Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-02-24
Minnesota Correspondence.

The weather constantly reminds US
Of spring. The birds are coming.
Mlnnesotians seldom have so mild a
winter as this. The thermometer.
yesterday before sunrise stood 80 ,
above zero, and is often IS , above
zero in early morning. We have not
had as much snow as usual, but in
tbs locality we have had sleighine
most of the winter.
TEMPERANCE.
God is now answering the prayers
that have oeen offered for temperance
10 this little city where many saloons
have long flourished undisturbed.
\ sudden movement to sign the
pledge commenced among the drink
in. men who promised to abstain
from alcohol one year; and they are
daily trying to win their associates /;
their club now number 40 members,
and the work is going on rapidly.
At recent meeting OF their society,
one Of the members Gin his remarks.
said he had III the course of his life,
drank enough to buy 1000 barrels of
flour At s. per barrel, or to buy two
such farms ~ the County Poor
Farm. Nearly all this club were
drinking men, The saloon keepers
are astonished at their prospects, and
some are enraged. We hope to see
them soon obliged to seek an honora-
bic employment, that they and their
former customers may become men of
usefulness, and their families shine
out in the blessedness of pure associa-
tons.
Oar legislature passed a bill taxing
liquor.sellers to build an Inebriate
Asylum but the opposcrs are now
striving to repeal it. The whisky
ring are too much hardened in sin
to willingly build shelter for their
ruined victims. They rather see
them robbed of money, manliness,
totter to the drunkards grave, than
refund little Of their ill-gotten gain.
But some of our temperance men
are opposed to building an Inebriate
Asylum, believing the liquor-traffic is
not lawful and must soon cease, when
we shall have no need of a drunk
ards home. All hail to that day !!
We have a local option law, but
public opinion has not yet received
sufficient moral training to arouse
and enforce il here. But how long
will it be before people will see
plainly that these drunken houses are
public nuisances and treat them as
such ? Nests Of highway robbers
ensconced about the sidewalks, could
not work the devastations these
10 ns are making, as they spread
their ruby colors in the windows, and
send out their whisky breath upon
the passers-by, to ensnare the inno-
cent and lead back to ruin those who
long to escape temptation, and be
free from horrid appetite that gnaws
at their yitals. What ruin is there
wrought What place to prepare
to break the law, and make beggars
and criminals.
If a team break away, destroying
property Of others, we know who is
responsible and must make repara-
ton. But the liquor-sellers vends
the draught that blinds the victims
reason, brings him to perjury, robs
his wife and children Of home, food
and clothing, and then other men
must toll and sweat to support these
paupers The county is burdened
with taxes TO prevent crime, take care
of criminals and paupers and no
one is safe from insult. There in the
saloon il the place where idleness
vice and debauchery are encouraged,
there is where hope and love and
everything dear to life and happiness
are all sold for alcohol and eternal
death Language cannot describe
the horrors that the traffic in ardent
spirits brings upon us. To call it a
"public nuisance" is the very mildest
name a law abiding citizen can give
il. Let il be treated as such. That
prohibtory laws are perfectly constitu
tional, we have the highest authority.
Chief Justice fancy said "If any
state deems the retail and internal
traffic in ardent spirits injuries to its
citizens, aud calculated to produce
idloness, vice or debauchery, see
nothing in the constitution of the
United States to prevent it from reg
ulating or restraining the traffic, or
prohibiting it altogether if it thinks
proper" This power Of the Stste is
also recognized by Justice MeLeen,
I Daniels, Woodbury., and Grier.
The Supreme Court of New Jersey,
in 1872 nobly proclaimed this truth ;
That however absolute may be the
owners title to his property, he holds
it under the implied condition 'that
its use shall not work injury to the
equal enjoyment and safety of others,
who have an equal right to enjoy
ment Of their property, nor be injuri
Gus to the community"
WILD BIRD.
/ Fairbault. Mimi, Feb. II, 1876.