American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-11-20

others. The time was when our bar
rooms were places of resort, frequented by
the people of the whole neighborhood, or
at least the drinking portion of them
Had our landlords observed the law, and
sold only to strangers and Travellers" |
doubt much whether there ever would have
been any opposition to license. In fact,
l believe there would not have been; but,
on the other hand, were the trapei,ny
public to be their only custom they would
not want license, for it would not pay
But, say some, there is as much drinking
done as ever; liquor can be had still. |
| believe that some can still be had. 1t is |
said some obtain it at our ds.ileries. 1t
is generally understood, | believe, that
something stimulating can be had at Koh,
ler's. OF this there is, at least "sur
face indications" But, notwithstanding
all this, all the drinking done Row don't
amount to drop in the bucket compared
to what was formerly drunk here. Any
one convers.nt with our locality, can
bring before his minds eye, perhaps, over
a dozen Of Incorporate persons wsils
there was license, who are now respeeta.
BILE, Industrious citizens. While they
are thus reclaimed, there are hundreds,
perhaps, saved from the influences that
are sure-sooner or later-to overcome
and ,destroy them. II the movement
should give way, even now, the good it
has accomplished will be sufficient to jus.
| tify all the effort it cost My neighbor,
MONITOR, seems to assume that have
been abusing our landlords and restaurant
keepers, and he steps up to their defence.
And what is the amount of his testimony?
Simply that they are as good set of cit
izens as are found at the same business
elsewhere. I once heard of a School
teacher having been indicted for too Sc.
verely correcting youth. In the course
OF the trial witness was brought on the
stand to testify to the good character of
the boy. Witness said the boy was about
neighbor like-that he WIS about like tn
rest Of the boys. After leaving the stand
some one expressed surprise that he had
thus testified. He said 1t was true the
boy was about neighbor-like; but"
said he, "thsy are all raseals." Now,
this is about the substance of MONITORS
testimony. On the other hand, | have
not mentioned snything disrespectful Of
one of them. l think them quite as
good AID respectable as the majority of
our citizens. No one can feel greater
reluctance than do, in So, ing word
adverse to their interest
A great many good men owned slaves,
this fact alone Tade US postpone dis
turbing that institution until it fastened
like a cancer IN the body polite Then
in deed had we to lay aside all our deli,
cacies and with the knife of the surgeon,
eradicate it. A similar process may be
necessary 10 the present case. But
have followed this view oC the subject
farther than had intended. Since he
subject has been opened remonstrauces
have been prepared and signed to be
presented at the present Court, against
the granting of license IN this Borough
For myself have never signed peti--
tion nor a remonstrance, nor do belong
to any organization, either social or po>
litical, save the Republican party Was
the question Of Restaurant license, subs
mItted to me, (there being only two ap>
pIicants) without reference to the law,
| would send Kohler 10 jail for his
audacity, and | would give Sykes
license because he is good quiet citizen,
aud so far as know is obeying the law.
But Courts Of Justice caunot afford to
ignore the 'aw and the facts, as brought
before them. And therefore although 1t
would certainly be more pleasing to them
to be at liberty to grant license in certain
cnses, still they must act upon general
principles, knowing that it is better that
hardship be done, even to an individ.
ual, rather than wron g to whole COM
muulty. Knowing the citizens engaged
in the temperau ce movement as do, l
fsel safe in say ing that they will insist
on the rigid application of the law as to
license Still let the action of the court
be what it may, those of them belonging
to our party will still stand BY the prin>
pies of the republican party, and by its
organization and will continue to support
its nominees.
MONITOR could not let the occasion
pass without giving sly thrust at the
Court for using strong language in refer.
ence to the liquor traffic. He gives us the
language of the Court in quotation, as
having called it the internal traffic. "
His Honor is not the only Judge that, in
the course of his official action, showed
his feelings and judgment too. Before
l Id IL