National Republican., 1873-10-03
COLD WATER MEN.
TEMPERANCE MEN IN THE FIELD.

Governor.
wAsunoros. D. c.. September 70. is7a
DEAR srR; Governor shepherd directs me to
acknowledge the receipt OF your request Of the
2eth instant, for the appointment OF at least one
representative OF the prohibition sentiment 10
each precinct a. Judge OF election, and state tnM
he will endeavor to make such appointments 70 |
the positions as will be acceptable TO all Glasses
yrry '' iraS' wx. TrspALL-
Secretary to Governor.
Mr. lynch from The cAInpaipn committee, re-
ported progress in arranging Tor meetings in the
several districts, including q mass meeting ~
MaIinl's hall on saturday evening; ;. ,naorsed ss
suitable for the support OF the Inrnus w,. y, 'vu
pcpnce; Flrst district, frcder,ek DVus s,s,h
trici: A. II Ta,Ior: Seventh district, George W.
Dyer; Ninth district, =. N. leatman; Eieyenth
district CharlesJ brswsr; Ihfeense s.,,,o o.sa
Alexander; Fifteenth district, George savage;
sixteenth district, A. 4. wheelocki Elghtesnih |
,iistfIct ". II. Hunt; Nineteenth district, 3. q.
Mlils; Twentieth district, Hawkins Taylor.
Reports from the remaining districts being |
made that no decisions had been arrived At re. |
garding candidates, they were laid over Tor |
future consideration and action.
me printing committee reported that they had
os14red ten thousand copies OF the following
sppRrss TO TUE CITIZENS AND VOTERS OF THE DIS
TMCr OF COLUMBIA.
Without controversy, great Is the evil OF
drunkenness. II Ia conceded by all men every
where that intempefance is deplorable vice,
sS, ~ regs I 20 ne means ana nna
~nre the evil. there Ia snd always has been dif
ferent and conflicting opinions.
LIcsssk SYSTEM.
For many years the current belief has been
strained @ and S regulated m % ~ license laws, more or
less stringent; hence the numerous statutes
which have been enacted by the different States
and communities. having this end In view.
The people for generations and for centuries
have tried this experiment, only TO be cheated In
the end, and TO nud, everywhere and always,
failure. Permit an evil, and II will grow and
thrive In spite OF attempted restraints. 1T Is
traiic an inch and il VIII take an ELL tolerated
eyll soon becomes an Oyermnstering and giant
wrong. II Is impossible TO regulate an lrregu.
IL. 1t Is impatient Of restraint, and when the
greed OF gain Is once awakened II grows ram
pant, and VIII brook no interference with n, i,s
selfish purposes. Therefore the license system
IN no instance has operated to check the growth
OF intcmperance or TO lessen the crime Of drunk
mighty wrongs on % snS W terrible % results, has grown
with the growth OF the nation and strengthened
with Its strength, till we have more than mil:
Of these poor, deluded, God-forsaken creatures
fall annually into dtunkards graves. Thls 10 no
oyer,rawn picture, and startling As s and
should be, to all thoughtful and rehecung peo-
pie, y Is nevertheless solemn realty and 4
veritable fact.
WHAT SHALL De DosEf
without wasting words 10 further elucidate
and enforce the above statement OF admlieI
truths, we come directly TO the inquiry which
addresses itself with force At this time TO the
people OF the District Of Columbia. what shall be
put putt " stop stop To- to t 1he ieseiized Al % msnaisctaro Of
dTunkaTds?
Il is an oil and accepted maxim, old at least
1I"-"Tho welfare of the people Is the supreme
law"
PROHIBITION.
.a..-0u
our conviction and belief that 4 stringent pro-
hihiiory law, generally and thoroughly enforced,
Is the true and successful method OF dealing
with the manufacture and sale OF intoxicating
drinks. And from what we know OF the opera
lions OF the prohbitive policy In states where II
has been tried, we come squarely to the concln.
sion that II must, at no distant day, become the
ultimate policy lu all the states OF this Union,
and also OF the National Government In say
ing this much Of prohibiton, we do not ,Iss lose
to bo operative and effective for public good
must march abreast with public opinion.
LOCAL OPTION AND DAMAGE LAWS.
In several States they are trying ''local op-
law; and Testimony from ali quarters where this
damage law Is being tried Is that much good is
accomplished. Perhaps, at this time this is all
ance legislation In the District Of Columbia.
These provisions OF law to which we allude
and which are now being tried In several OF the
states, contain so much restrictive force As to
amount In many respects to prohbitory statutes.
They provide for the recovery Of damages by
the wife or children for liquor sold to the nus
They compel, as we understand, in some in
stances, the liquor-seler TO provide suitable ac-
cOmmodations IN his house for the care and pro-
lection Of those VINO become intoxicated while
under hts roof, or those who may enter these
dram-shops under the influence OF liquor:
The keepers OF rum-snops are placed under
such bonds as will secure the payment OF all
damages that may be obtained against the deal
Known ntemperate n % habits, % oT 70 those ' who are re
known to spend their earnings for liquor, thereby
leaving their families in destitutioh. II is pro-
vided also that liquors shall not be sold 10 per-
sons Of unsound mind nor to minors.
Believing that a law Of this character may be
speedily enacted " the temperate and sober.
minded citizens and voters OF this District will
do their duty, and that It will do much good and
prepare the way for something better aud more
comprehensive in future, we call the attention OF
temperance nen Of all parties to this opportune
occasion, and ask them to see to II that the right
men are nominated In all the Assembly districts,
who, when elected, will vote for this damage law,
II not for more restrictive policy.
DEFEcrs IN IuE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
Our object, then, In addressing you at this time
is 10 recall to your memory the TACT that nearly
all the defects In our District government and
Its management are traceable TO the manufac-
ture, sale and consumption Of intoxicating IL
. quors. We see dram-shops thrive In the vicinity
OF our public oiilces, our courts OF Justice both
criminal aud civil, and their baneful influence Is
especially felt In the selection Of candidates Of
ali political parties for our surages In the cleo
has come TO this, As we ali well know, that those
electors who wish to preserve their self-respect
dare not enter the contest and wade through the
puTleus OF vice and drunkenness to secure the
nomination OF candidates who are fitted to be-
come the conservators of public morals and aid
in the suppression Of vice. The influence Of the
liquor tTaffc invades all our political caucuses
and primary elections, and debauchss both citi-
zen aud candidate, until politician and tippler
words, where you Ind an active politician You
are pretty sure to md man who drinks or en-
courages drinking In others. The result Is gen.
eral iooseness OF morals In government ofrcers
and employees. The influence Of rum-drinking
IL so debasing that lis victims are sure to pro-
ess with greater g, or 1sss TsPai upon the
The evidence OF these facts Is so patent to oil
sober minds that no argument Is necessary to
produce conviction.
DETERMINED EFFORT.
We have determined tat IN effort shall be
made TO stay this diabolical influence, which
seems TO have fastened ITSELF like an incubus,
upon the society and government OF our beau
It shall be made now. We are aware that, to
succeed, II must be united In BY all those who
compose the better classes OF the community,
and il IL for this reason that we now make this
appeal for pledged pronounced temperance men
for oflice. ,,-,,
and beautiful city, worthy TO be the capital Of
great and free people. What constitutes great
aGd beautiful city2 Is It broad avenues and
handsome and cleanly streeis7 Is it magnificent
public and private buildings7 Is 1t banks and
houses Of merchandise, and granaries Of wealth,
and outward show aud pOmp aud circumstance,
while beneath the surface drunkenness, crime
and corruption run riot end cry TO heaven for
vengeance? IA II not rather a healthy physical
and moral manhood AMI wOmanhood, such as
does not coexist with drunkenness, debauchery
and cTimef
NO SIDE ISSUE.
In presenting this appeal to the people, breyIty
requires us TO he succlnct In statement, logical
and tersc In argument, candid and forcible In
utterance. We know that the adherents OF ex-
istipR parties will carp at us, and allege that
ours is q side issue-that II Is an attempt on our
part TO carry religion and morals into politics,
and 10 seek by legislative interference to con.
troll the personal and private habits and conduct
OF the people. We are told that these things
belong to the domain OF the preacher, the
teacher and the moral reformer, and that moral
suasIon is the agency and instrumentality by
which and with which the drunkard Is TO be
reached aud intemperanoe removed, II removed
at all. ,,
This argument Ia both specious and sophistical,
and the most casual observer cannot fail to see
that this reasoning, II not side issue, Is false
one.
WHAT PLEAsEs RuM.sELLERs.
srbere are thoae who cOmplAin that we are /