The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-09-20
Our Constitutions and Liquor.
BY REV. A. WILEY.

1t is passing strange that public
opinion to this late day has conceded
to the liquor traffic the same constitu-
tional rights as are given to any other
business; and there is the fortress of
its strength. The same rights were
claimed and conceded to slavery three
fourths of century, when in 1860 the
anti-slayery people had convinced
majority of the nation of their delu
sion, and that the national constitu
ton was for liberty alone by all its
powers This took the government,
slavery fell naked, and our country
was saved. Now it is earnestly asked
that candid people search and see if
they are not wallowing in still more
fatal abyss of delusion and guilt.
Read and weigh.
The trainers of the Constitution
carefully stated the object for which
they did their solemn work, aud the
people adopted it as their own. They
say, I've, the people of the United
States, in order to form more per-
feet union, to establish justice, to in
sure domestic tranquility,
promote the general welfare, and Sc
cure the blessings of liberty,
do ordain and establish this Constitu-
ton" Read it oyer. Never was such
nations cornerstone laid besides on
earth. 1t was all that God and the
Bible command. And state constitu-
tions assert essentially the same.
Ours in Minnesota SAYS: We, the
people, grateful to God for our civil
ami religious liberty, do ordaln and
establish this Constitution. Govern
ment is instituted for the security,
benefit and protection OF the people. :"
To these. I'VE, the people," profess a
firm fidelity, and every legislator and
official swears to Go the same. 1t is
our LIFE.
After stating the designs of the
Constitutions, tie authors provided the
requisite legislative and executive
powers, armed with the whole code
against whatever was opposed to the
public welfare" Can the liquor
crime be legalized under such consti-
tutions?
Now arraign at the bar of these con-
situations the horrible liquor crime
the gigantic crime of crimes" with
all its torments and woes, all its ruin
to domestic tranquility" all its ma
terial destruction, its poverty, crimes,
personal and public corruption, its bar
DarO;ss war on The general welfare"
and shame to civilization; and COM
rlcte the indictment by piIing up the
60, 900 bodies of its murdered dead each
year directly, and as many more indi-
rectly. Then as sworn juror decide,
is this business constitutional? Not
a man Of common intelligence will
deny that it is directly hostile to the
constitutions, and what they absolute
l. demand shall be stopped. And the
supreme court of the United States es-
sentially aflirms this polition in calling
it a nuisance" And the laws of
several states SO treat it. And no one
will say that naisances are constitu-
tional. II is also a fundamental prin-
ciple of jurisprudence that what is
morally wrong cannot be legal
Where then does the whole liquor
system stand? Naked-with not a
valid law in its support in state or ma
ton. And all voting and legislation
in its favor are treason to our nations
life. What is to be done? What we
did thirty-fifty years ago. Expose
the false construction of the constitu-
ton, stand by it at the ballot box, and
this awful ruin of our country will
soon fall. The people will stand by
their sacred, glorious constitutions
when they see Its enormous perverslon,
if it calls them to fields of war
Northficld Minnesota.