Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1888-06-06
PROHIBITION COLUMN.
EDITED BY THE PROHIBITION CLUB.

EDITED BY THE PROHIBITION CLUB.
THE TEMPERANCE oUEsTIoN-A
STATEMENT.
In discussing the temperance ques-
ton there is but little need Of prefac-g
ing. The real preface was written
long ago by Gods avenging natural
laws. The ultimatum Of the present
troubling Of the vast pool Of public
debauchry and corruption is apparent
to those who are candid, intelligent
and susceptible Of conviction when
confronted by a countless array Of
indisputab,e facts. This great moral
reform, is a struggle to remove the
greatest curse antiquity or modern
civilization has ever known.
That the American saloon Is q
leprous spot upon our boasted civil
| cation and advancement Is conceded
by all wise men and now the prohi-
bitionists have taken up the balm
which they believe will purge this
enemy of the home from our land.
That nation whose laws bear the
mark of the principles Of law divine
ly authorized is regarded as being
most stable, and that which 10 unlaw-
full in the Divine law 10 unlawful il
upon the statute books of q civilized
nation.
The friends Of the saloon admit that
the business is an abomination In the
sight of God and bar to civilization,
and we go 80 far as to state that those
who have been instrumental in plac-
ing these Infamous license laws on
our statute books. are parties in the
crime of official corruption! they
have accepted, for legalizing q crime,
as hush money, the license fee pilfsred
from the mouths Of starving babes
and impoverished families. This
done, they have the audacity to hold
before the peoples gaze the paltry
sum they secure for the lives Of 100,'
600 humana beings they thus bur
continually into drunkkfds graves
TCan you, courteous reader, conceive
of anything more contemplate o.
insulting upon your sovereignty as 6
free American citizen7
Look still further. Men, who woult
be regarded as the first in loyalty. thu
first in uprightness, and morality
men who were solictious in having
strict license laws placed upon oul
statutes books, and men who arr
elected to enforce the laws Of tn,
land have been known to stand III
in public meetings and say through
their personal knowledge the presen
law is not enforced, giving this as
clincher against prohibition, or a
an argument that prohibition will
not prohibit, because the
officers of the law do not enforce tn
license law we now have" Con
template the logic as well as the bol'
declaration of their own determine
ton to trample the laws under foot
Agreeing, as Tie bopdiace does, tina
the saloon business Is q crime, wha
more can a consistent people do thai
prohibit the further enlarging Of it
| powers. God has but one method o
| dealing with evil he prohibits it. III
, makes no comprises with It! has NJ
) system of fees, taxes or penalties up
on the payment of which it may b
allowed, but meets It every wher
with a definite peremptory 'stho'
} shalt not.' which admits of no barter
ing and no appeal. He who approve
and tolerates what God condemn
. puts himself at war with Gcd. Hthi
: federation is procured with q Oh
> alienation and decentralization an
} all the greater. The back turned up
on the Master, and the hand reache'
out tor the thirty pieces of silver ha
too long been the attitude Of the worl'
in relation to the liquor traffic. al
this license mongering il conffessio,
Of guilt at this point, for the Zee Is OK
acted and received on the theory tina
the .traft1c is- i clonstrous iniquit,
| that ought not to exist.
To license murder, theft or treaso,
has never entered the minds of on
astute statesmen, who seem to fin.
abundant reason for licensing tina
which is known to produce four-flfth
of the crimes and miseries that nov
Cypress society. ~ s2@ r
The growing intelligence and awak
ening Of concience among the peopl'
is our hope, and the fact that clea
earnest thinking is crystalizing int
action deep enough 10 get to founda
ton principles and bottom facts, ha
placed the hand writing Of the doom
! Of the saloon upon Che wall. TIL
people are at last beginning 20 se
that the question is TO kill or be killed
It is the saloon against the home, th
state, and the church, with the spiri
of national prohibition rising In de
Tense of the home and native Ian,
on one hand and the spirit Of murde
well developed on the other.
, Courteous, christian reader, look .
, the hydra headed monster just aasr b.
, is. Those locks, whitened by Frost
Of three thousand years are matte.
with blood and filth; his blood stain
ed hands declare him to be com
mon unrestrained, legalized murderer
What page Of history has he adorned
with the record Of noble deeds? Wha
arts or industries has he fostered 70,
the good of society? Where lie th,
domestic happiness and moral excel
lencies he has frightened and blest
| Whnra has he ovnr furnished hrooS