Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-02

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10 me Hen. Mr.. Eueas ~ the West virginiag
Lssislatars From Rss.J =. O. nsash. n A,
HsM NJ. Lucas.
Mr DAAR SrK--A late issue of the REC
IsrsR reports you as saying on the floor of
the House Of the Legislature Of West Vr-
GINA. The Democratic p~srty-the great
party Of civil ~Eberty-was always opposed
10 sampsuary (Prohibitory) laws" | ask
for the proof Of your assertion, a. IN .
twenty years study Of prohibitory laws / 6nd
the opposite to be true. Proof. The first
Continental Congress at Philadelphia, on
the 9Th Of February, l174. passed the
following Democratic resolution: Resolved,
That il Be- recommended to the several Leg
islatures Of the United States immedistely
to pass laws the most eiectual for putting
an immediate stop to the pernicious prae-
tice of distilltng, by which the most extensive
evils are likely to be derived ii not quickly
prevented" Throttle if you dare this great
and good Democratic Congress In Main
prohibition was 6rst enacted in 1886 BY q
Democratic Legislature; In Minnesota in
1882 by q Democratic Legislature. In
Massachusetts, and Rhode Island in 1857 BY
a Democratic Legislature. In Michigan IN
1855 by q Democratic Legislature. In
MARYLAND the ten counties that have pro-
hibition are the strongholds Of Democrats.
In Georgia with $4,000 Of q Democratic
majority, SO of the ll3 counties are under
prohibition. So in Democratic Louisiana
and Kentucky. In Democratic Tennessee
one half of the State is under prohibitoiy
Laws passed bys Democratic Legislature:
Three-tourths of Democratic Georgia, and
nearly all of Democratic South Carolina
are under prohibition. These facts
have been taken from legislative records
and published again, and again to the
world. The Democratic Sapreme Court OF
the United States in l847, without q dis
sentipg voice, declared in favor of prohibit
tin. That was seven years before the birth
of the Republican party. Yes! My dear
air; prohibition is strictly Democratic.
When the people see and feel the dreadful
effects of Equor-that while yellow fever
killed in the last ten years 2l,So4 OF the
citizens of the United States, liquor killed
ESQ, 900 Of our citizens and cry that q stop.
may be put to the importation. manufacture
and sale of slcoholie drinks as a beverage
it is Democratic 10 hear the
cry of suffering humanity, and grant
an immediate relief. The great wars
of the the world in the lest twenty-five years
cost the immense sun Of Sl2,00O,O OO, 600.
The drink bill of the United States for the
same period was SIS, OO0, 900, 600, or So
900, 600, 900 more than the cost Of all the
wars Of the world. This land of plenty
has about 100000 paupers and beggars;
533,S32 of these trace. their pauperism to
rum. Liquor corrupts and brutalzes lOO,-
900 of the youth Of the land annually sends
to q drunkard's grave and a d~runkards hell
10000 annually; goads on to suicide $50
annually; excites to murder 700 annually
inAames the passions OF $50 tried for rape
annually; dethrones the reason Of 10000
annually; sends forth to prey upon the
property of others 300, 900 rioters, thieves.
robbers, cut-thrOats annually. Time would
fail me to tell o fpolice, police, courts, taxes,
Judges, executions, anguish of broken heart.
ed wives, husbands, fathers, mothers, sons.
daughters, and yet you have the audscity
to stand up as q legislator aud say that
prohibition is not Democratic, throw around
this internal traffic the protection of the
government, and in the words Of Jefferson:
Il tremble for my country when l think that
God is Just" Yours truly,
j. C.. HENCa.