National Republican., 1888-02-08
Tho woman's Rsjuiader.


WAsnlNGToN, d. g., Feb. G, lSss.-li0N. Wal.
TER l. HAYES, Representative second Congress
SiUnal D!strCt-Sir. Your letter of the Sd
instant received, not, however until at.cr you
bad given it to the ress for publication. III
somewhat surprising that your view OF the
right Of petition ~ The same nuY int was
held by the advocates Of slavery in the south
before the war.
II is generally supposed that this view of
the case tHd been abandoned long sinceby
all parties in all sections Of the coui try. But
from the tenOr Of your letter IL is far 10 con-
clude that even the logic Of events has failed
1t would not be surprising IT, after review
and careful consideration of your own letter,
you should come TO the conclusion that your
reference to gambling houses and houses of
Ill flame" was rather unfortunate for your
position. You say that 'the right of petition
guaranteed by the constitution is for redress Of
grievances" In this we are entirely agreed.
But most certainly IL is not for the establish
ment of grievances, and, therefore, a petition
to establish gambling houses, &c, to which
you refer, would find no authority in the con-
slitution. But petition to abolish By law
such places would be entirely in harmony
with the spirit and intent of the constitution.
You Will please observe that our petitions,
which you refused TO present, are not for the
establishment, encouragement, or support OF
OF the people, but, on the contrary, for the
prevention or immortality, debauchery, aud
crime.
II our petitions were for the establishment or
continuance of places or institutions where
men are wrecked aud ruined your nrGumcnt
would be good against our petitions; bat mas
much as we ask for the abolition aud not for
the. establishment, your argument is good
against yourself.
You are pleased to say that it is "oficlous
meddling" for the people of Iowa to petition
Congress in reference to matters in the District
OF Columbia. 1t Is generally supposed that the
District of Columbia Is the common property
of all the states of this Union, and that there.
fore the people any state are not transcend
ing their powers or privileges in respectfully
petitioning Congress to abate what they con.
slider very great evil.
Possibly 1t may have escaped your official
notice that the states pay part OF the expense
OF trying to make Washington clean aud dc.
Ever iince we had little difficulty with
England on the subject oi taxation and repre-
ssn,ation II has been generally conceded that
people oil the states, who pay a part OF the ex-
penses, may reasonably be allowed at least to
suggest what. in their judgment, would be
for the good Of the city for whose benefit the
taxes are paid.
You say that "the idea that liquor causes
large proportion OF the crimes OF the country
Is the most arrant of humbugs." This lan-
guagc OF yours, whatever else IT may lack, is
certainly sufficiently confident, positive, and
arrogant; but, unfortunately for you, the testi::
mony of the. physicians OF the country and of
the officers in charge of the prisons and asy-
lnms Of tbc different states OF this Union esla,'
hshsS, Seyond doubt or controversy. an en-
tiTely different state of facts.
In an Official statement made sOr1e years
ago by the officers OF the'Albany penitentiary
there, 2l,O57 acknowledged that previous to
drunkenness.
Gdahe OF Cincinnati, in public address
| which was not contraaicIedl stated that
| eighty one per cent. of crime in CINCINNATI
was raceable to the use of intoxicating
| liquors.
| citation held at St. Paul not long since. which
| a a H., n,.iu uSi ipi piInq IL
| ell parts OF the country the following, among
| other resolutions was passed.
=, "ReSolNd, That we are OF the opinion that
the use Of alcoholic liquors as u beverage is
| productive of large amount of physical and
| mental disease; that 1t entails diseased appe-
tites and enieebled constitutions upon offspring,
| and that 1t is the cause of crime and pauper.
| ism in our cities aud country"
Col, Carroll ID, Wright, formerly at the head
OF the bureau of statistics and lanor OF MaSsa-
chusetts, in 1883 or 1881, put Guthorized agents
into each of the nine courts of criminal juris-
prudence in Suffolk county, which includes
70 TT ,ne Gass o h e n
ings were that 72 per cent. were caused directly
by intemperante, and II per cent. Of the bal.
nee anee were ,s decided upon investigation to be
Now. Mr.. Hayes, are all these officers and
| physicians 70 use your own classic langiage)
humbugs? This Kind of evidence from the
wisest and the best men in the country could
| be continued If necessary to almost any
length, and the facts are so numerous and self
| cNlNcul lutle We DuJ IeW
men of respectability left to dispute them.
| In every case where the sale of Intoxicating
| liquor has been prohibited by law, aud the
law enforced, crime ana pauperism have been
largely diminished and in some cases almost
| entirely abolished.
Coy. Iarabee, of your own state, is reported
| in D6s Moines paper as saying that in eighty
| counties of Iowa prohibition is enforced, and
| another paper about three weeks ago gave the
glad news to the world that the jails in fifty of
| hose counties were empty. pS2,
Prohibition emp!ies the iails and fills the
| lHTder.
Prohibition depopuates the grogshops and
| feeds and clothes the poor mans wife and
| children.
Prohibition can make the world brighter, bet.
| ter, and happier, and cannot by any possibility
| make II worse; so, Mr. Hayes please stand out
| of the way and let the liquor tralic dean Oe
| buried. never to have resurrection, Very
| respectfully, MARGARET 4. WEAVE,
SUIT. Dept Legislation and Petitiony,W, e. 7.
| U , Diet, Col,
| Regulate the regulator with Warmers Log
1 al. GuNn