The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-08-19
For the Conservative.
Political Chfcanefy.

For the Conservative
Political Chicanefy.
Editor Conservative Il observe
the Herald, OF the 18th inst pub
fishes liz full, the proceedings of the
County Democratic Convention"
containing a series of resolutions,
the 9Th one of which / think de-
serves a little special notice, for as
a specimen of political demagogism
and deep laid scheme Of deception,
l have seldom seen it equalled. 1t
reads as follows:
"ResoLUed, 5th, That this Convention
deplores the evils of intemperance, and
believes the laws now in existence upon
the Statute Books of Ohio, amply sufficient
to restrain the unlawful traffic in intoxica-
ting LIQUORS, and that all practicable and
Constitutional eff"rts properly made to
suppress the evil, will meet with our hearty
appreciation and approval"
This resolution, doubtless, was
intended to conciliate the favor,
and secure the co operation of the
Temperance element of the Demo-
cratic party; and, upon the face of
the thing, to the superficial o5serV-
err, it does, no doubt, seem to con-
tain all that honesty and phIlan-
thropv require. But what are the
facts IN the case?
In the first place, 1 have no
doubt but the very man who wrote
that resolution can be seen sitting
on our street-corners in q state of
intoxication almost any day N the
week, and this fact establishes two
others, to-wit: That the law, if
intended to prerent the sale of in
tOxicating liquors, is very difficult
to execute, and hence is almost
useless; or, if he procures 1T in &C.
cordance with the law, 1t makes
him drunk all the same.
But l make the assertion here,
and 1 challenge contradiction, that
there is not a law on the Statute
Books of Ohio, which was ever in
tended, or by which it Is possible,
to prevent the sale of intoxicating
liquors in our State. But, on the
contrary. the traffic in ardent splr-
its is fostered and protected by the
law, the same as is any other form
of merchandise; and, probably,
there Is no man in the County
more fully aware ofthe fact, than
the writer Ct said resolution; and,
hence, the base deception and I'M
blushIng fraud intended to be
palmed off upon the unwary, Tenn
perance Democrats, by the taking
assertion, "that this Convention be-
lieves the laws now existing upon
the Statute Books of Ohio, amply
sufficient 10 restrain the unlawful
traffic in Intoxicating liquors." &C.;
and, yet, he knowing that the
present laws guarantee the sale of
all the whisky that even he requires.
He will not admit that he asks any
one to violate q law of the State by
selling him whisky. He knows it
is a legal traffic, and IS content.
He will pirate to you by the hour
of the high taxes you have to pay,
but does not tell you that nine,
tenths of all the crime and pauper-
ism OF the State, is the direct result
of the rule of intoxicating liquors,
and that, in 1868, the State of Ohio
paid $3.50 90 for the prosecution
and board of criminals alone, to
say nothing about the immense
tax upon the resources of the State
to build hospitals, aims houses, and
infirmaries, for the care of the sick,
wounded, insane, and destitute
victims of this terrible curse and
accursed traffic. Yet, when all
these items are summed up, they
constitute about forty per cent. of
all the moneys paid into the public
treasury.
Temperance Democrats, of Nor
gan County-and who, these times,
does not profess to be a Temper
ance man ? who, so imbecile, as rot
TO admit intemperance to be a great
evil ?-can you longer continue to
be a party to this nefariouS traffic,
by Withholding your needed aid to
suppress 1t? Will you continue to
submit to pay this enormous tax
upon your honest industry, &C that
O class of the most unprincipled
wretches in the community may
thrive upon a villainous occupation,
which brings more restitution,
wretchedness, ard woe upon mans
kind. than war, pestIlence, and
famine combined? No! l am con-
ident you will not; but will shrink
with honest indignation from its
vile touch and communicating in
fuence, as Dor as you perceive the
relation you sustain TO it. and will
JON your honest efforts with those
who are laborlng to Danish us po-
lutlng presence forever from the
land.
Then call public meetings at
once in every Church, School-house,
and Voting Precinct in the County;
invite all persons, of whatever
phase of political opinions, to be
present; notify the Temperance
Central Committee of the County.
of the time of holding your meet
lngs, and they will send you speak
ers who will assist in q free dis
cussion of this most important sub
ject, which now affects the political,
so3ial, and moral welfare of the
American people.