The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-10-04
THE PROHIBITION PARTY.
The Argument for Political Temperance
Letter from Hon. Austin Wiley, the
Prohibition Candidate for
Governor
Editor inti-Monopoiist:

W CllC w WILDLY vi IllC StdUG. DClOIC IL
is twenty -one years of age the state has
over 200 breweries scattered over it's
settled portions. According to official
facts and estimates they are making
1900, 900 gallons year. The same
authorities estimate the importation
at 100000, which added, gives, y
100000 gallons Of beer drank yearly in
the state, costing not less than 81
100000. They place other liquors at
an equal cost, making the enormous
liquor tax of Minnesota over So, 900, 900
About $4,000 bushels Of grain are not
burned up, but rOtted into intOXicant
poison yearly in Minnesota; grain for
which we pray and give thanks, and
for which 10000 of our population are
suffering, and millions abroad are
starving. Add to this the loss of pro-
luctive capital and labor, pauperism,
judicial cssts, ETC., and we get a
glimpse of what we are about. Ten
millions a year is the lowest figure!
Shall anything be done about it!
But no numbers can tell the phySi-
cal, mental and moral consequences of
this ''gigantic crime of crimes as it
W do CttIlCu LII UIlC - -. oNlIctCCs 1Autt-
cation becomes but capacity for evil;
moral instincts and religious impress
ion are eXtinguished: human affection
is killed, and reason shipWrecked. 1t
trains thousands of young men into
tramps; sends alienation. misery and
ruin into domestic life, intlicting woes
upon women which the OmniScient
alone sees or measures. Crime, lnSan-
ity, disease and death close the earthly
scene. Insurance statistics show that
drinking reduces the average of life
ten years. If we have but 10000
liquor drinkers, then we are destroy
ing 100 600 years of human life! In
the name of a decent civilization ought
such a horrible state of things to be
tolerated and allowed 20 root still deep,
er in the life of the state!
Instead of employing the whole ar
tillery Of civil power for its extermi-
nation, the state protects this business
with breastwork of statutes, confer
ring upon special rights, shielding it
from the common law, and authorize
ing men for fee to tempt, seduce,
kill, to crafty Il pernicious appetite
Of the deluded victim, and put mon
ey in their purse with no equivalent
but torment. The state thus becomes
a partner in the crime, duplicating
every asserting voter. The response
bility lies in the sovereignty. We
have legalized distributing agents of
evil in the state equal to one for every
thirty nine voters.
And political society revolves upon
the same plane. The liquor power of
the state is too ftrong for resistance
by either of the other parties. To
make an issue with it, even by plac-
ing liquor drinkers at discount in NOM
nations, would quickly destroy them.
The late brewers national congress
declared for Il ''SOund license policy,
and that they would "'vote for no man
who was opposed to it, This position
is held in Minnesota, and these parties
cannot oppose it if they would. and
certainly they will not attempt it as
long as they can get temperance votes
without it.
The position of the Republican par
tv is thus defined in State convention.
'.Res0ired, that the customs and
habits of people cannot be abridged by
prohibitory or sumptuary laws, and
that the legislature cannot interfere
with such habits and customs without
transcending the legitimate sphere of
Legislative power.
The national party by resolution
holds the same position. the character
of which will be clear by snpposing
stealing as much ''custom' as liquor
selling. No one will claim that the
Democratic party is any better.
That this is a political as we'll as
moral subject is evident from its own
nature. and the history of the states
and nation. And this is affirmed by
the Judges of the supreme court of
control of the liquor traffic is right
OF the states to tolerate or entirely
prohibit. as they please. No rights
are violated.
Judges Tanes. Mclean. Carton.
Daniels. and Grier, agree substantial
ly in saying: 1t is not necessary to
array the appalling statistics of mis-
cry, pauperism. and crime. which
have their origin in the use and abuse
OF ardent spirits. The police power.
winch IS exclusively in the state. is
competent TO the correction of these
evils. and all measures of restraint or
prohlOluon necessary to effect that
purpose. are within the scope of that
authority; and if a loss of revenue
should accrue. she will be a gamer a
thousand fold in the health. wealth.
and happiness of the people,"
%. Howard. ST.. 500. 1927 The
system of enormous wrong then stands
before the people at the ballot box.
What shall they do! If they vote
with the principal parties they vote
to let it alone. and vote down their
temperance professors. The object of
law, as ordained by God and man. is
the protection of rights and the pun
ishment of wrongs: but with those
parri pS they muSr vote ip1OuOirv e