The Cecil Whig., 1873-06-28
For The Cecil WI
THE LICENSE QUESTION.

WHEREAS, The Liquor question is now
assuming form under which the people
can have some voice in the matter of the
continuance Of the traffic as at present
carried on under a Local Option Law,
which is at present in force in forty coun-
ties of Pennsylvania, and has passed the
Legislatures of several other States.
AND WHEREAS, This seems to be one
of the most popular modes for remedy
ing, in part at least, the present evils
growing out of the unrestricted license
system, by stopping the trade where the
majority SO desire it; we deem it due to
the momentous issues involved, to offer
few considerations for the careful and
thoughtful perusal and action Of this other
wise christian, and for the most part, moral
community.
1st. That the traffic in Intoxicating
drinks of all sorts is an admitted evil.
end. That to lessen or regulate an
acknowledged evil license law is on our
statuts books.
9rd. That the business of retailing ar
dent spirits, has from long custom and
usage, come to be regarded in the minds
Of many of our people as a necessary part
of the business of hotel keeper, and as
an indispensable requisite to the proper
entertainment of strangers and travellers.
4th. That the necessity of having places
kept for the use of travellers is the most
common apology for the retail trade in
Intoxicating drinks.
On the first proposition it is needless to
argue, as there are no two sides to it. The
second preves the first.
On the second proposition we may be
permitted to make few remarks, as on it
hinges the moral point of the question:
What astute reasoning! what wonderful
craftsmanship! was it, that proposed tP
regulate land control an euH by giving it
the sanction of law? Gambling is an evil
that cannot be prevented entirely, why not
regulate gambling and lotteries by
license law? The thing was tried and
found to be failure, or worse; as under
it lotteries tlourished; and people were
robbed of millions by games of chance,
and the State derived a revenue from the
business. But the public welfare demand
ed that the business should be stopped and
the weak and ignorant protected from the
tempting snare, and it was stopped, as far
as law could do it, and no gentleman will
now engage in it. We now claim that the
worse evil may be placed under the ban of
law, also. The former only took the
money of the people, the latter takes both
money, morals and brains and leaves the
victims shattered in every nerve.
We now come to the third and perhaps
deepest rooted idea in connection with the
present system and are compelled in order
not to be misunderstood, to enter into the
subject in more detail. In years that are
new long past in many places, the habit of
using liquors, on any and all occasions, was
almost universal, and no mans table was
ever set for guests without one or more
kinds of liquors on it, and it was thought
breach of hospitality not to offer drink
of some sort. But what proportion of our
people now offer Intoxicating drink to their
friends or what proportion of the travel
ing public are now accommodated by hav-
ing the best and most public room in the
house given over to the liquor? Only
small one. On the contrary, the very fact
of hotel being also place for public
drinking and drunkenness, deters respect
able people from patronizing them when
they otherwise would, and many will 90
without dinner rather than stop at
grogshop to get it. Are your wives and
daughters benefited by the bar-room or
the fumes that eminate therefrom p
Should they not have at least equal respect
shown them as the man?
The more you look at it the more you
may see that it is only pretense that
induces most men to ask for license, on
the plea that the public need to be accom-
modated with board and lodgings. There
is now no necessary connection between
the two callings, and it is scandalous
shame that an honored and necessary busi-
ness should be sunk under this most
dangerous vice.
We admit the necessity Of having some
places kept for the use of travelcrs;-that
is to accommodate them with all that is
necessary in the shape of food and lodg-
ings for persons in health, and if they are
sick let them do as other sick people do,
consult doctor or druggist. But we
are not aware that travellers, as class, are
apt to be sick, or that their sickness should
require them always to have something
warm," or can appetizer" before meals,
an "eye opener in the morning or
"brandy smash - before going to bed.
The argument that it will not pay to
keep a public house without selling liquor
is too shallow to need an answer, and no
man is compelled to follow business that
he cannot make living at. If there is
any number of people that are compelled
to travel that are not ready or able to pay
for what it may cost to entertain them, let
them be provided for as other paupers; but
do not lay 10 cent tax on every one who
passes for their benefit. Our county could
better afford to give bonus of 800 or
5000 each to twenty persons in our county
for the trouble they would be in excess of