Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-03-20
Address to the Voters ofMiueraI
Point.

Point.
There are times in Municipal af.
fairs when decided action is neces-
sary. But, as in the greater affairs
OF nations, no radical change in
government is desirable unless 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 to your candid con.
sideration:
During the past year nowithstand-
ing the most solemn promises given
by officers OF the law and by dealers
in an article not necessary to be
named, the restrictive ordinances of
the City and the State have been
perslstently 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 Of
the week, held sacred in all enlight-
ened communities to the great
Father of Mankind.
Men in a state OF intoxication
have been shamelsssly allowed to
walk about the streets threatening
destruction to the lives and pror-
erty of respectable citizens, s,rendering
the very thoroughfares unsafe at oil
times, especially to the weak and
timid. Nor would this fact seem 80
unbearable didinot .some,of the very
officers themselves Aagrantly violate
the laws and ordinances, and appear
before all men under the influence
of tho stuff that makes men mad.
It is true,. that in exceptional In
stances tho poor and friendless have
| been placed in durance vile for tile
commission OF some real or fancied
breach Of the peace, but the power
'ful and wealthy have,been permitted
to indulge in the widest eAcesses,
no restraint beiug attempted beyond
the mildes. remonstrsnces.
After such exhibitions ought tho
dealers in alcoholic beverages COM
plain Of persecution If tho plain
rights Of society to be secure in life,
liberty and the pursuit OF happiness
are demanded After fair trial of
unrestricted license and the conse-
quent multiplication Of disgraceful
and degrading scenes, produced by
the abandonment of the dearest
civil privileges, in order to the
enrichment of o few, who clamor
for liberty that has no foundation
in Justice, it seem as if the time had
now come when the stern but right
eous good sense OF our citizens
should arise and proclaim that the
rights of the many are beyond and
above those Of the few that re-
strictions and duties are not to
be regaId ded as the idle wind. tut
are intended for the general good ;
that the we'll l-directed efforts of good
citizens should be put forth ut the
approaching election to place in
office men who will see to it that
the laws shall be more esteemed and
the reputation of the City shall be
otherwise than byword and q
reproach.
Your attention is called to the
ticket placed in nomination at the
Temperance Caucus held in this
City on Monday evening. March lS.
The men there named are not pledged
to the abolition OF the liquor traffic
il this City, but they earnestly be-
Iieve in the necessity of keeping tho
same within reasonable bounds. Let
no personal predjudice be allowed
10 influence you in in your choice
for Citv officers. but bear in miud