The Republican journal., 1895-09-26
The Republican Journal Thursday Morning. September e. 1885,

| their progress or defeat their worse than
murderous purposes, intlicting sorrow
and misery upon the innocent and help
lessand finally retaliating by bringi upon
the victim of the slavish appetite him
self, disease, poverty, degradation and
Indebtedness, in their worst forms. Es-
saying to keep pace with the onward
march Of this gigantic evil, and to apply
the brakes when vantage ground was
gained, thoughtful men and women have
long been studying, first, how to regulate
the indulgence in Intoxicating drinks, by
warnings, expostulations and entreaties,
and later on, combined with these, was
the attempt to lessen the indulgence by
restricting and regulating the traffic in
alcoholic beverages. But despite expos
tulations, prayers and tears, and the ''thou
shalt not of the Jaw, the evil has gone on
and its poisonous breath is felt through
out the entire country. From time to
| time the temperance forces have resorted
to, and tested, different methods by
means of which the evils connected with
| the use and sale Of intoxicants might be
| at least mitigated. if not wholly eradicat-
ed.
These vcY'~nrch periods, no one Of which,
to our kpught at ti~sias proved a total fail
ure, have ali had some points of ex-
cellence, and have served we'll the times
in which they severally existed. But
while improvements have been effected
along the lines of temperance work, the
enemy has by no means been idle. New
schemes and devices have been resortep
to, until it sometimes seems as though
the forces of evil almost hold their own
con the home stretch in this fierce race
between sin and righteousness. To-day
4 We havo laxrS NV WI, ho ,n inn
bibes too freely may be punished, and
fines may be imposed upon the man who
engages in the sale OF alcoholic stimu-
lants; but goaded on by the love OF drink
the drunkard keeps on drinking, even
though penalties be inflicted, and for the
desire cf financial gain the seller takes the
| chances Of being caught and keeps on
| selling. Meanwhile saddenad homes and
| bleeding hearts are on every hand. Ii
| this pernicious traffic could be satisfied
with the patronage Of those already alec
| hol diseased, there might be some hope of
starving out these spectators who for
i their wares give nothing in return but
that which deprives children of bread and
homes of happiness. | say there might
be some ray Of hope, yea more, there
would be, for thank God day the
drunkard can be cured: and for lack of
patronage, if these We're the sole de-
pendence, the business Of the saoonist
would of necessity cease. But not so
they who, in the light Of the dawn Of the
twentieth century. are so deadene,} to all
sense of honor as to depend upon the
liquor traffic to till their Golfers, haze
closely calculated from whence will come
OF rather must come, new recruits when
those lncapacitated to earn means to buy
Lave passed ont aud are no longer counted
profitable customers. They look to your
sons, dear friends. and may be already
weaving the net which shall separate
them from your fostering care and in
fluence.
Under such conditions as these, it is
little wonder that fathers and mothers
tremble fol the future Of those who now
gladden. their homes. some with THEN in
nocent prattle, while others. alas, are
nearing the period when they will step
out from the watchful care OF loved ones
to mingle with society, not as it should
oe, but as it is. Unless some great tidal
wave shall sweep over the lard and
strengthen popular opinion along tha
lines Of total abstinence and morality, the
temptations in the way Of the young men
and women who are soon to till our places
in the home and business life, may be
greater than they can withstand
What can be donea is the question that
is pulling the brain and haunting the
dreams OF men and women all over the
State who have given the subject serious
thought. Are our prohibitory laws defec-
tive; if so, in what particular and how
can the defect be remedieda Many Of our
good temperance men claim that we have
law enough to close out the traffic; it is
enforcement Of the law that is needed. If
that is all. why do we not enforce Others
contend that its enforcement has been
handicapped by the amendments Of '93 to
Sec. l Of Chap. 135 OF the Revised sta
tutes, relating to penalties. Sec. "a Ut
Chap. - says, "Whoever by himself,
clerk, servant OF agent sells any intoxicat-
ing liquors in this State in violation of
the law, shall pay fine Of not less than
$50 and costs. and in addition thereto be
imprisoned 80 days" The amended
section relating to penalties, says, sWhen
ii is provided that he shall be punished
by Imprisonment or fine, on by fine and
in addition thereto imprisonment, he
may be mot shall be) sentenced to either
or both.''
For instance, Sec. 80. Chap. ~, says,
No person shall be commo seller OF
intoxicating liquors. Whoever VIC ates this
section, shall be fined one hundred dol
lars and be imprisoned 30 days or, instead
of such fine, he may be imprisoned go
days additional. Now, according to
Sec. 40, the payment cf the United States
special tax as liquor seller shall be
held as prima facie evidence that the per
son OF persons paying said tax are com
mon sellers and are liable to fine of 500
and 80 days Imprisonment.
Just here comes in this amended sec
ton l of chapter 135, which says he may
be sentenced to either OF BOTH This
explains why it is that 50 many hotel
keepers, saloonists and others, having paid
their United States special tax and having
been convicted on that evidence, settle
the case by the payment of 500 and costs
and escape Imprisonment.
The trouble is patent to all, that under
the amendment the penalty is optional
with the judge. That being the case, to me
it seems of the greatest Importance that
our law-givers Of '96-7 be selected with
great care. Let temperance men and
women Of all political parties and organ
izations, and outside Of all political par
ties and organizations, concentrate their
forces with determination to have this
amendment repealed; and pending this,
let us unite our efforts in rigid enforce
ment OF all the law we can command in
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