The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-03-04
Can Whisky be Abolished!

The Wisconsin State Legislature ap-
pointed a joint select committee a
short time ago to enquire into the ex-
pediency and legality OF sumbitting Ia
the people the question OF placing in
the State constitution a clause prohib-
iting the manufacture and sale OF in
toxicating liquors.
A majority Of the committee have
made a report favorable to the propo-
sition, and urging the adoption OF a
resolution providing for such submis-
sion. The report is remarkably able,
bristles with authorities, closely con-
densed, 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 Republican in form; that is Of,
and for the people, has and does rec.
ognize the right Of petition, and the
right OF the people TO petition their
agents being admitted. the duty OF the
agent 10 respect and 10 grant the pray
er OF the petitioner or resign his agency
is established, provided the thing or
measure OF relief asked for is not clear
" and undeniably destructive of some
we'll established principle OF constitu-
tional law.
In this instance, 81, 49S citizens, be-
sides score or more of societies and
three important branches of the
Christian church, have in a respectful
manner asked this Legislature, not to
lafr,a1ata t,xnrN kba u.,oaNsan ~
ance. but TO provide the machinery by
which the voters of the State may set
tie il in accordance with the will OF the
majority"
They therefore think il the duty OF
the Legislature to comply with the re-
quest.
As showing the right Of the State to
prohibit. and some Of the reasons for
such prohibition. the committee say:
1.-THE right TO prohibit is conceded
by every civilized nation on the globe,
"a for centuries they have legislated to
restrain and control the traffic. and the
right TO circumscribe aud control pre-
supposes the right 30 entirely prohibit.
Judge Taney said: IF any State
deems the internal traffic in ardent
spirits injurious TO its citizens, and
calculated to produce idleness, vice
and debauchery, see nothing in the
constitution Cof the L. 81 TO prevent
1t from regulating and restraining the
traffic, or from prohibiting it altogeth-
er if its thinks proper.
Judge Woodbury. says: THAT the
State may seize and destroy anything
which is likely to cause disease and
death.
Whatever threatens the State must
be resisted. "
"rhe power essential 10 self-preser-
vation exists in evevy community
"Men and States NAV resist that
which approaches TO do IL harm"
"Your committee believe that the
use of alcoholic beverages is undenia-
bly, and inevitably injurious TO an over
whelming large majority OF our citizens
who use it-that il is destructive Of the
general welfare. IL increases taxes. II
educates criminals, il endangers life, il
endangers property. il destroys public
morals, il blasts character, il destroys
the nice sense of honor that should be
felt by and govern the conduct OF our
public men, and that il is a reproach ia
our civilization.
That it hangs like an incubus on
labor; robs industry OF it's reward; pro-
duces pauperism and crime.
That IL is public evil, affecting
every citizen, every industrial interest
aud iniuriously approaches every citi-
zen, every family. every community,
and the entire commonwealth.
Commissioner Delany estimated the
consumption OF distilled spirits at So.
600, 900 gallons in 1869; aud by the
census reports we learn there was pro-
duced in the United States 90, 4l2, ,5Si
gallons OF domestic spirits in the year
1860. The estimated retail cost OF al.
coholic drinks in 1872 was S735, 720, ,04s
aud from 1860 10 1872 thirteen years
2,762, 926, 0G6 gallons were consumed,
at a cost Of SO, $50, 10, 800. The an.
nual consumption Of distilled spirits Is
not less than 100, 600, 900 gallons.
DIR. Young estimates the annual cost
OF alcoholic drinks in this country al
$500, 100000.
There are GOO, 600 habitual drunkards
and %, 900 persons constantly disabled
by the use OF intoxicants. IL create.
each year an army OF 9,33S maniacs
aud 1000 persons are annually lef
widowed or orphaned aud dependent
on public charity by this traffic.
The United States Commissioner o.
Education says that from so TO 80 Pei
cent. Of our criminals connect th,
causes OF their crime 20 intemperance.
An English Judge says: 'Everl
crime has its origin, more or less, II
drunkenness.
The Hon. j. G. Park OF Massachus
etts, declares that 'ninety-nine one
hundredths OF all criminals sprinJ
from intemperance.'
The chaplain Of the State Prison o
Massachusetts, testifes that nineteen
tventieths OF the crimes committed b,
those under his care arose from the us,
Of alcoholic drinks"
The committee cite long lis. of an
thorities beside the above, affirming
the power Of a State 10 forbid sucl
sales among them one OF their own Su
prene Court Of Wisconsin, declaring
that the Legislature, as an exercise o
the police power, may entirely prohib
II tie selling or giving away OF arden
or intoxicating liquors used as a bower
age. Indeed. the authorities 10 sup
port OF the power 90 prohibit seen
ample, and the only question remain
ing is that Of the dosirabihty OF practi