New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-14

AOOau " HubuCu In6lf LnlrSB with rum,
whisky, gin, punches, or other equally
Intoxicating fluids.
10 limited extent all these efforts
have been productive of some benefit
and deserve the commentator of the
moral community, but, notwithstand-
ing, the giant evil has steadily in
creased, recording its achievements
on the court calendar and the tomb
stOnes of its victims. -
There yet remains another remedy:
to prohibit it's manufacture and sale
by law.
Many are too weak TO stand alone,
and are not capable of resisting the
temptation which society and az petite
present. Thousands of dens exist in
every city and village, authorized by
law to sell the destroying beverage to
all who have the means to purchase.
The law licenses and considers them
a source of revenue.
The law Furnishes all crime and vice
which are the necessary and legitimate
result of using Intoxicating liquors,
yet hesitRtes to take any steps to sup
press the crime from which they pro-
coed.
The common law OF the land de-
olares everything to be a nuisance
(which worketh hurt, inconvenience,
or damage" The law, under that
class of evils, has suppressed gambling
houses, brOthels, and manufactures
that poison the cir in the neighbor-
hood. The greatest of all that class
still survives and Hourishes, because
licensed by law. Oh consistency
thou art jewel.
The Church utters its prayers sab
bath after sabbath ito deliver US from
evil and temptation" but has not
dared to wage an exterminating war
against the giant source of vice and
crime. know ofbut three ministers,
Drs. Newman, Palmer, and Walker,
whe have boldly denounced from their
desks the evils of intemperance.
We ask then to-day to whom shall
the world look for salvation but to the
reformers of the age, those who do not
desire popularity, Office nor power,
but who are devoted to the ameliora-
ton and elevation of the race. The
people must come to the rescue if we
are to destroy the hydra-headed mon
ster, The people are the law makers
and can destroy the evil. Some per-
sons may assert you can not legislate
SO as to correct mems appetite. They
say that was tried in Maine and proved
q failure.
If one failure should determine q
question, how little would be accom-
plished in any great or small matter.
Many republics were organized, and
existing but a brief period, expired
before our great experiment com
menced.
If those who resisted the encroach-
ments Of slavery had retired in de-
spair after the first compromise made
to the oligarehy Of Shareholders, to-
day, perhaps, the evil would have ex-
tended over the whole American re-
bic
To those who have great and worthy
objects there should be NO SUCH WORD
AS FAIL, and the conflict should pass
as our best inheritance from sire to
son.
When one's vices are in their effect
confined to himself there must exist
some plea that the sovereign right OF
the individual should be prote cited, and
every one permitted to follow his own
interests aud pleasures; but surely
that can not be seriously urged in be-
half of vice which persuades its vic
tim to the preparation Of every crime
that affects the lives and property OF
his fellow citizens, and may endanger
I the very life of the republic.
We certainly have the right to legis-
late for our own protection, and foI
the destruction Of what we know to
be the prominent cause of so much
crime and evil in our midst. Let US,
if defeated in one scheme, try another,
and thus avoid the cause of failure in
the past.
In view of the lights afforded by
experience l would suggest that We
petition for the passage of Law
whereby the people of each city and
village may, from time to time, vote
and determine whether or not the max.
ing and selling of intoxicating bever.
ages shall be longer permitted within
their precincts.
That right should be accorded al
often as a definite number of citizsnl
filed a notice before the proper Officer
of the city, or village, or town.
In that way we will soon create
great centres of Temperance, frou
which the destroying evil will be ex
eluded and can demonstrate to tn,
world the good effects resulting from
its prohibition. All things, good O
evil, radiate out from centres of actor
and diffuse their influence through thu
community.
1t will thus become an isolated ques
ton and can not affect other issues o.
injure prospects of any political party
The people, the sole soVeregns of thi
great republic, can determine tn
question for themselves and suppress
the vice by their avowed sentiment
when the majority shall SO determine
One man or one woman may agitat
questions, but can not expect 10 &C
oomplish much. Great reforms hay
: been made successful by combine
: and persistent effort.
l suggest, as an aid to this on
great purpose, that we organize a
: association who shall enter into
solemn pledge to abstain from Oh
' manufacture, importation, sale, an
t use of Intoxicating liquors, and ais
. to proseouts the endeavor to insur
I a. 4. l. 2