Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-05-28
For the Spectator.
Objections to License Law Continued.

IF liquor-selling is to be licensed, then let
every species Of iniquity be licensed. Better
far would it be to license burglary or arson,
counterfeiting or forging, theft or murder Not
so much harm would come from licensing the
greater wrongs and outrages to which society
is exposed, as does and must come from this
parent vice and giant crime Liquor-selling
has unq lestionably occasioned more ruin than
can be traced to any other cause OF suffering,
aye, we had almost said. all other causes COM
bined. To no other cause than this can fifty
thousand deaths annually in this country, be
alone attributed. From nothing else does nine
,enths of all the pauperlsm and crime result as
from this prolific source of evil. 1t is only
when we look in this direction that we see, the
fatal opening of Pandora's box, and feel as
sured that were it not for this dreadful traffic
there would hardly be any occasion for aims
houses or prisons. 1t such an evil as the liquor
traffic is to exist, let it be without the sanction
of Law, Let it not be made legally respectable,
and let not those engaged in extending 1t have
license with which to quiet their own con-
sciences and silence all the complaints made
against it. The strong hand Of introductory
law must be laid upon the traffic and the loud
and imperative voice of irreyocabe veto must
be uttered in the vendors ear, saying to him,
ssYou must stop this destructive buslness-you
must cease to seek your own benefit at the ex-
pense of so many-your business cannot be
tolerated." Every liquor dealer must be made
to understand that he cannot adopt that method
of gain getting.
Society is carefully guarded by prohibitory
laws against evils of much less magnitude than
druukard making. With one consent various
descriptions of injurious persons are tempted
in their employments, and various kinds OF
fraudulent gains are positively forbidden, and
no one objects Let burglar commit his dep
relations upon our places of residence or bus
mess, and how would the whole community be
aroused, and at once the police force would be
employed for his detection. The offender is ar
rested, how little mercy is shown him. tie has
taken little property that did not belong to
him. and he must go to the State prison. But
he has not beggared the family, whose goods
he has stolen-he has not taken away the whole
estate, even house and home-he has not
clothed the household in rags and reduced
them to hunger and want. No he has not
caused the misery which comes to the drunk
ard d's family He has not unnamed and bru-
talized the husband and father, broken the
heart of the wife and mother and cursed the
worse than orphan children. Burglary may be
prohibited and no one objects; but liquor sell
ing must be regulated, licensed or unmolested.
The bite of d mad dog is fatal and the death
thus produced is dreadful But is not the
traffic in Intoxicating drinks fatal also, and the
death of the unhappy victim if possible. even
more terrible than those who writhe In the con-
vulsions of hydrophobia. Why then should
the people be so Indifferent In regard to places
in our town more to be dreaded than scores OF
mad dogs.
It would seem that no one in his right mind
couId fail to acknowledge that, if there is an
evil which ought to be prohibited it is the
traffic in ardent spirits there is no other
source of harm to which society is so danger
ously exposed as to this most terrible curse Of
humanity. Not to prohibit is to sanction and
perpetuate it with all its unparalleled woes. Ii
must be prohibited. 1t cannot be safely regu.
lated. Fines and Imprisonment alone will at
ford those engaged in it convincing reasons fOl
not attempting to secure the profits OF drunk
ard making. Nothing but the illegality OF the
business will serve to diminish its victims. 81
long as it is made lawful, there will be enough
to seek its gains regardless OF all attendan
evils -,
Accountability is a serious matter. There Il
\ fearful accountability incurred by those wht
| drink intoxicating beverages and those wht
/ sell them, and those who do anything IN fayo
| of licensing the sale, as well as those who d!
/ not do all in their power to secure the prohlbl
1 tiops of the sale as a beverage OF whatever IN
\ toxicates. From this point of observation
there is most intense emphasis given to th
words, Neither be partakers of other men
/ sins. f" NO. Fl.
Abiding to former controversies with tn
/ New York Tribune, the n. Y. Eagle remarks
\ ''As between the Tribune and the Eagle ther
! has been no recent debate, because each journa
has abdicated 'organship, and because in man
things they see eye to eye now. This principa
and permanent matter of difference betwee
4 them has been adjourned by common consen
4 till graver evils, against which they join arm
I and lock shields, are destroyed. Personal lib
erty is before free trade. Fireside rights am