The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-02-01
For the COURIER,

:" Wv P"oiio ioeiIuG smoked py VIII
Messing the mangled remains ofsome
unfortunate fellow creature, torn
and bloody, whose soul has been sud
denly plunged into eternity; and
Others SCARED and MANNED for life,
all victims of intemperanee.' While
many of the rising generation are
taught . lasting lesson from such
terrible warnings, yet, should we re-.
main Indifferent TO such scenes,
which have ever been regarded as a
disgrace in the most uncivilized age,
Should we not look farther than
these public exhibitions of violence
and debauchery. Has this loath.
some custom Of the lower type of
humanity become such social lep.
rosy that it cannot be healed?
Has the minds of the virtuous
thinking class become SO absorbed
in the politics or literature of the
day that they care nothing for the
sufferings of others. more unfortu.
nate in the blessings and enioyments
of life than themselves?
Cannot we, as people who com.
prise the population of the State of
Iowa, so far conform our statutes to
Divine law as to at least somewhat
mitigate the evil, or must we stop
our march OF progress here, and say
this barrier is too high and difficult
for US to surmount?
Are we any worse than those in
other States, where such laws repu-
lating this disgusting traffic in pois-
oned liquors, are being successfully
enforced that such laws would be of
no practical value to us, and would
over remain a dead letter upon our
statute books? Are the dramsellers
so determined to continue the faith
tut instrument in his Mgesty's en-
ploy, to scatter human misery and
death broadcast, that they would be
willing to maintain the helpless FAM
lilies of the victims from whom they
fitch the means oftheir mainten ance?
Would they think it it any great
pleasantly, were the wife, family, or
friends, of the deluded drinker be
permitted to recover by law every
farthing so spent, with fair com.
pensation for his loss of time in
lounging around the place kept by
him who thus robs him of his mon
ey, (and that which is of far greater
value his character.
Would there be any injustice done,
it when accidents or misfortunes Gas
are becoming of almost daily occur
rence) occur, resulting in death, oc-
casioned by the alteration of mind
from the victim being intoxicated,
the liquor vendor or vendors, be
compelled to defray all the funeral
expenses, doctor bills, &c. of the un-
fortunate being, Not only this, but
should they not be fined q certain
amount, to be allowed the distressed
family of the deceased. (if poor),
but # such family are in good cir
cumstances, to 60 the State, to pay
the expenses of maintaining law and
order.
Would it not be right to compel
this unfeeling and unmanly ord ar of
tradesmen to pay the full wages of
an ordinary laborer, with all the ex-
penses incurred by disabilities occa-
stoned by the intoxicstion OF an midi
vidual, either directly or indirectly,
to himselfor others, while such per-
son or persons are unable from such
cause to perform customary labor, the
amount OF money thus exacted to be
paid by the ones guilty of selling or
giving him the lquor2
Would it be more than just that
the person from whose house the
liquor has been taken, be held re-
sponsible Ono matter how obtained)
as though he had full knowledge OF
the fact, where it is apparent that he
only seeks to evade the law.
Does not justice further demand
that the liquor dealer be allowed no
property exempt from execution in
such cases, and all goods in the house
where such liquor is kept, and Gin
case it is rented or leased) even the
house itself (where the owner has
been informed of the state of affairs
and made no effort to expel such ten
ants) should it not be held RESPONSE
BILE and not so much as leaving a SOL
itary refuge to screen such enemies
to mankind.
Is there not many remedies for
this evil? Will not petitions be got
ten up for this purpose. Moral men
dare we answer nay? SEvERUs.
PERSONAL---VERY.. j: E. Ryan, who
for several years has been the highly
respected and very efficient Rector