Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-11-14
License Once More.

Mr.. EDITOR Il intend to be fair and just
and temperate in all things. 1 do not intend
by word, or act, or deed, in the case now in
hand to encourage either the selling or drink
ing eff rum, but on the contrary, intend to
be vigilant in opposing both, as the great evil
of the age, and fatally hostile to the peace of
the people, and to good will among men. |
do not intend to say to the twenty or more
men on Water street, whom the General in
Inmates are selling rum, that you are criminal
only as an 'absurd law" makes you so. do
not intend to say to them or to any 9th r class
of men that the licensing of the sale OF ium
makes its right morally or legally. License.
and the crimiuality ceases, says the General
We are not criminals only as an 'absurd
law" makes us so, cry those twenty or more
men or Water street; and in proof, he says,
''agents under the law are not regarded
criminal. They are not licensed, but appoint
cd for certain specified purposes, and none
other. They are not keepers of tipping shops,
and are criminals if they sell beyond their au-
thority as much as any one else" But the
General, for proof of the soundness Of his pc
sitiou puts into his communication, an ex-
tract, from gentleman of high standing in
Portland and suppose makes the conclusion
of the high standing gentleman his own.
Who this gentleman of high standing may be,
do not know. But l infer that he embraces
the opportunity offered, to make base attack
on Augusta, rather than to say word for the
cause Of temperance; and | infer that the
General concurs in the attack, or he would
expunge the offensive paragraph. He says
he admits all l say about closing up the grog
shops. But still insists in giving them an
open license. Close up by legally opening.
II can't see III" at is too thin" l am not
blind to the wrong that exists in my own loved
and beautiful city l feel the wrong and
share the shame. But much of 1t exists to-
day as the legitimate fruit of throwing doubt
on the sincerity of temperance men.
The General is afraid men will not stop
drinking because an Incorporate writer de-
MES their right to do it. Is it incorporate, in
view of the fact that a very large portion of
all who do drink, become drunkards, if not
confirmed ones, to say men ought not do it or
DENY their right so to do?' On this point |
abide the Judgment of thoughtful men and
women everywhere. "Men must he led and
not driven" | admit the rule. Men are led
in everything, except in the matter under con-
siderati.n, in the path which nature, duty, in
terest, and affection, seem to point out 10
them. But in this all the laws and aspira-
| tons of their being seem to be reversed, and
the appetites and passions, an imperlous and
numerous crowd, seem TO lead them. Many
influences lead them-bad ones in wrong direc-
tions; good ones in right ones. ! give the
General credit for sincerity, but think him in
an error, and that his words will have ten
dency to lead many into those twenty places
or more of which he speaks, on Water street.
Law is rule Of right" Webster says, "a
rule of order, or conduct" The General does
not contend that license law would he right
| or JUST but only one OF necessity. 1t certain
IL would not be one Of order For whom
would it be a rule of conduct? The learned
Hooker says in substance, ''law is the order
of the universe, its seat the bosom of God.
The common mother of us all, that is, the
protector and friend of ALL" Would law to
license tipping shops and drinking houses an
swer to any of these definitions? Would il
be approved of Heaven? Would it nourisl
and sustain the people in their lawful indus
tries? Would it tend to swell the volume o
human happiness? Would it lessen crime
IT none of these purposes be obtained, theI
why license ihem9 And who believes the!
can he. r.: