The morning journal-courier., 1908-06-29

ceased In 1918, and not until the coun-
try was plunged into another war was
the licensing Of this business permit
ted by the federal government. In
1851 another war revenue measure be-
came necessary, and. exercising It's
power to raise tax imposts and duties,
the system Of levying tribute on the
sale of intoxicants was revived.
Abraham Lincoln refused to sign
the act until assured that, like the
previous acts, II would be repealed as
soon as the need for funds to carry on
the war had ceased The president
signed the act, believing that. like the
previous acts OF the same kind. Il
would soon be repealed. and that II
was only war revenue measure.
The pledge made to Lincoln TO
repeal the act has never been kept and
we have the law upon the federal stat.
utes to-day with some few amend
ments In the acts of 1894 and Is12
II was specially provided that no II
cense for the sale Of intoxlcants should
be Issued to persons who were prohib-
tied from selling by state law. The
last act does not contain that provis-
ion and the federal government dis
regards the state laws.
las originally passed the certificate
issued to the seller of lntoxicants was
called a license but now II Is called a
tax receipt but II serves the same pur-
pose. The same act provides for tax
on liquors and this alliance with the
liquor traffic and the federal govern
ment continues in defiance to the
wishes Of forty million people that
have outlawed the business.
The federal government to-day can
only see the revenue from this source
and are blind to the misery they are
producing and the lawlessness hat
they actively protect. Can we be
proud Of our country while the ed
eral government is in partnership
with violators Of state law and is this
the way to bring about more perfect
union?
The issuing Of federal tax receipts
to persons engaged In the sale Of in
toxicants In violation OF state laws is
persisted In by the federal government
In defiance 10 the wishes of major
ity of the citizens OF the country Then
the power to regulate Interstate com
merce being exclusively In congress
the federal government is responsible
for the breaking down OF state laws
by refusing to use its power In such
manner as to allow each state the
right to regulate It's internal affairs as
Its legislature may deem wise In refer
ence 10 the liquor traffic Because
brewers and distillers wish to force
their products into territory where the
sale Is outlawed the congress OF the
United States has perslstently refused
to pass an act regulating the interstate
shipment OF liquors.
The federal government since the
war has maintained friendly atti-
tude for the liquor business and has
protected II to the extent OF It's power.
The entangling alliance that Washing
ton warned the country against has so
fastened itself upon the body polite
that II now dares and defes the gov
eminent.
The liquor men do not hesitate to
appear before committees OF congress
and declare that they will not res
pect the solemn mandates OF the high
est legislative body in the country.
Their argument that prohibition does
not prohibit is a challenge to the suf-
| ficiency OF our government
I'm the capitol of the greatest ma
ton on earth, nation that has con-
quered outside force internal insur-
rection and every other thing else that
has threatened Its national life and
has been victorious against great odds
the liquor men do not hesitate to de-
clare that they can defy our laws,
III their claims are true we have
nursed business that is now able to
overthrow all government The ma.
ton Is now at the mercy Of the liquor
traffic II the claims made by the liquor
men are true, but thank God they are
not true. This country is fast driv-
Ing this viper from the land. The
men who claim to be vctors are meet
inf with defeat everywhere and II Is
only question Of time when the ma
ton will be a saloonless nation, The
only reason that the present session
of congress did not shake off this en-.
tangling alliance was because presi-
dental election was near and they
feared the result. Any temperance
bill could be passed II It reached con.
gress. When a test was made there
were few men who wished to stand ur
on the rum side, but the car Of The
house so packed the committees thai
1t was impossible to get many meas
IA A. u