Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-03-22
Address to the Voters of Mineral
Point.

lei4s uSA ieCllel action Is neCeS-
sary But, as i'll the greater affairs
Of nations, no radical charge in
government is desirable ualess oc-
casions arise such as to demand
prompt efforts in the direction OF
reform. Whether the present juno
ture IN our City history does or does
not call for the exercise Of reform
atory measures is question which
ought to engage your most earnest
and serious attention. These facts
are submitted 70 Your candid con-
sideration
During the past year nowithstand-
ing the most solemn promises given
by officers Of the law and by dealers
IA an article not necessary to be
named, the restrictive ordinances Of
the City and the State have been
perststently ignored. The City laws
commanded the closing Of saloons
after certain unreasonable hours !:
the State laws commanded the stop
page Of the liquor traffic upon Ger
tain holidays and upon one day Ct
the week, held sacred in all enlight-
ened communities to the great
Father Of Mankind.
Men in state Of intoXication
have been shamelessly allowed to
walk about the streets threatening
destruction to the lives and prop
erty Of respectable eitizeus,rendering
the very thoroughfares unsafe at all
times, especially 10 the weak and
timid. Nor would this fact seem 50
unbearable did not some Of the very
officers themselves ilagrantly violate
the laws and ordinances, and appear
before all men under the influence
OF the stuff that makes men mad
Il is true, that in exceptional in
stances the poor and friendless have
been placed il duranee vile for the
commission Of some real or fancied
breach Of the peace, but the power
ful and wealthy have been permitted
70 indulge IN the widest excuses,
no restraint being attempted beyond
the mildes. remonstrances.
After such exhibitions ought the
dealers III alcoholic beverages COM
plain Of persecution If the plain
rights Of society to be secure in life,
liberty and the pursuit Of happiness
are demanded After fair trial Of
license and the conse-
quent multiplication Of disgraceful
and degrading scenes, produced hy I
the abandonment Of the dearest
civil privileges, in order to the
Of few. who clamor
for q liberty that has no foundation
IN justice, it seems as if the time had
now come when the stern but right
aous good sense Of our citizens
should arise and proclaim that the
rights Of the many arc beyond and
above those Of the few that re-
and duties are not to
y regarded as the idle wind, but
lre intended for the general good
hat the well-diroctea efforts Of good
,itizens should be put forth at the
election to place in
,tlice men who will SEQ to it that
He laws shall be more esteemed and
lie reputation Of the City shall ba
otherwise than q byword and
Your attention is called 10 the
irket placed in nomination at the
temperance Caucus held il this
lily On Monday evening, March Is.
ahe men there named afenot pledged
. the abolition II tie liquor traffic
i this City, but they earnestly H..
1--we u TIE necessity IF keeping the
anne within reasonable bounds, 1T
. personal prejudice be allowed
. influence you il your choice
u City officers, Int bear il mind