Smyrna times., 1873-08-27
- H. nrin,an

Mr.. Editor We wish to call the attention
Of our citizens to the great waste of time and
public money in procuring laws for the gov
ernance of the rum traffic, unless We see that it
IL executed. The law itself presupposes every
gOOd citizen to be a peace officer, and to be
willing to work for the maintenance of the same.
When law is enacted in which the people
take no interest, it dies for the want of execu-
ton. All the acts of former times for the
regulation of the liquor traffic (some of which
we're very goodl failed because every body
said it was not their business, and have re-
fused to act their part. We have now, under
the new law, the opportunity to do what every
good, thinking person will readily say it ought
to be done, if SOme one would only do it, viz ::
to curtai the sale of intoxicating drinks in our
town. But how is it to be done? ? will be ask
ed. We answer, by united effort on the part
OF aw.abidlng men to maintain the new law,
aud in this way only. And this effort must be
open and above all suspicion from any quarter
whatever. We only want to work what law
We have and to use the legal opportunity which
has bsen granted US by the Legislature. We
want no secret organization, but organization
We must have, and the man who is unwilling
to meet in a public Hail or Church to take
such steps as are necessary to avert this evil,
deserves to, and no doubt will, suffer from the
consequence Of drunkenness. We cannot at
ford to withhold our influence. If we are not
In our own family afflicted with drunken son
or father, our daughter may be tied to some
miserable inebriate, and il we have neither,
our neighbors have them. and why in the name
OF common sense allow this state Of things to
proceed father while our law makers are Civ
ing US the only right we can ask to check its
influence? And until we have used the means
We have, do not, we beseech yOu ask for any
more law, or stand up in the community and
express sentiments in opposition to the traffic.
Very many of our citizens have not read the
last act and are not aware OF its provisions
and we have not place here to name them, bu
We will say it is a grand improvement and re-
fleets much credit on the law maker-provideC
he will unite with the people to maintain the
law he has helped to make. Oh, for men WHIT
will keep the laws they themselves make Blu
who will sign the rumseller's petition and hav'
his name las it must be) enblazened to th'
world through two public newspapers for three
weeks2 Certainly no one but the reckless
who care nothing for the good of the commun
ity. Remember, then, when you are ap
preached for this purpose by rumseller tha
while there may be some disposition to accom-
modatc the petitioner, you become a party Il
all the evil that is to follow in the business a
transacted by the seller himself; and if yo
are not willing to share with him the swfu
responsibility of the midnight debauch-b
man enough to say no. aud thus save yourself
your neighbors and the community. Let u
then awake and stop the stealthy monster as h
creeps through our community, picking u
here and there the names upon which h.
hopes to secure such license. And let US cor
test every inch of ground and see il we cannC
cOnfne the sale of rum at least to the two he
tells proper, where it will be watched an
checked in the many violations OF law that o.
tend common grOggeriss, and falsely so-calle
Restdurdnts.
Come friends, let no one shift his persona
responsibility, but come and attend the call
form union, which is worth more than a
the local options we could have unlo
where law loving citizens simply pledge to SUI
tain the acts OF those they have employed
represent them in the legislative departmer
of our State. Come and see what we prOpos
to DO. A FRIEND TO LAW.