The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-01
Governor Click,

Z6IlS, anu 6leVdLeS the moral tone OF !
society; and, like religion, it should be
the common property of all, and no
political party can appropriate that
virtue to itself. 1t is too sacred to be
made political question of, and the
thoughtful, earnest temperance work.
er, the man who recognizes the fact
that it takes time to work out great
reforms, and that coercion is not the
best means to effect such noble work
or reformatiOns, is the true temper
ance reformer who teaches by
example, and persuadeS the
judgment by argument instead
of coercion and Jealous intOler-
ance. He recognizes the fact that
ours is free country where the prin-
cipleS of individual liberty have taken
deep root in the minds of the people,
and that they are jealous of any at
tempt to interfere with the personal
liberty Of citizens, especially with
laws that are made In restraint of the
individual actions and customs of the
people, one that besetS them with
spies or infOrmers. or subjects them
to petty criminal annOyanceS, insti-
gated by busybodies or self-cOnsti-
tuted cOnservators of the temperance
cause, or attempt to regulate their
conduct when they do not trench on
or invade the rights of others, or that
attempt to dictate how they shall or
der their daily life or conduct, wheth-
er that dictatiOn attempts to interfere
with the exercise of free speech, re-
ligiOus beliefs or opinions, to their
drink or diet. so long as they do not
| offend against the rules and customs
of society or the individual rights Of
| others.
The people of Kansas are tenn
perance people, and will favor and
| Loyalty support and enforce any
proper law that will advance the
cause of temperance and morality,
but they are opposed to shams or sys-
tens of law that annoy them, and de-
feat their own execution by their in
temperate provisions and penalties.
During the last year of local option
and license, the United States revenue
Office of Kansas issued 1872 permits
to sell Intoxicating liquors, or one per-
NIT to 1873 persons, placing Kansas as
the first temperance state in the
Union; while in the first year OF
prohibition there were issued 1888 per-
miJs, an increase of 500, and also an
increase of IS per cent or one permit
to sol persons, and taking
Kansas from the first an0
ranking her the seventh temper.
ance state, while in the first forty-five
days of the second year of prohibition
14IS permits were issued, sixteen more
than in the whole year of local option
and license. If we consider these
facts in connection with the clande
slime sales of Intoxicating liquors, anC
consider the vast amount that is daily
delivered to individuals in concealed
packages by express companies, VIZ
are forced to the conclusion that thu
cause of temperance reform has no
progressed very rapidly under our pre-
sent coercive system. These fact
: forcibly remind us that We are living
under a republican form of govern
ment, of and by the people, and the!
make the laws as well as enforc
them, and no community will enforc
law upon itself distasteful to it.
, Such condition of things
long continuing, degrades tn
popular sense in respect t,
the binding force of legal obliga
lions, and generally impairs the ct
ficiency of that function of the Law
that is concerned in impressing tn
moral sense, and preserving the Spiri
of LOYALTY and obedience among tn
people, Indeed, laws that, like on
j.. present liquor law, exist in the teetl
of traditional habits and customs, con
: travene the conviction of the large
, part of the community; that seek, t.
: destroy property in the name of tn
public good without compensation
the fruits of his own labor withou
, denOuncing him as criminal; tina
compel the physician TO become tn
involuntary betrayer of the secrets o
the sick room; that offers brides TO
conviction; that make the obtaining
of medicine oppressiVely expensive
that create penalties so oppressive tina
, jurieS refuse to convict and WitneSSe
refuse to testify; that have shut GU
the stream of immigration that wa
flowing by the thousands to our bOrd
| ers and settling up our prairies, an
/ giving employment to our artisan
and business to our tradesmen, ca
never find secure and prosperou
lodgment among free institution:
This law estrangeS and drives ava
, from the temperance cause that large
influential and respectable class of on
, citizens who Use wine and beer i
moderation, and who, though practi
cally temperance men, do not and neve
. will believe that the simple use @
J these beverages is a crime or is so dis
reputable that it should subject then
or those who believe as they do, to tn
condemnation of the law or to tn
public criticism. Without the sup
port of this large class of voters, VIII
may be denOminated the eonServativ
: balance of power in our political sys
tenn, and who constitute a larg
majority of the voters of the STATE
no system of prohibition can be sue
cessful or made permanent part @
: our political system. This large elias
r of people look with diSfavor upon an
attempt to force the question of ten
perance or morality as disturbing ele
ment into the partizan politics of tn
: day, but believe it should remain
! part of our social policy that shoul
, find a safe and permanent lodgmen
in the affections of all parties. TIL
law lacks the essential elements @
adaptation, is not and cannot be en-
: forced even in the smallest degre,
without the employment of a de
spotic and tyrannical power, odiou
to every lover of freedom, the EN-
ployment of which is debasing t
both people and government, an
imperils whatever is vital and valu
> able to the principle of Ill
erty. Whatever of advancement
there has been in the cause o
temperance has been gained by volur
tary philanthropic efforts and b
moral suasion, addressed to the judg
ment and understanding of the pee
pie. Whatever of progress is made i
the principle Of true and endurin
| temperance must be secured by til
same course. There is no royal roa
. to learning, neither are there chea
and easy methods of philanthropy
nor short cuts to the millennium. Al
patent devices such as prohibition,
liquor laws are delusions. If by then
the difficulty is increased of obtaining
liquors in public places, the practic
of drinking in private houses is pre-
NOTED, and whatever seductivenes
may attend the practice of clande
slime drinking, and the use of liquor
in private houses, its influence TO
evil is strengthened and magnitied ;
hundred fold.
Gambetta's 0ratOry.
Paris Correspondence st. James Gazette.]
The chief secret of Gambetta'
power as an orator was that he al
| L.