Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-03-19
The jug Law.

Nearly three months of the present session of
the Legislature have passed, and as yet tb" jug
Law is not repealed. We need not say that this
state of things is looked upon with indignation
by nearly the entire community. That Law was
enacted in defiance of the popular will It was
enacted in direct opposition to the deliberate ex-
pressed, notorious wish of the people of Penn
sylvania; it was enacted by men who have ever
been repudiated by the people. The Law was in
sane in its conception tyrannica in its provisions
and restrictions, injurious, aye. rnous in sprac
teal workings, because in place of houses of
tcrtainment, responsible to some law, and kept
up with some regard to propriety, it has generated
doggeries in every alley, and in almost every
fence corner. The principle upon which the Law
was attempted to be enacted, that of Prohibition,
is opposed to and rejected by the common sense
of mankind. No man of common intelligence
could respect a law which was behind the age,
and whose friends and advocates were bigots and
fanatics, men who would take pleasure in re-en-
acting the Salem witch burning, if thew knew
how to get at it.
The liquor traffic should of course be placed
under wholesome regulations. We will admit
that Tor sanitary reasons, and for purposes of
police regulations, that traffic should be conducted
by responsible men, whose characters would be a
guarantee, that in their hands, the traffic will
not be injurious to the public peace, nor to the
health of their customers. This latter, after all
is the great consideration; it is the principal OBJ
Ject for which regulation is at all necessary, and
1t Is precisely in this regard that the failure and
inefficiency of the present law is SO deplorable
Say to the American people " you shall not have
this" or "you shall not do that" and they ,viU
have this, and riU do that at all hazards sat
the risk OF buletsW So in this case, the people
were determined that the use of liquor should not
be prohibited them, and anything, in the shape
of liquor could be sold, or disposed Of ANY man
who has travelled through the State during the
last year, knows that this has been the practical
working of the jug Law.
1t may be well to say word in reference to
the position of the Democratic Party on this
question. The Democrats, as party, utterly alb
hor and repudiate the abominablo thing. The
Democratic majority in the House, where they
voted for the unconditional repeal of the jug
Law, unquestionaby carried out the wishes of
their party and the people In regard to the
course OF some gentlemen in the Senate, who pro-
Tossing to be members of this party, have seen fit
to differ from the majority on this important ques-
ton, we at this time, will only say that the Dem
ocratlc Party are not responsible for their fine
sights. These gentlemen know that the Demo-
cratic policy demands the repeal of the jug Law
and if they see fit to differ from their party they
do so at their own Individual risk and response
bility.
AT present, the eyes of the people are directed
to the Democrats of the Lower House. We have
no doubt of them. They will perform their whole
duty. We observe that many of them have de-
termined not to adjourn until a reasonable license
law has been passed. Let them stick to that, and
the people will sustain them. Tho repeal of that
jug Law, was the principal object for which the
present Legislature was elected, and we would
advise them not to come home until they have
carried out the wishes of the people.