Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-03-16
COL. r. HECKER on TEE NEW
TEMPERANCE LAW.
Head ana Reflect.

The full scope Of the new Temperance
Law Is no, undsrstood BY many. The FRAN
az. Of dis lau-which the monsrchial press
of Europe has already seized upon with
shouts Of Joy and derison, exclaiming
There, see this lhuded republic; such tyr
raunicAi laws are an impossibiliiy with US;
take care MOTTO emigrats 70 such ooun-
try" wide North German 4ilgemefne
Zeitung,) the trainers Of this law say
ave do no. mean TO prohibit the indulgence
ofspirituous liquors; on the contrary, all We
intend 10, 10 DO away with The numerous
Low groggeries, and only 20 tolerate decent
and respectable saloons 40 this we have
no objection" say many people, who do not
belong 70 the mperAnce societies, but who
neither read nor study the law.
But the above statement Of the temper
anoe men 10 simply an act Of cowardice;
ihsy are afraid TO show their true colors. Il
10 90 act Of Hypocrisy, for they speak 3if-
fsrsaily from what they mean aud intend.
No sooner has ihis Law been passed, than
there 10 another pending, which 10 intended
70 bs smugglsd into the laws relative to uu.
uicipAl corporations and which contains .
provision about As follows:
"No spirituous liquors shall be sold or
given away within = mile OF any institution
OF learning.n
When I've temperance men 90 together
and parohass . shAuty, which they dub az
institution Of leArniog; when then they place
one Of their number inside ostensibly ss =
teacher, and . boy ostsusibly as . pupil the
small cash capital Of the TEN psrance society
sutficss 70 close every business within =
mile around. A small number Of such edu
.aNta.sf k..... ~. .aaN
city under the bsns OF prohibition.
Thus the fanatics Of al ages have pro-
cssded; the inquisition, the witch tribunals
and the "blue laws" we're created in like
manner.
The question before Us is not one Of
GROCERIES, but simply whether the mAjori
" shall be subdusd BY . fanaticA minority,
aud whether various branches Of industry
and agriculture shall be destroyed by she
temperance societies, which do no, count
half million persons, oil told.
But 10, us proceed 70 consider the Law;
First,-It means complete prohibition; il
ia in ia spirit the mos, dsspotio Maine Ii
quor law.
d,-Iu it's most favorable aspect III,
law creates monopoly for the rich sgains
the poor.
Third,-I, effects the levying Of taxes il
favor Of the rich and against the poor.
Fourih,-Ii oontemplAsss the ruin Of va
rious branches Of production Of raw mate
rial, aud 10 chiefly directed against Oh,
farmers, lAborsrs and tradesmsn. II is 81
invasion Of the liberty Of trade aud an as
sauli upon the development Of our nstiona
vealth.
Fifth,-Ths law is wicked aud immora
IN iis tendencies; /, makes vice source o
income, 10 hurls strife and disssnsions iniS
the family circle aud counteuAnoes per
Jury; 1t even stiles charity and beneVo
lenes.
Sixth,-It sugsnders q eontempt and dis
regard for the Law aud Judicial authority.
ssvsnih,--It eneroAehes upon the righ
Of property and Of contract
Eighth,-II promotes drunkenness and
vice.
These propositions shall prove.
Before proceeding 10 do 90, however,
will state here, that il is the duty Of al
those, Who are convinced Of the psrsins
cioususss Of the law, at once TO adopt q
proper measures for the removal OF thi
nuisance, called Law, and, after organizing
societies,
Flra,-Trom every county 10 the state &
send delegates 10 sufficiently large numoe
with petitions, to Springfield, to appear a
upon day fixed, and 70 ask that the Law b
abolished.
Second, Plainly and urdsrslaudingly I
manifest 20 the returning members of th
Legislature, Who have not worked Sgsins
the law, the disApproval Of their courss.
Third,-To combine with this the declA
ration; that nobody has Any prospect o
ayain becoming member Of the legislA
t1re or Of filing any other Office OF trusl
who has voted for this Law and does nc
pledge himself 70 work for its repeal.
al !. According 10 sections l, s aud
no license can DO granted unless = bon
has been fled in the penal sum Of tire
thousand dollars, signed not only BY IN
party intending TO do business, but also b
at least two good aud responsible freehold
ers, whose entire property is liable Tor ID
payment Of oil damages either to psrIon q
property.
Nov, what citizen would expose himss
10 the many SHARES Of the law, give bou'
cucumber Dis property with q mortgage
and after his death render difficult the Sc
element Of his estate for his children or otl
or heirs, for no other consideration b.
friendship. No matter how rich and y
spousibls the man himself, intending
carry on the business Of selling liquor, ms
be, he must have at least two bondsmsn-
al least two
But section provides: every perso
Who shall by the sale Of Intoxicating
quors, With or without . license, cause tt
iutoHioation Of any other person, shall
liable, s,c.'
49,. ,.n4,..,. ,wfna ~. o;dar has n
license and needs none, bat il he shoul
sell hil vine or cider, and the purchasS
should Afterwards become Intoxicated,
70 subject 70 punishmeui jusi as much q
much az the vine merchant, druggist, hot
keeper or saloon keeper. Bio not tell m
"Ihs Law does not intend such things,' Z,
IL provides for shis 10 section 4, and when
am told that the Law does not mean this,
oAn bui reply tha, then the Law u equiv
oal that It 10 loosely and stupidity draw
n 70 this provision 10 added the one abo
referred 20, which Is 10 form part OF q
laws relative TO municipal corporation
then water, opium, hsshish and chlorAl a
the only thugs that may DO indul ged 10.
al 2. "Ail vs wsni are . few decs
and respectable saloons "
How oousidsra.ol The man who 10 ri
enough and can comply With the rsqail
msnls Of section l, TO conduct place
the sale Of spirituouS liquors, must, 10 VIZ
Of the many risks and dangers TO which
as exposed, Just 80 10 all other branches
business frAught With risks, secure hims
BIZ changing higher prices for his articl,
which he can safely do in view Of the
cressiuE competition. He most charge
20 or 25 cents for . drink, instead Of
cents, aud thus deprive the poor, wss
and exhausted laborer Of an opporiun
to indulge in ihs refreshmens. The lat
MAY drink water, while the legislator
veil afford 70 pay 20 cents 10 satisfy his
sirss. The hard working man, the man
posed 70 the cold, the wet, the furnace 81
is the one who requires the ssimulant;
has no means Of obtaining them, bat
purchasing them by the quart or the gall
he may then, secluded aud quietly get
toxioatsd. He will do il, he can do IL,