The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-04-26
R1EOGUIATE AND CONTROL H.

The wisess w.y, in our opinion 20 pa,.1
a - ~. ~. Of or traffic in ardent |
spirits is 10 license anu u'1'' as,;v. !.
. ,S..O.'' !, o'. ~. county. No ingenuity Of
.. "a ~ possible emphasis Of state
m.1. can n.,,;fv the great fact which forms
A.. ,..n;... -, all sorts Of argument on tnis
-. .h....niriss are distilled in immense
on.n.;,;.. and always will be, for the uses
~ .c;.noa and the arts, the advsncemens OF
..h.-;.., on.rssions, and the needs, con-
venienoes, and comfort OF society,
an Al, .;dss begin the discussion oy stan''
ing fact 90 plain as this, and there "
much better chance Of reaching co'fe0'' a.
we'll as wise conclusion.
The next step in tho process OF conSiuof'
ing the subject is, to know if it be more piA'
ticabls to destroy this business, ana 'n' 0a
told interests which grow out OF anu arc no
ISOLATED with it, because Of certain no'0'''1s
vices whieh are it's accompaniment "nsn ioi'
unrestricted, than to take it in hand AZ 'na'
point where abuse begets. OF has a sure 'ea'
dency to beget, crime and deep social wrongs
and hedge it about with such legal fessf'0'
tions a. promise to make the whole tramo .
comparatively harmless one. Common sense
hardly hssitAses in finding an answer 70 'ne
question. Since the production cannot %
prevented, nor the traffic and use suppressed
q wise system of regulation is the only 'ning
that remains,
There ought to be no conflict IN the pup
lie sentiment about this |. only hurts ana
hinders. No abuse is corrected oy an IL
tempt to deny facts which are too notorious
to be displaced; no better state OF puono
morals is secured by attempting to suppress
what cannot be suppressed. 1t this county
. would become unit on the side OF sounu
system of licensing and regulating the sale
of spirits we undertake to say that the sais
of prohibitory statutes would never more os
heard. 1t is perfectly possible to secure
unanimity of sentiment on this point, but OF
that of prohibition it is not to be dreamed OF
If, therefore, those who profess such deel
interest in the condition Of public moral
wish to prove their sincerity, they have bu
to lend their influence aud numbers TO wei
regulated system, to be adopted by our nev
board of supervisors, to regulate and contro
the TRAFFIC; derive county revenue there
from, and save the people from the inssrmins
BILE and expensive process Of prosecuting
worthless people who sell it illegally, bu
who cannot. IN majority of cases, be mad
to pay any judgment obtained against them
We are aware that it would cut of large fee
from the prosecuting attorney, sheriff, cireul
clerk, Jurors, witnesses &c. Debut it woul
thus relieve the people of load of taxation
Malignant partizans represent that those VII
advocate q system of licenses do so becaus
they themselves are welded 60 the use of g
dent spirits. 1t is pure malice on the ps
of the Mains-law fanatics to make this su
gsstion, and it should be denied with enerl
and proof to the contrary, while there shou
be an open and earnest combination of Il
best men of the community In support Of
license system that will, while permitting {
use, prohibit the abuse of distilled spirit
wines and beer, by imposing exemplary pr
alties and absolutely placing the control
the trafic in the hands Of the supervisors
the county