Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-20

Mr. Bertrand disavowed any intention of in
sultlng the ladies, reiterating his statement
mat his purpose was to bring the matter up
for discussion.
The motion was then lost-yeas 16; nays 6s.
The affirmative votes were: Messrs. L. L. Bax-
ter, Bertrand, Bohland, Boser, Butler. George,
hill, Huhn, Hyland, Jones. Kauphusman,
beck.
Mr.. HUM thought this the most savage piece
OF legislation he had ever heard of. Its effect
would be to destroy legitimate business. It
gave the privilege of drinking liquor to any
maa who was willing to assert that he had the
belly ache, and denied it to an honest man who
refused to resort to such a deception. The
worst effect, however, would be to compel
people to look for substit lite. If they could
not get beer aud light wines they would take
whisky; i they could not get whisky they
would take alcohol; if they could not get that
they would get morphine and opium. Since
the Prohibitory law had been in force in New
England the consumption of morphine had in
creased from 100 to 800 pounds, a sufficient
amount to kill 1000 men. The temperance
orlnks now consumed were far more injurious
to health and had ruined more constitutions
than whisky ever had. He spoke from ex-
Perlenoe and knowledge when he stated that
the temperance bitters 80 largely consumed
contained more alcohol than ordinary whisky,
and were far more ruinous to health. But the
chief objection to the bill was that it could not
be enforced. You may legislate what man
shall eat ana drink, but you cannot enforce
that legislation. You may lead horse to the
water, but you cannot make him drink.
DIR. R1LEY's SPEECH
Mr.. Riley spoke at length. He would op-
pose the bill. He believed it to be one Of the
most damnable things ever forcel down the
throats OF a law-abiding people. He was OPP
posed to 1T IN It's every section, from first TO
last, on conscientious principles. He is ply
SLOAN, and knew whereof he spoke. In the
hrst place. it would have the effect of killing
a legitimate and honorable industry. In the
district where he resided there were large
number of Germans who had come from the
old country and planted grapes, and now there
were magnificent vineyards stretching all
along the hillsides, where formerly there was
not grass enough to feed sheep. They raised
large quantities of very fine grapes, which they
all over the country. They make very fine
wine, too, and he loved to drink it, because he
thought it did him good. (Lnughter.) He
didn't propose to mince his words. That
wasn't the sort of man he was. (Laughter.)
This legislation would destroy those vineyards
of his constituents. 1t was like that proposed
In New England several years ago when it was
proposed to cut down the apple trees because
some tramps went around begging hard cider
Tor lnebriating purposes. Such law would
destroy 25O,OOO trees in the State of Mime
sofa.
'The first legitimate information 1 have"
proceeded the speaker, ''of the manufacture of
before his disciples and commanded them to
drink. Let us follow his example and it will
do us good. Give strong drink to him that
is ready to perish, and wine to those that be of
heavy hearts," Naughter.)
Now let us consider whisky and alcohol
that good old American drink. Laughter.)
[ was born in Southern Illinois several years
ago. My father before me was distiller, and
almost the first thing that my eyes rested on
after was born was still. My father never
sat down to dinner without bottle of whisky
on the table, and we all drank it. Ever since
can remember I have been in the habit of
taking drink Of whisky, wine or beer every
ten it. (Laughter.) They say that whisky
kills men and bloats them. It hasn't
killed me, and I ask any men,
Der Of the House to say if he thinks it has
bloated me. Great laughter) I don't look
bloated. (Renewed merriment.) I am a ply
sician, and have no hesltancy in saying that
whisky is the most vitalizing Of stimulants.
When man receives injuries the first thing a
physician does is to give him a little whisky for
the purpose OF putting his blood in circulation.
Perhaps it may be necessary to pass law to
protect those miserable drunkards who cannot
protect themselves, but it is not necessary to
restrain Others of their liberty to take drink
be good thing, but it should not be carried
too far. This bill reminds me of the man who
was in the habit of getting drunk every night.
When he had got comfortably full he would try
co mount his horse, exclaiming as he did So,
God help me!' But one night he was not as
drunk as usual, and miscalculated his distance,
falling on the opposite side of his horse, when
he added tn his ttPrt n
much" Great laughter.) These God and hui
manity people had better take care. They will
be helping us too much.
Why, have seen ladies at tea party-per-
haps not drunk, but certainly very jolly, from
drinking tea. And yet they come to this legis-
lature with petitions signed by all whom they
could influence bulldoze into signing it
men, women and children, to the number of
10000. haven't counted them, and don't
know how correct the figures are, but suppos-
ing there are that number what does it amou Mt
to? There are 100000 people in Minnesota, and
we are proposing to let these 10000 override
the other 900. How long do you suppose
this large majority will permit this to go on ?
How long will they stand dictation from the
minority? Not very long. can tell you. They
will soon retaliate, and they will retaliate in a
husky manner. If they are really DESTROYS of
helping the cause Of temperance, let them do
as the saloon-keepers do. All over this city
can go into a saloon and get your glass Of beer
and all the lunch you want to eat for five cents
Qaughter), and if you haven't any money
you can sit down and eat Your
fill and never be kicked out. I myself
have seen lots of men who hadn't
cent go into a saloen when they were hungry
would be invited to help themselves from the
sumptuous lunch counter. That's the sort of
bidding the saloonkeepers make for patronage.
Let these temperance people follow their ex-
ample and establish places where poor devil
can get cup of coffee for five cents and not
be IN danger of being kicked into the street if
applause.) This is the way to advance the
cause OF Temperance, not by passing such laws
as this one. tell you this thing won't last
long. There are millions of dollars worth of
property tied up in this State that don't pay a
cent of taxes, while the miserable shanty of
every poor man is taxed to the utmost. The
time IS coming when all this property will be
taxed. You will force us to do it, and we will
surely do it.
The prohibitionists claim that drinking tends
to impoverish the people. For Gods sake, do
you believe that? Look at the Germans. Many
of them take piece of land which would
scarcely support a hog, and make a fortune off
it; (Laughterl They all drink beer. They
take their wives and their children to the beer
garden and sit down and drink their beer every
day, and even the babe in arms will stretch out
to get a taste of it. These people are not i'm
poverished by it. These people are SO healthy
in my neighborhood that I have actually not
been able to make living out of my German
constituents, and have been obliged to run
for the legislature in order to get money enough
to buy bread. Great laughter.)
They say, too it tends to the degeneracy of
the human race. How does it happen that in
New England, where prohibitory laws are in
force, the race had SO degenerated that they
don't seem to be able to raise any children?
There the families don't average one child
apiece. Naughter.) Look at the Irish who
drink whisky all the time. You will find seven
children in every Irishman's shanty in the
country. Iaughter.) That's the effect of