Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-08-21

a question of crime we cannot overlook II. II
|; is generally estimated that nine.tenths OF The
crime Of the country Is traceaDie 10 drink
From sixty to ninety per cent. OF pauperism,
| and about eighty per cent. OF insanity, is
traceable to the same source. Tnere may De
lack of exactitude In these estimates, Dut all
agree that the results OF drunkenness IN tnese
d rections are enormous.
The question, then, is what shall we 40:
Free whisky would, OF course, be advocated
by the brewers and distillers, but two sys-
TENS challenge public attention-license ana
prohibition.
In favor OF license are urged
fact Of police surveillance and control;
the diminishing of drinking: and finally, 1t is
the best we can do.
Two considerations are of weight against
the license system. 1t is either legitlmate
or an illegitimate business. If 1t is legitimate
1t ought to stand on q par with other branches
OF trade, and license is q tyranny, unless 1t be
exacted from all. II 1t be lliegitlmate, perni-
cious and dangerous, fought to be suppressed.
There is no logical stopping.place between
free whisky and prohibition. When we coa-
slder prohibition We are told II Is
failure. | will not rehearse the Ia
milar story of Maine. 1t sufilces
that governors, senator's, members OF
congress, judges and other prominent
ult1 Oh DOtu pOlltlCdl Ioi 1iOo oSoSA enNo -
bition is a safeguard and success.
But what about the socalled control" OF
the LIQUOR traffic? 1t Is we'll known that our
city government is powerless for the enforce
ment of the simple regulations which they
have made. The saloon interest in this city
openly defy the law and its officers. We emuse
destroy the saloons.
But what about the boasted revenue?
Enormous as are the taxes levied upon this
traffic, it is a constant expense to the state,
until the saloons shall support the conr Is
which try their criminals and the jalls which
they occupy. ~
The saloons are leeches upon society. The
only revenues they pay which excuse tneir
crimes are the political contributors wnicn
debauch the political parties and Wel!-nigh
make honest legislation impossible. The gray
ity of this question, the great interests In
VOWED give the people the right to soberly
consider and pass upon 1t. We ask no in
dorsement of prohibition from the politicians.
What we demand is that the voice OF the peo-
pie shall be heard upon this single question
unmixed with other issues. constitutional
amendment submitted to the people will fur.
nish this opportunity. And that political
party which thro rs itself athwart the move
ment is doomed to defeat and destruction.
The question has been asked. After prohibit
ton, what9 Why will tell you. After pro-
hibitlon, there shall be laughter In The eyes
which now are full OF tears. Alter proniol-
ton multitudes who are now debauched
shall be found clothed aud IN
their right minds. After prohibition the Jails
will be empty, the MOSES will grow upon the
ruins of unused insane asylums. Instead OF
crowded pcothoufes, there shall be the cot
tages of the thrifty workmeD, surrounded by
beauty and presided over by proud mothers IN
the midst of happy children. After prohlpi-
bition, what? Why, a state redeemed from
much that thralls ard darkens it now, and
humanity on higher plane, enjoying ireer
and reason dominate the passions-shall move
swiftly forward to the glory of its happy des-
tiny, new heaven and q new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness.