The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-05-01
Correspondence. G
TEMPERANCE,
Argument by Deduction for a Pro-
hibitCry Law.

ton appears to he one Oj the absorbing
topics of the day, and of Late
has been discussed quite extensively by
Fred and others, in fhe columns of
Your valuable paper, without any very
perceptibe results: for both sides appear
to be left in u muddlc.
have always been Il practical tenn
peranee man, but never having settled
on any dciiniic plan or theory by which
the temperance movement might be ;c-
CELEBRATED. | have left the matter with
others. But now, having come to the
concluSion-trom the muddled condition
of the Subiect--that | can't make it
worse, will give You Il few IDEAS. which,
if not altogether original, will be none
the less valuable.
( believe that most mems sentiments
or conscicnce-cm be worked upon
more effectualy Y through She pocket than
by any Other way and tlNt rsuSt OF ttc
men who oppose the ''citizeIIs' pledge"
do it because they imagine it will, di
rect,y OF indirectly, affect their p0chcs.
was in California in 1876, when Il vote
was taken on Il prohihitorv liquor law.
Throughout all of the mining counties
strong drink was in almost universal
use Thousands of men who had left
their families at home and come to the
mines 10 make money to support them.
found themselves constantly thrown
into temptation which they Were not
able to resist, and they consequently
spent all they male Ii the temptation
WAS removed, they knew they could
prosper. The consequence WAS, that,
contrary 20 al expectation, rhc appar-
entity reckless, Incorporate mining conn
ties all voted Il large majority in favor
of prohibition: but, st.ll, when the re-
turns were all in, the anti-prohibilinuists
had Il majority. Then people began to
inquire the reason, when il WAS found
that the effect it was supposed the
measure would haze on thc pocket. had
more influence than all the preaching
that could be done. The farmers in the
valleys supposed that it would reduce
the price OF barley and other grain,
grapes, &c. il the manufacture nf whi>-
Ky. lager beer, VINE, &c, was stopped,
anu t'-iN'' 'hi'HhiN my ''''' h'AAi''''
unanimously against the law. The peo-
pie OF the cities thought they could not
have so good an opportunity to fleece
the miner of his hard earned gold il hc
remained sober. ;l> when drunk. hope
to the day that we will have Il strict
prohibition liquor law-not only in the
State of Missouri. but NIL over the
Union. We need something that will
cut Oft the ''tap root. Of both the "Sup-
ply and the demand
How stands the matter between the
rum seller aId the rum driuEcr? Is the
relation one Cd which the Government
may ii:-;iy slkc cugIiAmcc Let Us
see. The inevitable effect OF the intro
dlution oi alcoholic drinks into the
Stomach Is 10 excite thcnrTyou, system:
it does thi, because Is inliycstiDlr.
1t passes, is it i when tll"i,- into the
circulation. Il is alcohol when il en-
tiers the stomach. and rot Il whit less 80
whcll il enters the braun by means of the
blood. In pyoportion to its quantity, it
di>turbS and units g!ic person who has
taken it Tor = duties. lie is Lifted by
it into Il state where he is the victim of
the ""Gssest illusions, or he i sunk to Il
condition below the beast. do not
deny that men may drink il in Il certain
quantity, and yet, after Il sort, do their
duty TO. acceptance with sGcIrty: but |
do deny that any man Is, as wcl able t.
do his duty with il ;ls without il: and.
therefore. just To the degree th:: il dis
ibles him from taxing c.lrc OF himself
care of him. But there is another effect
Of alcohol not less diaboliral than ths
one allualed IL. 1t pcrpctultcS itself: il
creates Il necessity for its continuance
He who drinks it Il lit" while in small
quantities, will find that he must increase
the quantity and frequency of his dram.
In this respect il acts like all other poiS-
on: the system accommodates itself to
the poison, and leaves it in>ihiouslv to
work its own overthrow. Thus its Use
takes from the user, his power of self
control. Were this effect only casual,
accid d.ntal. happening ut great intervals,
and leaving great gaps between, it
might puzzle one to decide about tnc
right Ci the Government Ia SAY To the
drinkcr: Thou shalt not drink But
its effect is sire. Fire does not more
certainly consume wood; carbonic acid
gas is not more deadly to the lungs ::
iron will not more certainly sink in
water, than alcohol will, Us Il drink, in
crease its own demand with the drHk-
er, ;trd,end in unaitting him to take care
of himself Ii this is so. then the Gov
ernmsnc. may prohibit its use on the
same grounds that it would prevent a
powdev mill being erected near the pub
liz Square OF Savannah. When a
(NveGA,nentk knows that Il certain course
broGuGAs s,cer;linresults, if those results
inakeSt obligatory to interfere, it, may