Smyrna times., 1858-01-14

about those beneficial results which were anti
cipated.
Where laws are enacted for the government
OF whole people, it is right that they should
have such statutes passed as would restrain and
regulate the proPenslties and moral bearing o
all. This is subject worthy of consideration
we often hear the term groggeries," slow
rum holes," &c. If those terms are applied
with regard to distinction between higher and
lower drinking places, or that you are to re-
celve better article in what is called hotel''
than you do in the grogshop, the application of
the term is then without definition.
Any portion of building which is set apart
exclusively for the sale of liquors, and loose
conversation, with the ribaldry and obscene tests
OF the deVo!ees of Bacchus, is, TO all ntents
and purposes grogshop,-nohing more or
less. Let the building be five stories or one, as
The case may be, there can possibly be no rea
difference with regard to the responsibility at
fached to the person who drinks in the one or
The other. When the article of liquor was first
sold by the publican, the law was strict. and
wares, In scrupes and grains while the publ-
can who had the power by law to retail stimu-
Ia"ng liquor, was not allowed 10 give or sell it
10 any except traders who might be weary.
distressed and care worn, ,the aid of sucb stimu.
ants might give relief for the present, but such
a thneas having bar. room for men to be sit
ting about ldnng away their time, was never
thought OF or res rted to in those days, and vet
1t was called the age of ignorance; and cer
'alnIy, If we take the present fashionable sty,e
OF gr"gShops, the intelligence Of the nineteenth
century has made large improvements upon the
stupidity and sobriety of those who lived four
centuries since.
1t may do very we'll with the designs of the
promoters of despotism, whether democratical
or monarchca, to recommend or enforce such
laws, tor the degradation of the upper and lower
classes Ot society, for we hold the opinion that
all are IN great measure likely to fall by the
temptation set before them by the law, making
power of the State We conceive that the
duty OF legislative body is easily ACCOMPLISH
cd. All they need to do tor the benefit of the
moral standing OF the Community, and secure
the patriotic training of the rising generation.
is to refuse the issuing OF any precept in the
shape OF license for the sale of stimuIatipn
liquors, as common beverage, in any shape or
under any prelense whatever. Thus the whole |
ground Will be covered at once.
1t certainly is rot right to enact laws for the
destruction Of life,-and the indiscriminate use
and sale OF liquor has no other effect on the
body pol!tlc than the destruction of thousands
annually; and with our rapid increase in popu-
Iatlon this updS, winding itself around the frail
tehementS OF humanity must continue to work
further destruction without one redeeming fea-
ture 10 give the dignity of TRUTH usefulness or
credit. 1t is grand mistake to RELY upon pub.
lie opinion to put down an niquitous practice
which has had existence for centuries. and suD.
ported BY acts of Legislation. When public
opinion IS in healthy state, it can sustain
wise laws, but it is often dangerous to RELY upon
its aid for the suppression of vice and crime in
opposition TO law.