The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-06-10
FROM THE BUCKEYE BOY AT MOLINE
License or No License, whichs


To the Editors of The Rock Island Argus:
Temperance is the vital issue of the
hour. Facts are stubborn things, and how
dare one shut his eyes to the deep signif
canoe and momentous consequences grow
ing out of this question | say, therefore.
that the subject ought to be fairly and thor
oughly considered by our city fathers and
his honor the Mayor, j. D., and however
it may be decided, pro or con, as to the
beneficial or mischievous effects of the
crusade movement" that does not relieve
this respectable body of the moral and po-
litical responsibility resting upon them to
know and do the right thing as touches this
grave question.
And, first, reviewing the subject from
the standpoint, the main question that pre-
sents itself is, License or No License !;
Which? Shall the citizens of Moline have
wise and just license regulating the sale
OF spirituous liquors, etc., or tee-total
abstinence prohibition, preventing the sale
OF liquors altogether? The issue is not, as
some say, Free whisky" or NO free
whisky, but a law of temperance in rela-
ton to the temperate use of spirtuOus IL
Quors The extreme prohibition party say
that an evil should not be licensed, and
| admit it. But are pure liquors, in them
selves an evil and a curse? Is alcohol in
small quantities, used medicinally,a poison
Medical science says no. Chemistry says no.
Human observation and experience for
ages past say no. The ultra extremist
however, in the face of reason, common
sense and the united testimony of the pres
ent and all past ages takes the absurd pc
sition that every form of alcohol is rank
poison, and whether taken into the system
in large or small quantities is mischievous
in its effects, both to body and mind. But
why insist upon position which you know
is false? Can you expect good results to
men from teaching them falsehoods? The
truth is what the world needs and one
should not fear to declare it.
First, then, ask, if all spirituous liquors
are unqualifedly poisonous and curse tC
the race, why have the wisest and best OF
all ages and countries throughout the
globe, from generation to generation, made
sold aud used them? Why is it that not
only in our Bible, but in all histories, laws
customs, manners and usages of the most
enlightened of the world, the temperate
use Of wine and liquors is recommended
the Incorporate condemned?
Not only President Grant uses liquors,
but President Washington used them No
only David and Solomon but Jesus anC
Paul used them.
Are pure wines an accursed thing? YOU
all admit that we should touch not, taste
not, handle not the accursed thing.
| then, wine is an accursed thing, why doe,
the church use it as symbol to represent
Christ's pure blood, aud drink it on thu
Lords Day as a religious ordinance?
If it is Satan's broth, why bottle it up
then take it to the temple Of Divine wor
ship and have the saints drink it to purif
them and keep them pure?
| Now, if the people must have total alb
stinence, let it begin at the House of tn
Lord and in the Presidential Mansion.
4 | believe that total abstinence is tn
privilege every one, but 'coercive prohibi
ton is an outrage upon personal liberty
Can you prevent men from planting
vineyards, making wine, and drinking it
Y GU can not The genius of our govern
ment is liberty. Not only popular, but in
dividual sovereignty is claimed The PEG
pie ask that they be protected in the RICH
to life, liberty, and the pursuit Of happi
ness.
Dare you say what your neighbor sha
eat, how much he shall eat, aud how often
Certainly not Then how dare you pre-
scribe him as to his drinks, whether
be tea, coffee, milk, wine or cider, and S
on? TO be sure, you may teach men tn
) laws Of temperance and health in all thing:
nevertheless the God given freedom of tn
individual demands that we leave ever
man free in his private and personal right.
The law is Let every man be persuade
in his own mind" Wherefore, if ma
| makes an unwise use of food, or money
or raiment, or tobacco, or stimulants {
anything else produced by Nature or ar
he must suffer the consequences.
: We reap what we SOW Now if Spirit
f Gus liquors, like thefts murder, or prostitr
ton, is an evil in itself, and produces ev
and evil only, then absolute prohibition
demanded ; but if pure liquors are benei
i cial for many purposes, as the wisest
= this and all past generations agree ar
claim, then license, based upon the prime
pies Of temperance in all things is deman,
t ed by this"Vital issue of the hour, in NJ
=, line. Resp fully, BUCKEYE Boy.
l.