The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-02-15
Local Option Beneficial.

Editors Democratic StdteSmdn-The
following positive, emphatic and relia-
BILE testimony, taken from official re-
ports and documents, confirm the
opinion that prohibitory laws are con-
ducive to the welfare and happiness of
the people. Maryland has a local OPP
ton law, and several counties have
voted to utterly prohibit the traffic in
ardent spirits. Mr.. J. N. Emerson, of
Denton county, writing to Hon. w.
Daniel, says: "There is not drop of
alcoholic stimulants sold in this county,
and the contrast between tho past ard
present is wonder to those accustomed
to behold the scenes of but q few years
ago. At the late sitting of the grand
jury for this county there was not
single case of assault and battery be.
fore them, nor a single complaint
of violation of the public
peace. Our Jail Is without a
tenant, and has been for the past six
months" When the law had been in
operation five months the beneficial
effects were plainly seen. In Talbot
county they had discharged the last
inmate of the Jail, and the jailer had
gone back to work on his farm. Caro-
line county had prisoner in its Jail.
The bill of expenses due the jailer IN
Worcester county for the five months
previous to the taking effect of the
law was $500, and for the five months
after but $50. Greeley, Colorado, has
population of 5000, and there is not
saloon in the. place. There are no
poor, and no police needed. There
are many towns in the Western States
founded and carried on with title
deeds which absolutely prohibit the
sale of intoxicating liquors, and such
towns excel in thrift, prosperity
and morals far above whisky-sellIng
towns IN the same region. In Bavaria,
Illinois, town of 1000 inhabitants,
there is not single drinking saloon.
"There is not pauper or a person re-
quiring assistance from his fellows.
On the contrary, the people of the
town own the houses they live in, and
are free from debts of all kinds" The
New Haven Conn Ad0Ocate, speaking
of the prohibitorY law, says: "The
diminution of lntemperance, the reduc-
ton of crime and pauperism, the bet
ter observance of the Sabbath, are the
themes of rejoicing from every quarter.
Men who voted against the law, and
who have ever been its bitter oppo-
nents, are now its firm friends" This
is the testimony that comes up from
| towns, counties and States where the
law has been enforced. In few weeks
we will be called upon to vote for
or against prohibitory law. "What
are you going to do about it?" The
enemy is crafty and powerful, and it
will require united effort to overthrow
and defeat him. Let none, therefore,
who have the welfare of the country at
heart, let none who desire the pros
perity of our beautiful city, let none
who desire the easing Of burdens that
rest upon them individually as tax
payers, remain inactive during the
present contest. Let your motto be,
"You shall cease from this fatal work. "
You know that whisky beggars fam!-
lies; you know that it ruins the pros
perity and morals of our city; there
fore vote to Danish it, and young men
and husband and fathers debauched
and lured to ruin, homes made desc
late, hearts broken and lives sacrificed
by the traffic will be known no more,
and the bow of promise, betokening
purity and peace, soon be stretched in
all its beauty and brightness across the
moral heavens. HARD BRICKS.