The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-01-23
Ne Plus Ultra.

There are some themes which it would
seem continual friction and natural gravita-
tion towards the end desired would wear
out, because the subject matter becomes
threadbare and pals upon the palate
through surfeit. And yet there are eXcep.
tiOns to this general rule. and among them
the liquor question can be singled out as
prominent one. This is question not to
be classed with the topics for casual cOnsid-
Grafton and then set aside. because it is of
vital interest to every man, woman and
child in the known world, civilized or un-
civilized. IT it is. as all unbiased reason
must admit. sapping the vitality of all civil
lied chriStendOm. how much more will it
demoraliZe the unciviliZed who have not the
light of the Gospel and other humaniZing
influences to teach them? Now the queS-
tiOn of mitigating its dilatOry effects upon
morals and religion has been discussed IN
the four quarters of the globe and especially
so On the American continent. for the last
half century; and instead of the subject be-
ing exhausted and falling into decay, is in
creasng in volume and interest as the
march of time goes on. until now it is the
burning question of the day. And Justly
SO from the very fact Of its hdeous vitality,
its Nervousness as it squirms along the
highways of society monster snake with
villanOuS green eyes and beautiful mOttled
body; guarded by thousand lances in the
hands of its open and secret friends who
ward off the many thousands of blows
aimed at its life by the friends of God and
imperiled souls. And from out the
chaotic mass Of eXpedients that have
been advanced, one, and only one. seems to
be unfurling the flag of hope, which when
fully unfurled and freely floating in
heavens untainted air. will carry demoral
izatiOn to the beautiful but treacherous
monster. And that one is High License.
Yes; high license as pure and simple as a
glass of pure and sparkling cold water so
gratefully refreshing to thirsty palateS. 1t
will do it, because it will then be compelled
to feed itself from its own life blood and
not as now upon that of the people.
But it must be high license in spirit as
we'll As name. 1t must be in such form and
manner that poor man must go hungry
for bread and the rich men grow poor if
they spend their substance for drink. The
brewer must pay heavily for the malt ma
terial from which he brews; he must do the
same for the privilege of selling 1t to the
retail dealer. And the retail dealer must
pay five times as dear for his privilege of
doing it out i'm drinks. And the buyer
of the drink must pay very dear for the
privilege Of drinking it.
I'VE take none of the liberties vouch
safed to you by the constitution of state or
federation; we simply tax the raw material
for home consumption of an unnecessary
luxury. The tax if necessary for the adj
mnistratiOn of affairs for the public veal,
and especially SO for that part relating to the
poor OF our land; and to encourage emigra
tiOn to people our un0ccupied land, and
many other funds to move interest to the
advancement of human virtue and the al.
deviation of the ills of life than can possibly
accrue from the sale of the manufactured
article which is unnecessary to human COM
fort and life, antagonistic to human virtue
and curse to all mankind" says the state
to the brewers and the distillers, and the
traffickers in the vile stuff generally
throughout christendom. And the state
should be the bearer OF the standard from
which floats the banner of temperance.