Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-05-20

go into such a business.
He warned the liquor dealers not
to consider that by contributing to
the church their evil would be cov-
cred, for assisting the church does
not furnish immunity for %wrong-do-
ing.
Mr.. EDIToR:--Ifit will not be
presumptious OF my part. | would
very much like to make a few in
quiries, concerning the fearful traffic
in intoxicating liquors in the city Of
Elk Point. By what authority are
the murderous sales Of intoxicants
perpetrated? By what authority is
the unfortunate wife, whose destiny
is linked with a whiskey bloat, who
robs her and her children Of the
daily crumbs Of a degraded life;
made 80, by perjured wretch, who
once swore that the would love and
cherish his wife, until they should
be separated by death? By what
authority are the filthy holes Of per-
dition opened, and liquid poisons
mingled, and sold for what they are
not, by the black hearted rum-ped-
dle? Has the territory a right to
impose nuisances upon the citizens?
Han the incorporation a right to set
up a saloon at every square to send
drunkards home at midnight to
drag their wives out Of bed, and
brutally beat them, the
children from home \
deamon generally? Hal aeOlPora-
tion a right to legalize a cursed in
stitution that will send the besotted
son home drunk to abuse and beat
his mother? 1t may be said that a
majority should rule. This will be
granted in all cases where the great
interests Of the public are subserved,
where the morals Of community are
promoted. But if a majority Of one
should vote that a brewery or a dis
tillery should be located with its
gable end leading on a church, there
would be a fearful cyclone raised,
which might level brewery and
church to the ground. Suppose a
majority Of one should say, what do
we care for the moral state OF socie-
ty-what do we are for the ranting
Of temperance fanatics, who are
forever bowling about grog-shops?
It is true, they don't care how much
is inflicted upon the helpless. The
wife and children Of the incbriate
may go to hell for all they
care. They have no signs to heave,
no tears to shed. The man, who
in the force Of facts, will affirm that
there is as much drunkenness with
out saloons as with them, needs q
a straight jacket, and should die I'M
honored and unsung and should be
honored with the burial Of an ass
upon some sterile mount, where
grass never grows and flowers never
bloom. For more than fifty years |
have had opportunities sufficient.
for a careful observation OF the prac-
tical workings and effects Of selling
intoxicants, nor have / been able in
ali these years to find the first single
feature or circumstance, that can
commend it to the favorable con-
sideration of decent and respectable
! people. Ordinary bad men cannot
even indorse its objects or its de-
signs. There is no business on
earth that ! can conceive gilmore de-
moralizing in all its tendencies and
effects, or more destructiave to the
interests Of society or public de-
cency, than the business o~f.selling
Intoxicating liquors. There is not .
solitary advantage derived from it to
any human being. y is ladened
with all the worse, that humanity.
II breathes ~pestilcncc, disease and
death everywhere.
II whets the knife Of The assassin,
and lights the torch Of the incendi-
airy. 1t exnlts over fallen Write
and stamps maiden purity beneath
It's blood-staineL feet. II brings in
to contact with thieves. robbers,
murdcrers, gamblers, drunkards,
and vicious clement that brutaiizes
and damns society. That such as
sociations can aver elevate human
society. the painful history 81 the
lsst fifiy years sufficiently demon-
strate. The unlawful sale al intoxi-
cants, dcadcns al the sentiments Of
morality decencys md honor, and
men under I'M deadly influence ~
Hoogne deb6nched ana destitute of