The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-08-07


is wrong, injurious and criminal in its
operations, cannot be made right BY
the votes of the people sanetioning it.
They only stultify their civilization. NOR
ality. manhood and Christianity. NO
one can claim Il license TO retail spirits
a. matter of right "-HOTGFd. No
State can claim the prerogative to pro-
tect evil in any form. Albert Barnes
While no one questions the individual
right to drink at pleasure, yet it is not
the province of the State or people to
provide ruinouS drinks. While perfect
right TO commit suicide is conceded, yet
it Is scarcely sane TO think of the State
providing convenient means with which
to perform the deed. Not even mania
for exercising the right to suicide, which
has evidently seized many citizens of
Cincinnati during the past year-would
warrant the legalizing inducements there
To. And yet the legaliZing of the liquor
traffic is no more compatible with good
common sense.
Neither is it ever sufficient plea that
'the universal demand for stimulants
ought to be met by restricted supply
hence the need of a stringent license
law" This demand" is the result of
the supply, and not Uicd CeISI. as is the
law of all legitimate branches of COM
merce. The greater the supply the
greater the demand Gd inJfnitum. The
drink market has never been glutted so
that if society would eXpurgate that
which, is always dangerous in itself, NOR
ally, economically and materially. as
slave-trading, lotteries and gambling
houses, it must also prescribe and not
encourage by legal prestige, the liquor
traffic which is the constantly increasing
source of political, social and moral de-
preston and ruin, having per Sc, grow
ing power for destruction which threat
ems the very existense of government,
SdtHs pOpaIi supreme ter.
This universal demand" being an alb
normal One-the result of stimulants
themselves, and not a normal want of
the physical system, the supply of which
as a drink would add any essential ben
eft to the body, or meet any chemical
or elemental demand of the system,
there is therefore no reasonable pretext
for providing a supply of this fiery bev-
erage which passes through the human
system, doing its depredatiOns without
"A change of its quality-alcOhOl.
Neither can the supply of this bever-
age be placed on the basis of luxuries.
1t is 50 univers ally attended with evil and
only evil continually, that it cannot be
regarded as anything less than a curse,
the fOrbearance with which will be a
shame and reproach to our State.
In all the foregoing arguments we
have had in view the conviction of the
moral and humane citizens, many of
whom desire the promotion of human
interests by the best possible legislation.
The Christian citizen will find all these
intensified many-fold by the truer, high
er and hOlier motives of religion, which
regards not only the mortal, but eternal
welfare of his fellow-beings Let the
noble impulses and exalted reason of
every citizen prevail over questions of
mere eXpedience, present commercial
interests, social relations, or any other
consideration, save that of absolute
right and wrong, and vote
mo LICENSE
The obligation of true citizenship, re-
gardless of party, or social relations, re-
quires continued and persistent OppOsi-
ton to every form of the liquor traffic
to be used as "a beverage, because:
1t is morally wrong and entails ''evi"
and INJURY" upon the pOpulace.
1t contravenes the true principles of
government.
1t prevents the effective administra-
ton of law.
1t underInines the wealth of the State
1t retards moral, religious and material
progress.
1t puts premium on vice and crime.
lt fosters every species of social abOm-
inatiOn.
1t protects disOrderly people and Grim
inals.
1t encourages monOpolies in money.
1t robs the poor and starves the help
less.
1t violates legitimate vested interests.
1t wastes millions of property.
1t burdens society with thousands of
pauEers and criminals.
1t supports the idle and vicious at the
expense of the virtuous and frugal.
1t obliterates great intellects.
1t abolishes peace, happiness and pros
perity from homes.
1t usurps the throne of human power
the will
1t produces untold suffering
Ii tcOmmits arson violence and murder.
Its vOtaries and supporters are party
to all its terrible consequences.
NJ. MCC. BRowN,
q w. G.. r. of OHIO.