Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-04-24
Ancient Justice.


ain the early period ofNew York
history, inn keepers were fined If an
Indian was seen leaving their house
drunk and the whole street was fined
if the right house was not ascertain
ed"
Among the croakers of the present
day, about the strongest objection we
hear against prohibitory law is, that
it is not right to legislate on a subject
in which is involved the personal free
dom of individuals. These objectors
seem to think that man has a right
to get drunk, and whip his wife, and
fling his children out into the snow
drift, while he remains within to sleep
off his debauch. And yet the good
moral suasionists would have us leave
him "alone in his glory" because he
has a right to drink rum and whiskey,
Or to get drunk on port wine or brandy
when he pleases.
We are satisfied that if one Of this
class happens to read this article, he
will call US uncharitable, and perhaps
refuse to acknowledge the truth Of
our charge. But we fearlessly reit-
crate it, nevertheless, because we hold
that to sanction the cause is to sane
ton the effect. The man who sells
poison, knowing that it is purchased
for the purpose of taking away hu-
man life, would be considered in law
accessory before the fact, and would
be nupiahaa -aaaaeai,,4-l-- To----9 I
the rule apply, we must suppose the
rumseller to know the result of his
traffic He does know it full well,
and hence we ask a law that shall be
impartial in it's operations; one that
shall not screen the rumseller any
more than the druggist in the COM
mission of crime.
But there is another overpowering
objection, welded with great effect in
barrooms among soakers and sots,
and their despotic masters, the liquor
sellers and bar tenders, namely to
legislate on this subject is to pander
to spirit of innovation. A glance
at the paragraph which is placed at
the head of this article will suffice to
show, doubtless, that the liquor traffic
has been considered nuisance 'lOng
long ago. and those who committed
the nuisance were punished with fines
and what is more, the class seems tc
have been held liable for the acts of
the trade. Why was this but tina
our fathers knew the evil to be grea
and the perpetrators of the cause of
it to be all equally guilty? Let III
return and do our first works in tn,
matter; let US give our influence t.
the right; let Us strive to break tn,
letters in which the rumocracy have
held US so long. AS we abhor monop
oily; as we detest trickery and polit
lIcll IlltI VIC dbOlAiIldIO IIuI
der, spoil and robbery, and riot; a
we loathe the flthiness and fooIisI
jestings of the poor inebriate in hi
cups; as we respect humanity; as W
sympathize with the abused and de
ienselesS wife. and the poor, half-star'
ed, halt-ciothed, half-taught and ofte
scorne4, though innocent children
as We cleave to benevolence, an
shrink from blood, let US vote Tor
change in the law by which the run
seller, whether in the fashionable 81
ioon or Inc nttuy oeIiaI, ~hesI.s. L.
sells crab apple, champagne and los
wood port by the dozen, or strycl
nine whiskey from tin cup, shall b
held liable for the legitimateresults o
the "craft by which he gets his wealth
, as well as other men. This is all W
/ ask.-Iemperonce Adrocate.