and it was
evidently intended for just that purpose.
1t may be argued that the Prohibitory
Law is unjust, that liquor-selling, un-
der such restrictions as might be proper
and just, should be recognized as right.
But that does not affect the law as it
stands. If to prohibit tho sale of intox-
icating drinks be improper, the law
should be repealed. We do not now at
tempt to argue the merit or demerit of
the law; we simply know that the law
exists, and therefore take this position !:
While the Prohibitory Liquor law
stands upon the statute book its provis-
ions should be recognized and enforced.
What good citizen can take valid excep-
ton to our ground? All the laws are
equally binding upon us, and we cannot
in honor say that we will observe such
and such and disregard this and that.
The great plea of those who would glad
ly see the law imperative, and many
who desire to see it effective consider
the plea Of much force, is that it is inn
possible to prevent the sale of intoxica-
ting liquors. This argument may be
well founded; but is it natural deduc-
ton that the law should be wholly dis
regarded? There is not a law in the
Code, we dare say, but what is violated
more or less. 1t might as properly BE
said that, because larceny is committed
in violation of law, and will continue
to be in spite of law, however stringent,
1t were as well to let offenders pass I'M
punished. A proposition of this nature
would be deemed simply ridiculous
but still ut the same time, looking ut the
matter candidiy, it is no more ridiculous
than that violaters of the liquor law
should go scot free, because the traffic
In Intoxicating drinks cannot be Who'll
ly suppressed. We know of but one
other argument which the liquor sellers
aud their friends advance. That is,
that the traffic is licensed by the United
States, and is thereby authorized by an
authority superior to State law. To
those acquainted with the facts, this Of
course seems very shallow. But We
bring !, in here because we know there
are very many who believe the argu-
ment incontrovertable. In the light of
Section IS of the Internal Revenue law
its'weight is very Insignificant. In that
section it is enacted,
"That no license hereinbefore provided for
Shall, II granted. be held, or construed, to ex-
empt any person carrying on the trade, BUSH
from any penalty or Punishment provided by
the laws OF any state for carrying on such
trade, business, or profession, within such stat
or In any manner To authorize the commence
ment or continuance of such trade, business
or profession, contrary to the laws OF such
state, or in places prohibited by municipal
law" &c.
Making no points, therefore, but such
as may be adduced from the prosy law,
aud considering no obligations but such
as devolve upon us as abiding citi-
zens Of Iowa, we reach the conclusion
that San Act for the Suppression of In
temperance" should by all means be
enforced.