Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-01-23
TEMPERANCE TOPICS.
READING FOR THOSE OPPOSED
TO TIE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

Tho Saloon Political Stepping Stone I
An Eminent Jurist drinking and
Crime Enormous Sum Spent for Drink
Decision of t:e Supreme Court Regards
ing the ale oil Liquor i
The Supreme Court of the United
States has rendered Il decision in a liquor
case thu goes down to the roots Of the |
question A California dram seller was !
denied q renewal of his license, for keep
ing disordcrly house He persisted in
selling without Il license, and found him.
self in durance vile for his contumacy. |
A district Judge released him on habeas |
corpus, holding that the license law of !,
California was denial of the citizens
right to choose his own occupation and |
freely pursue it,
The case went to the Supreme Court,
which, through Justic Field, declares
that no man has an inherent right to
retail intoxicating liquors, but that tho i
| business has been regarded by all civil
tied nations as one that involves great
risks to society, and is therefore subject
to strict limitations and special safe
guards There is no question of the
right of a State to limit the number that
may engage in it, and to restrict the
business by such guards against abuse
as the welfare of society may seem to
require.
The language of the court is we'll
worth reading. 1t says:
sit is urged that as the liquors are
used as beverage, and the injury fol-
lowing them, if taken in excess, is volun-
tarily inflicted and is confined to the
party offending, their sal, should be
without restrictions, the contention be-
ing that what a man shall drink, equally
wi h what he shall cat, is not properly ID
matter for legislation.
"There is in this position an assump-
ton of fact which does not exist, that
when the liquors are taken in excess the
injuries are confined to the party Offend
ing. The injury, it is true, falls first
upon him in his health, which the habit
undcrmines; in his morals, which it
weakens; and in his ESTABLISHMENT,
which it creates But as it leads to neg
lect of business and waste of property
and general decentralization, it affects
those who are Immediately connected
with and dependent upon him.
"By the general concurrence OF opin-
ion of every civilized and Christian com
munity, there are few sources of crime
and misery to society equal to the dram
shop, where Intoxicating liquors., in small
quantities, to be drunk at the time, are
sold Unfortunately to all parties apply
ing. The statistics of every State show
a greater amount of crime and misery
attributable to the use of ardent spirits
. obtained at these retail liquor saloons
, than to any other source.
"rhe sale of such liquors in this way
, has, therefore, been, at all times, by the
, courts of every State, considered as the
proper subject of legislative regulation.
Not only may license be eXacted from
the keeper of the saloon before glass of
his liquor can thus be d sposed OF, but
restrictions may be imposed as to the
class of persons to whom they may be
!: sold, and the hours of the day, and the
days of the week ON which the the salool
may be opened. Their sale in that form
may be absolutely prohibited. 1t is ;
question of public cXpediency, and pub
lie morality, and of Federal law. The
police power of the State is fully com
petent to regulate the business, to miti
gate it's evil, or suppress it entirely
"There is no inherent right in citi
zen to sell Intoxicating liquors by retail
it is not a privilege of Il citizen of State
or of citizen of the United States. As
it is business attended with danger to
the community, it may, as already said.
be entirely prohibited, or be permitted
under such conditions as will limit tC
the utmost it's evils. The manner and
extent of the regulation rest in the dis
erection of the governing authority.
"That authority may vest in such Off
GERS as it may deem proper the power OF
passing upon applications for permission
to carry it on, and to issue licenses for
that purpose. 1t is matter OF legis-
lative will only. AS in many other cases,
the officers may not always exercise the
power conferred upon them with wisdom
or justice to the parties affected. But
that is matter which does not affect the
authority of the State, or one which can
be brought under the cognizance OF the
} courts of the United States. limited
Presbyterian.
The Good 1t Would Do.
,Ehnrn GRO in Now York and RrOOklYD