The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-11-03
For The Cecil Wing.
Reform! RETORW!!


REFORM REFORM!
! Mr.. RIcKETTs:- Sir Notwithstanding
women may not with impunity NEEDLE
with politics, take the liberty TO write
YOU on a sui Jet in which | feel deep in
tercst, and which, in my opinion, should
be considered with attention by every good
citizen. | only propose to throw out a
hint Or tWo-which | suppose woman
may do without making herself obnoxious
to censure leaving the laying down of
plans, and tie ma,si,aI';ng Of forces, to
men-that is, if they think the subject
worth their attention.
have happened to ascertain that much
Of the costs OF The courts OF this county
much Of the litigation, much Of the crime
committed in it. and most of the disturb
ances Of the public peace-to soy nothing
of the private broiis and social difficulties
that occur, are occasioned by a class OF
small stores, dealing principally in liquor
which may well be regarded as nuisan-
ces. The numerous cases from SasSairas
Neck, which occupied the attention OF the
court at its late session, as ! am informed,
are attributable to them.
Now, the changes have been runr, on
the evils Of drunkenness, and the dangers
Of tipping we are familiar with all the
arguments to show the immortality Of these
habits we listen without emotion to sto-
RES OF the utter WrctChcduCss Of the family
Of the dgunl.%rd-hls children may 20 rag-
ged and starving through the streets-his
wife may weep in loneliness, and bear as
best she may, his CurSings and blows ard
AicAS-he, himself, may roll in the gutter
through long nights of darkness and storm.
In this polite age these things are nothing.
We are familiar TO them all, and they are
SO decidedly vulgar, that We turn up our
noses and pass them Iy,
But other arguments are arising. These
stgr@ { are becoming nuisunccs-i in some
places it is said they have become nests of
| thieves. They are often pests in the COM
munity where they exist, and the result
OF the whole matter is, that they bring
disgrace and nrctchcdncss upon those who
keep them--tLat they scatter misery around
amongst the families Of those who visit
them-that they harass and perpIex the
neighbolhoods IN which they are found
that they lead to HIGH crimes and miSdc-
meanors, which are expensive to the coun-
| ~, and cause large increase OF taxes on
the industrious part Of the community.
And the summing up is that they are evil,
and only evil. Then why are they toll
/ Grated? ! am told, ii is because the law
permits it. Gan the law lie changedt
nm told that in the neighboring county of
Kent there is 4 law giving to the Grand
Jury otthe county, he granting Of licenses,
and that since the eHistancc Of that law,
| there las been thinning out Of sro2 >Iops
i beg pardon-s'or@! Now ii seems 10
, ne, that il there is such law in Kent. it
would not lie unconstitutional TO have such
a law in Cecil, and as IT has there dpcreas-
ed the evil, ! recommend that an effort 10
made to have the same law, or better one
here.
1t is an undisputablc maxim that union
is strength" I propose that united e.
fort be made to decrease these fruitful
sources Of evil, and I suggest that the
proper kind Of petition be framed by some
citizen who is capable TO do it, and that it
| be circulated among the women Of the
county as well as the mcn-that their
names be collected together separately; in
other words that there be two distinct Pc
tltions, pGe for the women and ore for the
men. The former, am sure would tc
signed by thousands, and the LEGISLATURE
could not fail to regard It; as it would re-
late to a matter OF social importance.
Ihopc this matter may lie agiated, and
that the effort may he universal through
the county. suggest a convention OF dele
gates from all the Divisions of the Sons of
Temperance, and from all temperance
| communities, to meet at EIkton at an carly
day, TO take necessary STEPS. Agitation
agitatIon-Who speaks ncXt9
Nov. 2nd, 1919. CECILIA.