The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-02-14

/ III HIS SOllc IHGO ODSIdOlOiif w HN''N
every reason to hope they will see to
it that its provisions are rigidly en-
forced. A paper commenting on this
law SAYS at is not based on any pc
culiar assumptions. 1t makes no in
quiry into the scientific nature of al
cohOl and it attempts no absolute
prohibition of its sales; it neither en-
dOrses nor runs counter to any chem
ical or reformatory theory. 1t deals
with simple and obvious facts. Call
alcohol what you will-fOod or poi
son-its sale involves danger to the
community as surely as does that of
gunpowder, of kerosene or Of nitro
| glycerine. This sale should be placed
under restrictions. that as little risk
may be run as is possible in such a
mixed community"
We notice another very important
feature of the law, especially in tenn
perance communities. which com
mends it to our admiration. namely,
that drug-stOres. where some of the
viIest, meanest selling is done, come
under the provisions Of the law equal
ly with saloons and taverns. Wheth-
er this law will have the effect so ar
IDENTIFY hoped flor by moralists and
philanthropists, of closing the worst
avenues of crime and repressing the
the most fruitful sources of vice that
ever cursed humanity, time alone
will unfold. It appears, however, to
be a move in the right direction, com
E mending itself to the interests as well
as the consciences ofall who love their
fellOw-men and desire, in sincerity
and truth, the happiness and moral
elevation of our species.
If our Legislators at Harrisburg
. had possessed the wisdom and moral
courage to pass such law as we have
| been describing for Pennsylvania in
; stead Of the Local Option Law
lately enacted, it would, in our hum
bic estimation, have been the very
5 best thing they have done for many
: years. General and not local laws
r on subiecte of frnn+ e-~> e->t 60, " Lat
2 are most needed by communities, and
the sooner our legislators wake up tC
this fact and act upon it the better il
! will be for themselves and their coun-
try.
> This law is a fresh appeal to the
: cOnsciences of men to defend them.
: selves from the aggressive encroach.
mcnts Of a traffic that virtually has
: no conscience. AS at present con.
; Quoted throughout the civilized world
it is at war with the holiest aspira
tiOns and highest interests of human
ity. 1t is no less truly obvious that
there is an irresponsible conflict 90
inc on and to be continued till this
! traffic is suppressed. This conflict
is not one of accident; it exists il
the fitness of things. Having its orr
gin in the natural antagonism between
! good and evil that has always exist
7 ed. in all ages OF the world and in al
, conditions Of society, and must con
, tinue to exist, to broaden and deeper
in volume and intensity as the ad
vancing tide of civilization sweeps
onward to a higher material, mora
and spiritual elevation than the worlC
has ever seen.
! We have said that the liquor traf
q fic has no conscience. Money is the
basis on which it stands, and just a:
= soon as the profits of the business ART
made uncertain, the whole fabric viii
. topple to the ground. And until LEG
islation effects it in that way the bus
/, mess will be continued, as it is con
Quoted, by the most selfish, immora
! and lazy vagabonds in the world
who live only for themselves and fol
the time circumscribed within the
. compass of their worthless and worst
than useless lives. They have nC
= tastes for the beautiful, no sympathy
and goodness is a myth. For then
heaven has no joy, hell no terror anC
a eternity no beginning. Selling in vi
+ OlatiOn Of law, their highest hope 0
o reward is money and their creates
fear of punishment lies in the measur,
$ of a fine. All they desire is to be le
p alone, all they hope for is to escape
! justice, and all they dread is detection
! The dream of living for others as vel
o as for themselves, and thus assist il
] promoting the well-being of society
o by studying its true interests, neve
crosses the plane neutrality-suspicious.
- Although in Potter county it is an OF
| foDoa I,uuiCha h1a nv 1au To ra+ail I;