Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-02-27
SHALL WHISKY se ABOLISHED,

SHALL WHISKY De AB0usneD7
IL the Question witch the LeGislatsre el
Wisconsin Csntemplstes Asking
the People.
Chicago Inter-Ocean
The Wisconsin state Legislature appointed
joint select committee . short time sgo To
inquire into the expediency and legality Of
submitting TO the people the question Of
placing in the state conslitution clause pro-
hibiting the manufacture snd sale Of in,oxi-
eating liquors.
A majority of the committee have made n
report favorable to the proposition, and urg-
ing the adoption of resolution providing
for such submission. The r. port Is remark
ably able, bristles with authorities, closely
condensed, and presents an array Of statis-
tics that is very formidable. In regard to
the propriety Of submitting the question to
the people, the committee say:
| Every government on the globe that is re-
publican in form that il OF, ani for the peo-
pie, has and does recognize the right Of pc
titioD, and the right Of the people to petition
their agents being admitted, the duty Of the
agent to respect and to grant the prayer OF
the petitioner or resign bis agency is eetab-
liahed, provided the thing or measure of re.
lief asked for is not clearly aud uDd.nisb ,
destructive of some we'll established princi-
pie Of constitutional law.
In this instance, 81, ,498 citizens, besides q
score or more Of societies and three inpor
tant branches Of the Christian church,
have in a respectful manner asked this
legislature, not to l-eislats upon the ques.
tion Of temperance, but to provide the ma.
chinery by which the voters Of the stat.
may settle il in accordance with the will OF
the majority.
They therefore think it the duty Of the
legislature to comply with the ,equest
As showing the right of the state to pro-
hibit, and some Of the reasons for such
prohibition. the committee say:
The right to prohibit il conceded BY
every civilized nation on the globe, as To-
centuries they have legislated to restrai,
and control the traffic, aud the right 10 cir
eumscribe and control presupposes the righ
TO entirely prohibit.
Judge Tsney sald: "If any state deem
ous to it's citixens, and calculated to pro
duce idleness, vice and debauchery, se
nothing in the constitution (of the Z. 81 {,
prevent il from regulating aud restrainin,
the traffic. or from prohibiting it al,oge,he
il it thinks proper"
Judge Woodbury. says. "Tba; the sta,
may seize aud Ge.,Ioy anything which i
Likely I" Cause dIsense end desth."
"Whatever threatens The state mus, b
resisted."
'rhe power essential to self-preservat;o
exist. In every organized ccmmuni'y"
'NeO and e,aies may resist that whic
approaches IL do it harm"
Your committee nelreve that The use {
alcoholic beverages IS undeniably and inc
vitably trjnrious To an Overwhelmipgl
large msj ,ritv of our citizeps who use IL
that it is destructive Of the general welfare
II Increases taxes, II rducates Grim minal, i
endanRers life. 1t endsnRers property, it c.
! etr0ys public morals, it blasts character,
destroys the nice sense OF honor that shoul.
be felt by and govern the conduct Of GU
public nen. and that it is reprosch to GU
civilization.
That it hangs like an Incubus on labor
robs industry Of It's reward; produces psu.
perism aud crime.
That is public evil. sftecting every ci,i
zen, every industrial interest, aud ipjur-
ious approaches every citizen, every family
every community, and the entire common
wealth.
Commissioner Delano estimated the con
sumption Of distilled spirits at sO,OuO. .OO(
gallons in 1859; and by The census report,
We learn there was produced in the United
States 80, 4l2,5Sl gallons of domestic spiri,s
in the year 1860. The estimated retail
cost of alcoholic drinks in 1872 was S735.
72O,048 and from 1860 to lS72-thir,eer
years-2,76 926 O66 gallons were consumed
at cost of $3.50, l6l sos. The annua
consumption Of distilled spirits is no, les
than loo, ,000 900 gallons.
DR.. Young estimates the annual cost Of al
coholic drinks in this country at $500, 600,
600.
There are 100000 habitual drunkards
and $4,000 persons constantly disabled b,
the use of intoxicants. 1t creates each
year an army Of 9,33S maniacs, and l2O, ,OO(
persons are annually left widowed or or
phaned and dependent on public charity BY
this traffic
The United States commissioners Of educs
tion says that from so to 80 per cent Of ou
criminals connect the causes of their Grim,
with intemperance."
An English Judge says: Every Grim,
has ita orlgn, more or less, in drunkenness.
The Hon. G. PARK. of Massachusetts
declares hat"nine,y.aine one huDdredthso o.
, al crimes spring from iDtempersnce
The chaplain ot the stale prison Of Massa
chusetts test6es that nineteen twentieths q
: the crimes committed BY those ucder hi,
care arose from the use of alcoholic drinks
The committee cite long list of aut6ori
ties beside the above, affirming tie power q
y state to forbid such ssles. smopg them on
Of their own supreme court of Wisconsin,
declaring that the legislature, AZ sn exercis
!: of the police power. may entirely prohibi
tue selling or giving away OF ardent or 10
: toxicating liquors TO be used 10 beverage
}. Indeed. the authorities In support Of ih
power to prohibit seem ample. and the onl
questioa remaining 10 that Of the destrabilit
or practicsbili,y Of the prohibition.