The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-05-02
THE KENOSHA UNION IN FAVOR
OF THE TEMPERANCE
LAW.
LAW.

J v0r OF the Temperance Law, ana III faYo
Of its enforcement. The first has tb,
caption Estate Association for the Pro
lection Of Personal Liberty" In this ar
ticle, after speaking Of tho Association
and the circular issued by it, and Of The
open war TO be made next fall by tht
hqnor interest on the temperance law
and the fight to be made by the friends
Of he law to retain it, the editor says:
Now, upon this subject Of repeal or re
tention we have just few words to say
at this time. We have always had mis-
givjngs as to the wisdom Of the enact
ment Of the so called Graham law, not
but what we believed good would follow
is enforcement, but because we doubted
il there was moral sentiment enough IN
tbe state to enforce it. But now that we
have the law, we are uncompromsng! y
il favor of letting it remain on tie stat
ute booHs, until the people have had q
fair opportunity Of testing it's value as $
rGtormatOry enactment. Therefore we
say let the Christian church and The
moral power of the state, join issue with
| rhe repealers, with the rum power of
| Wisconsin, for ,he purpose of defending
nd enforcing cur great moral temper
| ance law. So far that law has worked
| IKE u charm in this city, and ifa reason
able test Of its beneficial effect through
ont the state shall vindicate its wisdom,
let il remain, and If after such test, tho
people become satisfied that the law is
bad or useless, let it be repealed, bur by
oil means give ii fair trial. Therefore
we say to the anti-temperance elemepe of
Wisconsin, you had bstter stop he cry
If repeal" for at least one year.
The editor also gives some good ad-
vice III relation to the enforcement Of the
law, which should be executed in its spirit
aud not always according to the letter.
lie also gives good advice to those en-
gagged in the liquor business IN this city
and county. After speaking of the pro
lection to be given by the Association
for the Protection OF Personal Liberty to
every one who pays $500 i'll the first in
stance, and the monthly payment of one
dollar, lie says:
Now our advice to our respectable
citizens and business men" is, to keep
out of this association, for mark our
prediction, which IS; that you may pay
as many five and one dollars as the asso-
ciafl1n may demand Of you, yet the $50
called temperance law" will he held CON
sTITUTIoNAL AND VALID by our supreme
court iust as often as this Association
for the maintenance OF liberty" shall
Ia Ike case before it for adjudication.
s. hat in our opinion all money spent
in fighting this law III our courts is
thrown away. Our advice to you there
fore is, to gracefully conform to the law,
until you can repeal it, or else change
your occupation.
Under the caption "Shall the Temper,
ance Law be Enforced" the editor says
While the law is not what the temper
ance men could desire, still if faithfully
executed, it would strike off half of the
evils of intemperance. Shall it be en-
forced, or shall it remain a dead letter
on the statute book? The friends OIL
whisky are determined upon its ress.
lance, and early repeal. They publicly
announce that repeal will be the issue at
the coming fall election, and there seems
10 be but little doubt but that the ques-
ton will enter largely into the make up
of the next legislature. The issue ID up
on Us. and must be squarely met, and
met like men. IF the law is suffered to
be mere nulllty, or is feebly executed
there will be strong reason for it's repeal
even among some of its friends; and
with it's repeal the wheels Of temperance
legislation will roll back at least ten
years In this law, the cause Of temper
aace gained a triumph. Shall the van
tage ground gained be held or surrender
ed
The faithful execution of the law is of
vital importance to the success Of the
temperance cause in the future Many
will say, the law is all right, and now
let the authorities put it in force, cts
we'll" But. has not the experience of
the past taught us that public servants
ere far more efficient when they can lean
upon the strong arm Of public opinion,
when their efforts arc vel, seconded by
good and law abiding citizens. What dc
pendence can be placed upon the vast
majority of officers to execute law in
the face of an organized resistance, I'M
less the friends of the law stand ready to
hack them. If the temperance law is
sustained and enforced to any great ex-
tens, it must come through the active CO.
operation OF all good citizens. Temper
ance men, and Christian men, must come
squarely up to the mark. Organization
must be met with organization, a1d funds
must be raised to carry on the warfare.
Temperance men should organize at once
leagues in every town, village and city
in the stat2.