Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-06-03
TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
1910 Mcr D, M rs.ns, d.

lmnNjn your valuable paper, in
wht6h 70 discuss the Temperance
3ueali0n, bas induced mi TO jot
down . few thoughts suggested BY
he present status Of the liquor traf-
&c IN our town. The friends Of tenn
perance feel that they have met with
! serious reverse, and perhaps the
present is q good time to look over
the field and find, il possible, the
cause 81 their misfortune. The is
sue which was joined at our late city
election between the supporters Of
the saloon and its opposers, is still q
Iiging issue, and 80 long as q MAORI
y Of one, or any other number, COM
pels all Of Of our citizens to be part
ners in the rum traffic, just 90 long
will there be those who will stand
up to oppose it. The saloon is an
institution Of modern origin, but in
it, brief existenc of forty years it
has proved such Z prolific source Of
wealth 70 its managers, that we may
expect them Is use every means in
their power to maintain it, while on
the other hand the suffering which
il brings is 80 wide spread, that .
large share Of the people are drawn
together by the common danger to
work for their common defense.
The struggle moust still 60 on, our
fathers stood on their battlefield
and we must bequeathe it to our
children a. an unsettled question.
So long as there are selfish and un-
principled men in communities,
just 80 long will they attempt to
profit either directley OF indirectly
by the sale Of intoxicating liquor
and the friends Of humanity must
oppose them. There is no neutral
ground in this contest, every one
must exert an influence on one side
or the other. In looking over the
two parties to this contest, w are
oiten surprised and sometimes dis
Outraged, to find some in the ranks
ofthe saloon army that we feel do
no not belong there. We expect to
find the liquor seller there, and are
not disappointed when they all
answer to roll call. We expect to
find the liquor drinker there fol-
they want some place to get their
beer. We expect to find the aver.
age politician there, for that IL where
votes are bought and sold. We ex.
pect TO find the man that worshipt
the Almighty dollar there for il
helps trade. W. expect TO find
every ignorant lout there, that will
sell his vote for two dollars and in,
vest the amount in plug tobacco
and if he does not vote that ticket
it ID . mistake; but we do not ex'
pect to find intelligent temperance
mon there-men who aside from
their position on this question hav,
given no occasion for q doubt as t
the soundness of their Temperance
principles. Yet the facts are tina
on this class of men rests the re
sponsibility Of opening up thes'
schools of vice in our town. Ever,
drunken man that staggers alonl
our streets or spends the night il
the city cooler, owes the privilege y
these same temperance men. Thes
are simple facts stated not with any
desire to reproach any one, but il
|, the hope that such men will see til
responsibility that rests on then
and will carefully examine tn
ground on which they stand. TIL
principal reason given by such me
for supporting the saloon is, tina
liquor will DO drank if no license !
: given and that it is better to have
} under the control ofthe law.
Space will not permit any argr
ment on this point, but q fe'
questions are submitted for consit
Grafton. Ifjust IS much liquor W.
sold without license as with VIII
! should any one pay 1900 for
licencef Are the liquor selleI
really anxious to donate money [
the city? Do you expect them
do business according to Law
J. Could any n afford to pay 90
: per year TO sell liquor in this tow
strictly according to law2 A car
full examination Of these question
may show some OF the unsoundne
!. Of their position.
The law under which licencc
granted, provides that liquor sha
not be sold to intoxicated persons
inebriates and several Of our e
! thusiastic saloon advocates pledg'
3 themselves solemnly and public
q TO see this law executed to the lettt
They said that the temperan
: people had tried to enforce law
Z this town and had m~iserably failer
& but that they would now take u
IF case in hand and deal out exa
n Justice to all. But what is the