The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-06-14
Constitutional Amendments.

want prohibition first and all the !
time. Prohibition in regard to the
liquor business comes as nearly
prohibiting as it does in any other
matter. Our laws prohibit murder,
theft, profanity, &C., yet men murder,
steal, and swear. The Journal of
May 10, asks the oft repeated ques-.
ton, "Does prohibition prohibit?"
and says, if it does let us have it by
all means" Bro. Nash is a little mite
mistaken in his statement that
sdrunkeness has increased in Maine"
under prohibition. We would be
glad to see his statistics. MIR. Dow
saws there is very manifest improve
ment in the morals and thrift OF the
people of Maine under prohibition.
LIQUORS are sold and drank in Maine
and no one denies it; but, that the
sale and use is greater than before is
not the fact, else Mr.. Dow and many
others make base misstatements.
It would be a blessing if the traffic
in Intoxicating liquors could be stop
ped entirely. Can it be done? Will
prohibition put stop to it? We
fear not. Such being the fact the
recourse is to moral suasion. Itid)
Will Tie Journal please state a
single case in the last century In
which moral suasion did a2yy good on
whisky maker or seller? Has one
ever been induced. to quit the business
by moral suasion alone?
''The law can be invoked to put It's
iron hand upon the worst evils grow
ing out of the traffic in intoxicating
liquors by crushing out the low
groggeries kept by class OF men
who are worse than devils. Beyond
this seems impossible to go: Direct
and specific taxation will wipe these
vile dens out Of existence.
I would be glad to know why it is
impossible to 60 beyond this A
law that will wipe these vile dens out
of existence" can be made to wipe all
such dens out Of existence. How
much are we benefited by the wiping
out of"these vile dens" and leaving
lust as vile ones in our midst? These
low vile dens kept by men ''worse
than devils" are doing no more harm
in community than the high "vile
dens." if as much. The respectable
youn 9 man does not visit these ''vile
dens kept by men worse than devils
when he is forming the habit Of
| drink. He goes to the respectable( p
den and takes his first lesson. He
only goes to the "vile den" when
money and character are gone. But
why cannot the law be invoked to put
its iron hand upon all these dens
Rum is rum whether sold over mar
BILE topped counters in gilded parlors
by men no better than devils and
drank from gold lined silver mugs
just as it is rum when sold by men
''worse than devils" and drank from
a tin cup or gourd.
"If dealers in intoxicating liquors
will go on manufacturing paupers
filling our prisons with criminals anc
making beggars Of wives and children
why should they not be required tC
pay the cost?" Sure enough why
not pay the cost.
Who will make out the bill
Who can estimate the cost? The
writer of the above paragraph ha:
reference to the cost in dollars an(
cents to the State, in prosecuting
criminals and caring for pauper
made so by the rum traffic. lie tina
were all the cost it could very easily
be paid. But who will pay the cos
of wasted homes and happiness, O.
blasted hopes and prospects, Of tht
groans and agonies and tears ant
miseries and anguish of innocen
women and children, who suffer un
utterably? Who will pay the cost O.
the soul? Who will settle the &C
count on the docket of eternity
count up the cost and the charity
(?) necessary to keep the drunkard' y
family from starving and levy it as
direct tax upon the liquor interest.
How comforting this would be tt
the mother and wife whose son anc
husband have been stolen from theil
embrace by the traffic. Give her iust
enough to keep her from starving
Let her take her ragged hungry
children once and awhile on pill
grimage to some rum sellers home
and arrange them on the curb stone
under his dining-room window, ano
smell the savory good things on hi
table. How she is comforted! Dry
up your tears dear woman! There i:
no need Of all this anguish. We viii
tax the murderer Of your husband
and keep you from starving Never
mind dear little children, what i
your father is drunkard, or in
drunkard's grave? What if you are
ragged and barefoot, we will not lei
you starve. We will tax this gentle.
man who killed your father and
! robbed your home of it's happiness
Don't cry and fret but run home tc
your poverty and wretchedness you
shall not starve. Those wretched
ones are not crying for bread SC
much as for home. Tax, and bring
back the husband and father. Tax,
and reinstate the bride in her beauti-
full home. Tax, and bring back the
smile to her lips and the rose to her
cheek. Tax, and return that ruined
son to his mother Tax that criminal
off the scaffold. Tax that culprit out
of prison. Tax that soul out of hell.
The whole tenor of the article
from which we have quoted seems
to be to try every possible expedient
before we try prohibition, and if they
all fail, as they have, and will, then, |
suppose the author would favor
prohibition. He says, ''let us use a
little common sense in dealing with
this question" | should like to know
how much less common sense he
would have used than has been used