The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-05-27
The Temperance Movement.

the manufacture and sale Of intoxi.
eating liquors within the boundaries
of the State. We are glad to see
that Republicans of moderation and
calm Judgment are vigorously pro.
testing against what we can only
| term the hallucination and fsntasia
of few particularly jealous reform
ers. We do not wish the readers of
tho COURIER to understand that wo,
for moment, hesitate to bid God
speed to the workers in the Temper
ance cause; but we do hold out the
opinion that secession from tho party
is the very means by which they will
be defeated, is the exact intermedlum
by which they will lose the vantage
ground, slowly gained by years Of in
defatigable toll. And we do not be-
lieye that the movement finds sup
porters among tho far-sighted men
of Temperance Societies themselves.
| Among the reasons why we op-
pose the organization of q third par
| ty, the principal are, briefly, these:
/. Because the Republican party
is itself already thoroughly haentl-
fed with the cause of Temperance.
The party is largely composed ofmen
allied to temperance principles
men and voters who, as Republicans,
will cast their ballots each and eve
rytbime for temperance men and
temperance measures; but who, as
original and steaafast Republicans
will not abandon other principles
not paramount, but equally impor
tant-and run off at tangent in IA
vor Of a single independent theory or
issue set up by few deluded 4sece-
ders, We assert that a large major
ity of Republicans in this State are
in full accord, in sympathy and har-
mony, with temperance workers; but
not even q respectable minority, in
point of numbers, will abandon, rs
they will:bc asked to do, principles in
tho advocacy Of which they have
grown old and often grey. The
name of Republican has become too
dear to be lightly cast aside.s il il .
name that will be hailed with aoligAt,
O word that will excite enthusiasm
when the name of /" Democrat its
ignominy and disgrace-will have
been forgotten.
II. Our statutes arc to tho point
already, ifthey arc properly enforced.
No further legislation, whatever, is
needed on the subject. Our Assem-
bly, has gone as far as it dare go,
without enacting laws positively
conflicting with the Constitution and
laws of the United States. There
are but few manufactures of liquors
in the State. Public opinion is such
that distillcrs do not even take ad-
vantage of the small privilege left
them Of manufacturing liquor "for
medicinal purposes alone" The
Courts have decided that the State
cannot prohibit the importation of
liquors in the original packages,
without nullifying the higher federal
law. Up to this point legislation has
advanced; further it couldn't golf ev-
cry Senator and Representative, and
all the state, county and township
officials, from Governor to the fence
viewers, were selected with especial
reference to their probity as temper
anco men. There may bc, and un-
doubtedly is, some difficulty in the
way Of enforcing the laws; but the
difficulty cannot possibly be avoided
or amended SO long as witnesses con-
tinue to swear that vhiskey is cider,
and brandy, grape juice. If the sale
of cider were prohibited they would
swear that rifle whiskey straight" !"
was Kissingen water, and that gin
sings were Seidlitz powders. HUI
manity is frail, and all the legislative
bodies in existence, from the British
Parliament TO tho Assembly Of Pit
CAIRNS island, can't better it. Tho
laws are as radical as they can be
made. Therefore it only remains to
elect officers who will enforce them,
and they can only be elected by Re-
publican votes.
III. The. sore-hcad Democracy is
at tho bottom of tho movement
Since the elections of last fall they
| have felt that their sun is forever set,
unless they can start some new issue
that will split the Republican party
in twain. In one or two counties OF
this State they have already wheed.
led a number of Republicans into the
snare, and tho result will be a split
AN uninportant one, however-on
the county tickets. A thorough
bred Democrat in a temperance or
ganization, is as much out of place
as Brick Pomeroy would bo in Chris
tian society. Their presence and ac
tivity bodes no good; they are only
there to stir up and toment discorc
in Republican ranks, by which they
hope TO secure the loaves and tishe
for their poor CID broken-windec
hacks. The scheme is too shallow
to avoid detection. ,,'he conspiracy
is SO easily recognized that we opin
| tho obipct'of tho consnirators will b