Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-12-27
lie gspablitna.
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.
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A LEGITIMATE BUsINEss.-If we had
needed any assurance that our recent re-
marks on the subject of intemperance were
not unheeded, that assurance was supplied
within the last week by several saloon keep
stopping their papers and disseminating
their advertisements. This they had per-
feet right TO do, and we will not "abuse"
them for withdrawing their patronage,
whatever we may feel called upon TO say
about the business in which they are en-
gaced. On the other hand, we have been
fiattered by the concentrations of many
good men and women who have promised
us their cOuntenance and encouragement
in the good work. So far therefore as the
mere pecuniary aspect of the question is
concerned, we have no fears of the result.
But even if we felt certain that our patrons
would not sustain us in an honest express
sion of our views, we hope we would not
be deferred fiom doing our duty.
We are told that whisky-sclling is ''le-
Ultimate business" and that we have no
right 10 .'abuse" those engaged in it. We
admit its legitimacy 20 the extent that law
can make any wrong or crime legitimate,
but deay that that is any reason why we,
deeming it wrong and detrimental 10 soci-
ETY., should neglect to- say so. At some
time in the history of the past legitimacy
might have been claimed as a shelter for
every crime and denomination. Paul perse-
cutting the saints thought he was not only
he was doing Gods service. Polygamy
still flourishes in many parts of the world
under the protection oflaw, and among the
mobile red men" of the western plains
horse-stealing is REGARDED as a laudablc oc-
cupation. Within the memory of man.
Christians, engaged in Legitimate bust
ness" have melted war among savage
tribes, in order to supply the market with
captive slaves. and the horrors of the mid
die passage were not so shocking as the
ruin that involves land where intemper-
ance prevails, for those could only kill the
body while this conSigns immortal spirits
to a hopeless hell But yesterday the law
recognized property i'm human beings, and
at The beheSt of cruel tyrants the family re-
lation was broken up, the husband was
torn away from the embrace of the heart
broken wife and the babe was saatched
from the breast of the agonized slave moth
err Even the citizens of the free States
were menaccd with heavy penalties for do
ing 50 much as giving the thirsty drink of
cold water, the hungry crust, or shelter
ing the flgiive from bondage.
1t is precisely for this reason that we at
tack the liquor traffic. We never occupy
time or space with dissertations to prove to
our readers the sinfulness of theft or the
enOrinity of Murder We take it for grant
Ell that the pIblic mind is enlightened on
thesr subjects, but we have 10 such excuse
for even appearing to acquiesce in traffic
carried on under our very noses, licensed
IL the State and conducted under laws fol
its government made and provided, that
has caused more theft and melted more
murler than all things else PIT together
War, grim and terrible though he is. obii;er
ating The ban llries Of States and altering
the map of the world, the wheels of his
hOrrid chariot red with the blood of the dead
and dying. must yield the palm in the num-
Der OF his victims to the bowl.
The time will come AMI is not far distant
when the plea of legitimacy, weak though
it be, can BE- uSej no longer. With all
manner of wrong and crime, whether pro-
tected By statute or not. whisky selling
must son flee before the enlightened and
Iwakelcd conscience of the aye.