Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-07-12
Temperance.
THE DEVILS ELIXIR.
The Temperance Campaign in Iowa.

The following constitutional amendment
was presented TO the voters of the common
wealth of Iowa on the 9th of June and
adopted by an overwhelming majority: No
person shall manufacture for sale, sell or
keep for sale as beverage any intoxicating
liquors whatever, including ale wine and
beer. The general assembly shall, by law
prescribe regulations for the enforcement OF
the provisions therein contained, and shall
thereby provide suitable penalties for viola
ton of the provisions hereof" Both sides on
the temperance question were wide-awake
over the subject. The anti-prohibtionists
claimed ~ that the legislature of 1886, hav-
ing done away with prohibition, virtually
invited the brewer into the state TO engage
in his interests, and that the passage of this
amendment would prove a breach of good
faith (2) that during these twenty-six years
| a large amount of property has become in
vested in the brewing interest affording a
large internal revenue and providing an ave-
nue. for much labor, nearly all of which
would be destroyed by the passage of the
amendment and thereby the business interests
would suffer materially, not only in the cap
ital destroyed, but in the permanent dimin-
ution in the prices of grain resulting from
the lessening of home markets, and, further,
that it would initiate against the develop
ment of the natural resources of the state by
barring out immigration from its sumptuary
nature; (3) that it is wrong in principle, as
it would remove the opportunity of virtuous
self-denial, that it is hypocritical, clothing
itself in the garb of religion, while being
purely selfish and designing, that it is run in
the spirit of the demsgogue, seeking the
construction of a party for factional ends
that it is anti-American, infringing on lib
erty, operating against the new corners, treat
ing the naturalized citizen as a foreigner by
not allowing him the privilege of enjoying
his opinions and customs equally with all
other citizens; and finally, that where pro-
| hibition has been tried, increased inebria-
ton and poverty have been the result The
prohibitionists replied a. that the brewers
had engaged in their business knowing that
there was strong sentiment against them
which would express itself politically at its
first opportunity, therefore the passage Of
their amendment cannot be construed into a
violation of faith with them, and it is the
duty of legislation to modify itself and pro-
vide new measures as the interests of society
and the commonwealth demand (2) that
admitting that its passage would render
some property useless as it now is, and that
it cannot be changed for its present valua-
ton, ample compensation for all losses liable
to occur has already been made by class Of
citizens poorly able to render it, that the
diminution in crime would more than COM
pensate for the loss of revenue, that the
labor, now detrimentally employed, could be
turned to the natural avenue of developing
the states resources to meet any loss in i'm
migration, if such loss were to occur, that
the diminution in the prices of grain could
at most only result in a relative, not real
| a vi
will go to produce more bread and beef,
thereby lessening the cost Of living as fast
as it diminishes the wages fund-further,
that no desirable class of immigrants would
be likely to be kept out of state by the en-
actment of such laws as tend to promote
order and insure peace and prosperity to all
of its citizens; (3) that the absolute probi-
bition of anything promoting no good and
tending persistently to evil was an infringe
ment of the moral law, and new interpre.
tation of the moral code that the charge
of hypocrisy against cause seeking to ale
viate wrong, lessen crime, and promote the
general good, fell by its own weight that
demagogism had never before appealed to
the highest sense of right and justice in the
human mind; that the prohibition of in
toxicants as beverage was no more anti
American than the prohibition of the Afri-
can slave trade, the moral right of state or
nation to legislate against the subverson Of
its institutions being universally conceded
that prohibition, neither in principle nor
practice, made any distinction between the
native born and the naturalized citizen
and finally, that prohibition under the fair
est trial had not reformed all drunkards nor
obliterated all poverty but had kept the
young largely from falling into evil ways, it
had engendered thrift, promoted law and
order, elevated society, enlarged culture, en-.
riched human thought, and taught respect
for God and humanity.-Seiected.