Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1886-07-23

u
grants license, they only grant it
for twelve months, with definite
understanding that we consider
ourselves under no obligation to
renew them when the time is out?
Every barkeeper starts in this
country selling liquor with a dis
tinct understanding that "after
twelve months from the time you
begin we may make you quit
Every brewery and every still
house in America knows that its
agents are limited to twelve
months when they put their foun-
dation down. When they put
brick on top of brick and buy their
stores, they know that, according
to the laws of America, their
agents are not protected longer
than twelve months. And now if
we license them with the under
standing that their licenses are
good only for twelve months, and
at the end of twelve months we
say, Gentlemen, we do not renew
any more" have we done uniustly
toward anybody? Didn't they go
into the business with their eyes
open? Didn't they go in with the
understanding, I'VE license you
for only twelve months and we
make no pledge that we license
you any longer?" And can any
liquor man in America say, "They
have destroyed my property. They
have injured my rights What
right is it that we have ever guar
anteed to you that we didn't stick
up to? And I want to say this:
If they built their still-houses and
breweries and bar-rooms with the
understanding that twelve months
is as long as this business can be
licensed, then I say they must
take the consequences if, after that
time, we cease to license them to
damn our boys and debauch our
husbands. (Applause.
Well, let US get at it on a more
brotherly basis, then, if you
will. Let US say there are our
brothers selling liquor, and we
licensed them in the face of our
appreciation; and if they have gone
and put up their still houses and
have erected their breweries, and
have sunk their millions in this
business, then 1 say this: If moth
ing else will satisfy the liquor men
then [ am in favor to-day of going
down to the bottom of the Treas
ury of the United States and of
every State in this ULion, ahd
pay dollar for dollar for every dol
lar they have got invested in this
traffic. If it bankrupts the Gov
} ernment and every state in this
/ Government, let us buy ourselves
out and throw it in the ocean for
ever. applause
| Then, | tell you another thing;
1t won't cost you as much to put
liquor out of America if y ou
will pay every man his money back
as it took you to put slavery
out of America. Do you
know that? Which was the worst
| to keep 100000 of slaves down
South, feed them and clothe them
j, and pay their doctor bills for Their
, work, or to take our 100000 OF
people and debauch them with
liquor, booming their families tc
misery and damning their souls:
Which was tie worst? Well, this
country fought slavery out. We
went out to battle and literally
plunged the Government into
bankruptcy and split the best
blood of both sections to put slav.
cry out Of America, and when
here's demon ten thousand times
worse than all the lashes and
hounds of Southern slavery push
ing itself on us to-day, if we cant
get up another war, let US buy out
and lets quit the business forever
, That's my doctrine.
I say these men are in the front
!, ranks. They say: "We don't want
> to go out of business. Well, now
! | won't reason with these parties
who take this view on the subject
but [ want to reason with you 6
/: little, my fellow countrymen. Yor
5 admit that intemperance is a curse
r You know, as you stand and lool
the world in the face, that every
, principle of right declares intem-
! perance to be a curse, and yor
Y know, in addition to that, that yor
admit in your own mind that it is
a curse. Then l say, is there any
D power, or any argument, in the
:. universe that will reach your case.
i Is there none? Is there none?
4 expect not, and we are going to dc
/ just exactly as the Yankees die
Y the Southern people. We are go
t ing to make you walk up to the
? tank and disgorge. We're going
!, to make you puke it up. Do yor
hear? (Applause.)
+? That's the end of the logic Of
/ the question. Well, we have the
j, liquor men and those that have go
their interest and stake in the from