The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-02-22
From the Daily OF tho l7th.
TE11P1RAl90D.

From the Daily OF the i7th.
| TE1gPHRAN0D
For the Courier
| A Bill is now before our Legisla.
tare which, If passed, enacts sub
stantially the famous Ohio temper
ance law, which also passed the Illi-
nois Legislature . few weeks Eince,
and whereat there is great rejoicing
among the friends of temperance in
that State This law holds not only
the seller, but the owner Of the
premises responsible for all damages
done to and by the person 10 whom
liquors is sold. Rev. 8. B. Sheriff.,
Of Ohio, preaching some time since
upon the case Of the man mentioned
in Exodus XXI: 1886, who had q
goring OK and "hath not kept him
in" said Of the liquor sellers:
II do not say that . man who
makes our nsighbors drunkards and
criminals, and their families paupers,
and brings eternal woe upon their
sons and daughters, ought literally
TO be stoned TO death in our streets.
Neither do say that he has not just
" merited such punishment. Bu.
do say that tho moral sentiment of
this community onght to hurl rocks
of public opinion at his head, from
which he would gladly shield him.
self by turning his attention to some
honorable calling, or by leaving for
parts unknown. Not only are the
civil authorities under obligations to
protect the cltisen against injury,
but when every precaution has been
taken, and still the evil comes, then
the law must bring restitution. An
OF, known TO be vicious, kills an
other: tho live or must pay for the
dead one. A man invests his money
in traffic which is known 10 bring
poverty and degradation upon hun
dreds Of others. Let the property
thus employed make good the loss.
An OF, known to be vicious, kills
man. The owner Of the or may be
killed with stones thrown upon him.
A mans income 10 earned ct the cost
Of his neighbor's life. Is is too much
70 incarcerate him who puts tho fatal
cup to kls neighbor's lips I? But some
one says the cases are not parallel.
I admit they are not. But they diff
fer in favor Of the owner of the vic
ious animal. That animal may push
. man and take his life even, but has
no power over his soul, while he who
takes his neighbors life with strong
drink, AlmQst always, if n0tsfavAria-
blyS t6nds bic sssl sstFAfght TO hell.
We are under obligations to protect
the inebriate and his family by the
strong hand OF the law. And to this
end, tho penalty may and must in
ciude both the property and person
of the guilty. Make the the proper
~ employed meet every dollar ofl
pecuniary loss sustained by the SUI.
ferers. Shut up for life, If necessary,
the men who persist in the traffic. |
1t King Alcohol demands his rights.
and ia dafArm;-.a - -;-,-i-.~ S-..i.-
- .>.;.%y, let him psy The damages
be causes. There can be no injustice
in this. Public sentiment does not |
begin to realize the magnitude of |
this evil. II is immeasurable by any |
earthly standard. 1t is as deep, and |
- broad, and damHiag ~ HE'LL Pc
cuniary considerations, feelings of
sympathy, or careless indifference
may blind ones eyes to the woes
which the drsm-shop inevitably
brings upon . conmuDity. Under
such circumstances it is easy to con-
tribute to the evils which infest So
ciety. Will you do it? Will you, by
your influence help to dig aud gil
the drunkard's grave?
Are there not illustrations in our
own community. as in every other,
Of this inhuman spirit of the liquor
seller? Men draw their hard learned
money Saturday night; their fami-
lies need it; wife and children ut
homo suffering for food and clothing
and fire; but the liquor seller. or
some of his friends, urge "only one
drink that won't hurt you," and they
know in tho one drink is involved
loss Of all his money, and return
home in . state Of drunkcnness.-
There are widowed mothers whose
sons are sent homo to them in such
condition ; and whose very lives are
sacrificed to this ruinous business. Ii
the liquor seller mast lire upon the
lives Of others, let him pay for it,
Let 10 have the Law. JUsrUs.
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