Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-03-25
The Temperance Question.

EDITOR HERALD. The following IS
from the Prairie du CHEN Courier of
a late date, and although would not
sanction such extreme measures as
the Courier advocates, yet something
should be done to prevent whiskey-
dealers from debauching our boys and
young men:
youth of twelve years of age appeared on
| the streets last week in state of beastly in
toxieation The boys parents would be just
flied in decreasing the census one person by
shooting the brute that sold him the liquor.
The ladies of Lancaster, some
months since, agitated the question of
temperance. and right "manfullY" did
they work, and on election day were
successful in establishing what they sup
posed to be Temperance Board. The
order was issued that no license would
be granted. Some of the prominent
lawyers and business men of the town
loudly told the ladies that they were
engaged in a good work; it would
and must succeed; and money Con
paper was raised to defray the ex:
penses arising out of suits brought
against the whiskey-sellers for violat.
ing the village law. Meetings were
frequently held, and every thing was
declared to be in good running order
A temperance marshal was uniformed
with authority to "nip the violaters in
the bud" Let us pause and ask:
"What has been the RESULT" Under
the former system there were a half
dozen saloons, putting into the Golfers
Of the town each year the handsome
sum Of several hundred dollars, and
but little drunkenness was noticeable
on the streets, and not one of those
half dozen saloons were known to har-
Dor and freely give to boys intoxica.
ting liquors. How was it after thenew
Board sscame in, and how is it now ?
The town is deprived of several hun
dred dollars for the purpose of repair
ing side walks, ETC.; whiskey holes
sprang up like mushrooms after
warm shower; in fact so lively was
their business, that the old saloon
keepers became disguised. And
within few months there were more
than dozen places where villianous
poison was administered to drunkards
and boys, and there were, and are
now in this place, two of the yilest
holes to be found this side of Chicago,
where boys secure all the whiskey
they wish and several gallons
more than they ought to have. Not
many nights ago, in one of these
damnable resorts, presided over by an
old grey-haired land-pirate, several
boys, headed by weather-beaten
old drunkard, were huddled together
for several hours enjoying(?) the
fumes Of miserable tobacco and the eff
fects of deadly poison. And this in
a temperance town! And to-day this
old piratical poison dealer has his
pocket full of bills against his young
customers, and says he don't belive he
will collect all of them! What kind
of Town Board have we? Whiskey
is sold freely over the counter, and
with but three or four exceptions,
nothing has been done. 1t is evident
that they either lack manhood and
pluck, or favor the sale of liquor.
Which? Echo answers, "Whlch?"
One marshal has been vanqusled-
driven from the field, the Board fail
ing to sustain him. One man came
near losing his life, another lost ar
ear, and surely the farce has progress
ed nearly far enough. Now, | would
modestly suggest that, if the mothers,
wives and sisters of Lancaster are
really DESTROYS of having a temperance
town, and believe they can succeed,
let them elect Temperance Board,
of men who dare do their duty. Ia
failure to do this, let them grant Ii
cense to reliable men, who will not
deal with confirmed drunkards and
boys, and elect a Board who will see
that saloons conform to the laws to
the very letter. Indeed, the farce
should end. TEE Too Tier.
Lancaster, March 30.
GrrNrrty Sruoor T,rrcoNa TTpJor