The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-08-13

tHlS qucslloH-Saylng IL lS not u fOLlTlCAL
subject. Its agitation-so far as the old
parties are concerned-has been stopped
until the political atmosphere has be-
come filled with political corruption,
abuse, fraud; and many of our public
have inhaled itsuntii the vital blood of
the nation has been poisoned, and the
bodp polite has commenced TO putrefy.
They inculcate strange doctrine.
Let us go back to the days of the fathers
of this republic. Let us examine the
Legitimate sphere of the legislative
power" in the light of that good COM
mon sense which gave us our present
form of government.
Certainly such men as BENJAMIN
Franklin, DIR. Benjamin Rush, and other
statesmen, lawyers and jurists of the
congress of III, ought TO have known,
and probably did know, something about
the Legitimate sphere of the legislative
power"
And these great men, these good men,
these men who planted and reared the
tree of LIBERTY on this continent, water
ing it with their blood and guarding it
with their swords, oil the 9th of Febru-
l777, while in congress assembled, sol
EMMY
"REsoLvED, That it be recommended
States to pass laws the most effective for
putting an immediate stop to the pernic-
ious practice of distiling grain, by which
the most extensive evil ~ likely TO bc
derived, If not quickly prevented"
How strangely that sounds beside the
reckless and wicked demagogism of both
| Republican and Democratic politicians
who PROSTATE themselves mt the feet of u
wicked horde of dram sellers who make
their living by robbing the victims of
strong drink, and spreading poverty,
ruin, death and crime broadcast III every
community!
But the fathers of the republic are not
alone in their ideas of the Legitimate
sphere of the Legislative power" The
highest judicial authOrity-the Supreme
Court of the United Strtes-has spoken
oh this subject in terms which cannot be
pages 50i to 6;,3, you will find this sub
jcct discussed i'm all its bearings-the
question of prohibition being the issue.
The judges of that august tribunal, in
1877, i'm delivering the opinion of the
court, used the following terse language:
ut is not necessary to array the APP
palling statistics of misery, pauperism
and crime which have their origin i'm the
use and abuse of ardent spirits. The po-
lice power, which is exclusively in the
State, is alone competent to the cOrrec-
ton of these great evils, and all meas
ures of restraint or prohibition necessary
to effect that purpose are within the
scope of that authority"
This opinion was no mere Obiter dicttn,,
but well considered decision upon ca
SEES submitted to the court for adjudica-
ton, involving the constitutionality of
l hn lnu of Of 70
Rnd other states.
How strangely the opinion of these
judges contrasts with present doctrine
of the Republican and Democratic par
ties in regard to the Legitimate sphere
of the Legislative powerD'
LICENSE LAW
is the great stumbllng-blOck to reform.
Under this system the public conscience
has become scared as with hot iron.
The people no longer comprehend and
realize the enOrmity of the evil-the
crime. For money they legalize it.
Men and women will discuss the evils of
African slavery-now happily abolished
but they are 10th to discusss the true
remedy for that slavery to drink which
is as wicked, more widespread, almost
as formidable and more cruel and mer-
CHESS than any which preceded il.
throughout the world this barbarous
curse falls with peculiar hardship and
crushing weight upon the laboring and
producing classes; and especially ON
women and children.
In this great conflict we must marshal
all our forces; we must call into our
: ranks all the moral elements of society.
We invite the churches, We respectfully
call upon all men, regardless of creed OF
occupation, who believe that society
would be better of, and the national
life purer and safer, if every drinking
saloon we've abolished from the land, to
overthrow the political power of the
whisky rings. We therefore say To
every one, grid on your armor and fight
the good fight. as if your own personal
happiness depended upon the result Of
the contest. Great reforms have never
been effected without great sacrifices
We must agitate this State from one end
. tn the other. Let every county send
lecturers into every school district
We want earnest men and women fully
imbued with the sacredness of the canHe
to 20 out and stir up the popular mind
to arouse the people from the lethargy
into which they have fallen, and awaken
the public conscience to the evils that
are upon us. If we do this, and do il
thoroughly, we shall succeed.
In addition to this, it is important that
every temperance man and woman
should work honestly, steadily and per
sistently, in all proper ways, for the sue.
cess of our cause in their own neIghbOr-
hood.
ORGANIZE.
For the sake of all that is pure and
good and noble in our government, we
ask the people to organize against the
demon of intemperance.
For the sake of the perpetuity of our
country's institutions, for the love you
bear youI family and friends, for
the good of mankind at large, for the
hope you have of eternal happiness, for
the sake of the boys who look to you for
example, we ask you TO array yourselves
on the side of Truth and Temperance,
and against the custom or traffic which
is an enemy to God and the peace of So
ciety.
The temperance men in every school
district and town should organize for po-
litical work, and send for copies of this
address to circulate among all classes of
people. They should also make arrange
ments to obtain tickets and distribute
them at the polls so that every voter
havesan opportunity, at least, to cast
his ballot for the right. Don't delay,
Int OrDaniZe at once