Ellsworth American., 1872-01-11
detrimeat to all the higher interests OF

tletrimeat to sll the higher interests OF
the State.
The time and money expended. the
intellectual and ply steal powers DESTROY
ed, the hopes blasted, the homes desc
lated, the poverty and crime occasioned,
and the lives sacrificed through the
drinking habits Of our people, would
make An appalling, chapter in our history.
IL we inQ uire at our State Prison, VIC
shall find that prior to their conviction
eight per cent. OF the convicis were not
in the habit of using Intoxicating drinks.
twelve per cent. drank moderately.
while eighty per cent. lank to excess
and their crimes Were the direct result
of this practice. A visit to our county
jails would reveal similar facts. This
| shows that tour-fiiths of the crime. and
consequently that proportions OF all tho
expense, as well rs all the private and
| public evils resulting from the commits
sion of crime, are the legitimate result
of intemperapoe. Common observation
furnishes convincing evidence that
large roruon of the pauperism in the
STATE Is directly or indirectly attributa-
Die To the same cause.
Ii these statements are correct, the
III.
intellectual and financial well.being OF
its citizens. has a direct pecuniary in
tercst in this subject equal To tour-tifths
OF the whole cost of the execution of our
criminal laws. a. we'll a the sunport ot
paupers and Juvenile offenders. made
such by in'emperance. The statesman.
then, charged to promote. in every prop.
er way the Welfare of the State, has
duty TO perform in this regard which he
l. not at liberty TO ignore.
The eradication Of an evil like this
'hust De sought primarily through the
pulpit the press. the platform aud the
influence of organized effort, thus awak
ehing the public mind aud quickcning
the public conscience. As result of
'ne ehorts made through these instru-
iiehtah'ies. a large portion of our popu
iat'oh abstain entirely from the use of
intoxicating drinks As beverage. many
uruhAards have been reformed and
puoilc sentiment has been created that
M lound expression in one of the most
eHcctive laws in our statutes.
u i a fact worthv of no,icc. and one
which has attracted the attention of cvcrY
caietui observer. that. in most places IN
'he State. intcmpcrancc and crime aud
an tle evils incident to intempcraucc
nave decreased about in proportion to
the enforcement of the law. and in
creased in proportion 10 the neglect Ia
enforce it, The State has done wisely
in experimenting individual and organ
/ lied effort with such legal aid a. II has
seemed proper. The law itself J. be-
lieved to bc gene, ally satisfactory. but
there is much complaint that, in many
parts of the STATE. il Is not executed rs
it should be. aud. by MANY. additional
legislation for the enforcement of thi-
and other criminal laws i desired. The
conviction j. very general that the ur-
cessitv j. not 80 much for more law, a.
a better enforcement of the Laws We
have. The importance Of a faithful and
impartial execution of all our criminal
laws i too apparent To require di-cussipn
here.
am not unmindful of the fact that no
law can be enforced through any iu,tru-
mentality, however efficient in Itself, for
"a torn of wears, unless II hc sustained
hv the public sentiment Of the people.
On that all our laws depend. II they
meet that approval they will bc su-
tanned aud enforced it Loi. thcv will Toe
repealed or become a dead letter in the
statute. The officer, who execute the
law come from the people. They are
the servants of the people. aud Will. a. a
general rule, execute their will. Wheth-
er the Judgment of a majority of the
people be- right or wrong whether We
accept or reject it personally, it viii. in
this country. assert itself IN the enact
incnt OF tho law. and the election OF pub
lie officers on whom their eufor cmcut
demand
A proposition has been made. hat the
shcriifs Of the several counties and their
deputies. be charged with the duty oi
inquiring into the violation ofall Grim
inal laws. and attending 10 their enforce
ment within the limits OF their rc>pec-
tive counties, when the local authorities
neglect or refuse TO do cot a"i that tho.
one, , be made responsible To the Chief
Executive of the State. and subject to
his directions. The friends of this
measure suggest that, a. the laws now
are, the Governor is required {" take
and subscribe an oath 10 see that the
laws are faithfully executed, but that
there Is no civil officer on whom hc can
officially call for the execution OF any
law, and that the change proposed
would make it possible for him Ia per-
( form the duties of his Office ia accord
ance with his oath The proposition is
not open 10 the objection that il would
create new set of officers. which j.
greatly in its favor II meets, | under
stand. the approval of a large portion of
the friends oi temperance. | can see no
valid objection Ia its adoption.
\ better execution of some OF our
criminal laws, and especially that against
the sale of intoxicating drinks. would,
in NV Judgment. relieve the State from
( some OF it, heaviest burdens, and pro-
mote good order and the general welfare
of the people. ! therefore recommend
that YOU inquire whether any further
/ legislation j. necessary To secure these
results. and take such action in the
/ premises as the facts elected by the in
| quiry and the interests OF the State de-
mand.
IMMIGRATION.
our surest source of wealth i i'm our
/ citizens. We hope to retain in the future
larger portion OF our young men than in
/ the past. by creating a greater demand for
I their services; but many will leave for
other fields of effort and usefulness. 70
I supply ia some degree thi, loss t. the
/ State. and to aid in the development Of our
I internal resources. wise system of mui-
grafton Is OF paramount importance. The
T colony of swedes in this State has exceed
ed the most sanguine expectation, OF its
I friends. The results thus far may be brief
l ly stated a. follows: One thous aud .wedes.
/ five hundred of whom are working men,
have come TO the State, bringing with them
$4,000 in money. Two hundred lots.
equal to twenty thousand acres, have been
taken up. Two thousand acres of trees
have been felled. and five hundred cleared
] nh-ta ial MI D l.
timber houses. and seventeen log barns,
have been built. Twelve hundred bushels
of wheat. one thousand bushels of barley.
eight hundred bushels of rye and oats. and
five thousand bushels of potatoes. have
been raised. Twenty-Five miles of road
have been cut out, two miles turnpiked.
and several bridges built. Fifteen horses
thirty-four cows. and two or three pairs of
oxed. have been purchased. and are now
/ pAI l,x fh.. col