Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-05-21
For the Spectator.
Objections to a License Law.

All admit that the traffic in strong drink is
an evil. If it is an evil, then
lst 1t is wrong to license an evil. The BIZ
Bile has two ways only Of dealing with evil,
namely, by prevention and prohibition lit does
not license it.
2ad. Licensing the sale of intoxicating drinks
makes it respectable Good citizens generally
regard the traffic as a low and disreputable bus
iness-hut license law throws around it the
sanction Of the State, and thereby gives it the
appearance of a Legitimate business. Rumsel-
lers understand this and advocate license law.
Prohibition denounces this work OF destruc-
tion-icense approves 1t.
3rd. A license law accomplishes but two
things: ID 1t protects rumsellers in their
destructive traffic. (2.) It provides the drink
ing classes with the facilities of gratifying their
appetites. Both of these things are. immoral
and sinful, because they increase VlSme, pau
perisp and misery. It is unkindness to the
drunkard's 9 wife and children to license man
to sell their husband and father that which beg
gars them and destroys their happiness. More
than that, there is absolute Vickedness In such
an act Government is bound to protect them
from abuse and misery instead OF exposing
them to these evils.
4th. The license system is an unjust monop-
oily. 1t authorizes few men TO sell strong
drink and prohibits all others. 1t the traffic
be good and useful, then all alike should be
permitted to engage in it,. IF it be injurious,
then none should be allowed to engage in it,
To license few men to make three-fourths Of
all the paupers and criminals for the unlicensed
citizens to support, is burden that virtuous
people should resist.
5th. IF one evil is licensed, then we must Ii
cense others. The reasons urged for licensing
rum0lling, alike demand licensed gamblers and
prostitutes, because thousands OF them infest
our cities 10 spite of law, therefore we ought
to regulate their Internal business by licensing
il. Because men will sell ardent spirits in spite
OF all prohibitory laws, therefore We ought to
regulate the traffic By licensing it.
9th. The ramseller violates the right Of
property. Each man has a right to use bis
property as he will, provided he does not use q
so as to infringe upon TIE rights of Others Il
fourth of the paupers and criminals for the law
abiding citizens to support, then to license it
is to allow one class of men to violate the righ
of property vested in others.
7th. The traffic In strong drink, corrupt'
those engaged in it. The advocates of license
say we must license respectable men. Sup
pose we do license such how long will they
continue SO? Evil communications corrup
good manners Will the courseness, vulgar
ity and profanity of the bar-room promote gooG
morals? If one of these respectable mer
should put up the notice in bis dram-shop-
"lNo suearing allo,red here. Good manner
and good morals required of customers hi
customers would laugh in his face. The bust
ness is demora|izing and cannot be made other
wise, and hence 1t is wrong to license it.
9Th. Some advocate granting license only t
the higher class of grog-shops. Ii only ON
class are to be licensed, let that class be th,
lo,oer one, for wrecks of humanity patroniz
these. Drunkards are made in your fashion
able Bar rooms, and finished off in your Rum
mills.
9th. What good does rumseler do. whel
licensed? Draymen, boot-blacks, chimney
sweeps or scavengers do some good when Ii
censed? Their work is indispensable. Blu
what good does the rumseller do? Does he as
sist in educating the young. No: he increase
| ignorance. Does he diminish taxes? No: b.
more than doubles them. Does he multiply
| Churches? No: he multiplies prisons an,
aims houses Then shall we license a man tt
sell strong drink when we cannot name an,
good that he can do? By no means 1t viii
| be time enough to license rumsellers, whel
they can point us to one good thing which the.
| can or will do.
Advocates of license law, can you name an,
one good thing?
! The best reason we ever heard for grantin,
license to sell ardent spirits, was given by
gentleman Of our city, j. e.: That dram
shops stand out as shining lights, evidences o
the depravity of human nature.
| 10th. 10 sum up the whole matter. 1t it