The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1856-04-10
THE NEW LIQUOR LAW.

very low PeIeOhs express themselves en-
tirely pleased with The new liquor law, but
certainly in many respects 1t is an improve
ment upon the ''jug law" OF last year. The
difficulty in ihis subject Of temperance has
never been so much for wan, Of law 10 re-.
strain drunkenness as from the lack OF prop
er enforcement OF the law. Certainly there
now exist many saluiary laws to check the
evil in this respect. il there shall only now
De enough moral force IN public opinion to
enforce them. For under our American re-
public this moral force is The power behind
the law, without which The statutes must re-
main dead letter.
rhe bond demanded by the tenth section
of the new law will he very much objected
10 by many persons; but w5can see no harm
in il beyond what is contain ed in The o,he
portion Of the law. For the otner sections
impose penalties severe enough against vic.
iators OF the law, ard it seems 10 Us that il
they were properly enforced there would be
no additional safrgnard in The tenth section
To him who violates no par of the law, its
penalties and bonds have no terror
The 29lh section strikes upon a principla
that seems TO receive at this time an i'1creas-
ing share OF favorable attention from stu dents
OF ethics and junsprulence.-Ii Furnishes the
drunkard himself and il man is to be ire at
ell 10 a free and responsible moral agent, /,
is certainly high time that he who willingly
makes nuisance Of himself should su fsr
for the crime. In some cases tie liquor sell
Ter is doubtless wilful accessory and tempt.
OF 10 the crime, but lately the power Of the
law has been turned almos, entirely asains,
the vefner, and has treated tho drinker as if
he was hardly morally responsible being.
The mental alteration and depravily OF the
drunkard may appeal TO the projecting SYM
pathy Of our seuiiment but so nigh, the ab.
CREATIONS Of ignorance, idleness and itching
malice and the offender must be held re-.
sponsible for allowing himself to fall iEto this
depravity. In almost every criminal, habit
ual indulgence in some ev il passion has nur-
sed it until il grew to be- the master Of its vic.
tim; but he is not the less in fault for the
formation Of the evil nabi,, or else every
criminal would justify himself asains, pun
ishment. Morbid and sickly sentiment has
had loo much to do with our laws, aud cool
deliberalion and reason too little. 1t is this
error tha, makes them as changeable and
fleeing as lne wind.
The limit to The lumber of tavems will be
another source Of complaint, and does mol
seem 10 be founded on any correct principle
| of political economy. That business sc
! very liable 10 abuse should be conducted on
| ly BY sober and corec, men is reasonable
enactment ard that business in which sc
m my evils exist should be hedged around
with strong safeguards and penalties s sure
ly proper, and is demand of social security
But these guards should be strong, ard ,her
sufficient; and within them there should be
fair, equal and open competition 10 all who
will observe the law.
| The duty of cons'ables will require them
10 stale definitely under the new law wheth
er there are violations Of il in the several dis
iric,s. If The design Of the act is fairly car
red out, repeated violations cannot happen
with impnni,y as they now do. II will bt
we'll for consiables to examine the provision
OF the new law which relates to them.
1t appears pretty clearly that The
wboie of our corn:y is 10 serve as one
district in Limiting the number Of tavern Ii
censes, and tha, each township shall moi be- ;
separate district. If The former method o
apponionmeni is adopted Columbia count,
/ nigh, have 81 taverns, which is about tn.
nu,nber licensed in 1854. But if The latte
me,ht,, is adopted the number of TAVERN
would b. cut down abou, one-lhird.
Upon the whoIe,> we think The Law
about as GOOD and as generally satisfaclor!
as could have been expected where there ar
so many varying minds to consult It's bas
ed mainly npon Mr.. Browne's bill, and 'hsr
is enough str:ngency in 1t 70 res'rain most
the evils of the liquor traffic which now ex
list, and enough Of liberali,y to furnish: no ex
cuse for the most dangerous and shameiu
illegal traffic which existed during the pas
year
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