The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-08-07
S33l,OeO.OOO

Remainder 272,950, 900
Add to this the value OF 5000 souls.
Here Is a tax on honest aud temperate pee
pie.
You all know that during the year 1867
the liquor men did not pay but one twentieth
Of their share even, Of these enormous taxes,
either local or national. Ia that justice? Is
It right that you should he for Cd topa such
heavy taxes TO support God-condemned and
pcrditiOl deserving incubus upon society,
that you hate and abhor2 Are you free
people, and submit, TO such outrages. He
who knowingly submits 10 monstrous and
infamous injustice, without protest, Is either
\ slave or coward, or both combined.
What becomes Of your boosted liberty, II
you have to bow and crugc, and pay iorci-
DE tribute to hateful and cruel dcspotiSm2
What Is libcrty2 understand liberty to be
tie right TO do as you please, so far US you
can without intcrf ring with other peoples
equLl right todoas they please. Tie right
to do whatever Is right.
II the entire liquor traffic were prohibited
by law, we should no, only have S212, $50, 900
less local taxes aud losses to my but we
should have better health, sounder morals,
longer life, and S!1?, CSC, 600 more to pay
with, making vast difference In our favor.
lsit right for one set Of men TO interfere
with the rights fan other set In this way
What Is law? Blackstone says law Is a rule
Of nj ton, emanating from the supreme power
Of Il c State, commanding what Is right aud
prohibiting what Is wrong. Liberty says
you may do whatever Is right; law says you
shall do whatever Is right. Tho Que permits,
the other commands the practice Of tho great
principle Of right. But tho liquor business
comes forward aud says something like this
"llcar, all ye people Of the world. | CLAIM,
the right to load the bodies Of men with a
slow and lingering disease. SO that after
about ten years OF suffering they shall die
some horrible and disgraceiul death at the
rate of about IS, oOOa year,
~ cl.in the right to so injurc the minds Of
men so us to send twelve thousand rnvinE
naniacs to the Lunatic ASy,uuS, and twelve
thousand more " tue Asylum as idiots.
"a claim the right to madden the people
with ungorcrnable frenzy, MS 10 make six
hundred kill themselves, but before they die
to kill with 'hcartless ftroc'ty, four hundred
innocent victims, and make six hundred more
perish with fierce aud wild delirum.
~ claim the right, during the ten years
these men are drinking themselves 10 death,
TO send one hundred thousand Of them to
the hospitals with disease; 10 make them
squAndcr their money and property, and the
money and property Of their families, and
waste their time and shortcRi their lives,
amounting TO three million years Of life and
industry.
~ claim the right, during these len years,
to cause the people 10 commit vast number
Of heinous crimes and offences, so as TO keep
twenty thousand in the State prisons ofthc
land, and TO cause two hundred thousand
petty crimes aud mlsdCmcnnors against the
peace and good order Of society, and make
them harsh and cruel 10 their once Low ed
wives and helpless children.
~ claim the right to make Eve hundred
thousand pauperSnnd bcggars, so MS 10 crush
out their dignity aud selt.rcSptct, and blight
their hopes forever.
II claim the right TO destroy, by midnight
flames, vast amounts ofproperty by land and
sea. | claim tile right 10 lax the honest and
temperate people, without their consent, TO
nay for I'll these WOES aud CalamitlCg 10 the
amount e S2I2, $50, oOOa year,
n claim the right TO dwarf the intellect
and corrupt the morals Of the people, and
corrupt the hearts Of the law-givcrS, md cor.
rupt those whom Tho people elect TO enforce
the laws. will exercise this right law OF