Smyrna times., 1873-10-08
For the " Times.
The Law saS ff IA.

Mr. Ediisr We notice that the New Temper
unce law is sti the subject of much discussion IN
tn various journals Of the State and while we are
p .ased to hear the subject fully ventilated we are
not pleased with the Kind Of writing INDUCED IN oy
thoee who profess TO be its friends. ihey manure
the lawmakers Of the last session OF the Oenerai
Assembly as If incapable of giving correct state
ment of their opinions to what they INTENDED oy
the Nepo Lao and take the liberty OF telling Their
readers that what they read IN thc law means soIne
thing very different, This they tell u.s. grows out OF
a critical Examination on their part, and suddenly
thew discover that the obscure reveals itself. and
tbonob intensIy ignorant, they were capable of
Scanning bill that required the greatest exersze of
hi. gigantic raind to discover its real character.
This is the hypercrtcal position OF the Nstos aud
Advertiser.
Now comes the Sussex Journal, and after making
a pass at the Netos and Advertiser, he goes on 10
tell 10 wonderful words, what he knows about the
Intention Os the trainers Of the law.
Now in all this hyperbole the real design
which turks within the breast of those proiessed
good Temperance men, TO attack the best Law ever
enacted and are loud in their warning lest there be
a political contest, and are thereby melting the
very thing they profess TO depreciate.
But the JoprRGl is az good Temperance man
as those who preach il from the house top, and is
ready TO let his opinions or views be kn0wn." He
has witnessed with pleasure the gsod results Of
moral suasion." We have just the same kind of
are holding to the old adage "sl water runs deep"
forgetting that the people have found out, long
since, that still water does not run at all. They
are mi deceiving the people by their profession Of
secret fidelity TO the Temperance cause. We know
why they are still. They either in favor Of
rum.or afraid they will lose customer BY their
ideny with the cause. Aud have not the men who
are calling them to stand up for what they pro-
tess 10 endorse the same right 10 be offended at
their 10 irse, and avoid them for the reason that
they are untrue2 Certainly they have. Bat to re.
turn The Journal tells they are trying tO n.
for, III Objectionable features in the law, and
broadly denuuces the freehold qualification as un-
democI atic, and tells how uofar il there should
not be more than twelve ireehoders in district
and ole Of those should control eleven who sign
petition. But how, we ask. If there be two hund.
red who do not want rum sold in their district and
twelve men control them alt Unfair is il We
answer, yes far than the foflner case.
But they only intended, says our cohstructionst,
restrict the sale of liquor to the respectable Hotels
Aud does not our great contender for Democratic
Laws see in this how money qualification comes in
10 the exclusion Of the poor class And yet this is
one of its best provisions. But how comes it that
so mrny have fallen into tbs common error that il
is necessity that inn tavern should sell Lii
quor? Ii IN inn or tavern Is necessity ia any
place TO accommodate travellers it will support its
SELF and if it won't ID is proof that it is neces-
slty. Yet VIC hail with Joy the privilege of thus
confning il where il be watched and better
'tfoled. And those obectnrs do not want a poll.
teal contest, but desire the Temperance to act
with 80 much moderation, they would du well TO
stirring up strife against any portion Of the
most excellent law, for when they shall have sue.
ceeded destroying any portion of the spirit Of the
law. because of a lameness in its language, they
may rest assured that the moral sentiment which
brought about this refoI will demand that il
be made good !. e.. and as advance isstamped upon
its very face they will ask FOR more. But what we
want now is a conformity to the law il is, and in
thus eOntending. let il be kept in mind that OBJ.
irc is not strike At the vender, but the thing
ded. And we will invite and welcome to a higher
place in society all who may be defeated by the
Noble act Of the Legislature, from continuing OF
engaging in such destructive business. But we
cannot stop in the discharge Of our duty 10 sympa
thze with the man who only wants an opportunity
10 place the cup to the lip Of child, father
or, in making drunkards of others, cause daugh
ters to be tied to some miserable nebriate. We
loVe the sinner, but we must hate the sin. Do NO
be afraid then to stand up fos the law. Even the
applicant will respect JOu more, for it he be man
of"a good moral character" as he 10 sworn TO be
by the certificate Of twelve substantial freehoders
he will readily admit that we are doing right, 70
he knows how he 10 compelled to trsmPle on hI
better feelings TO think Of selling the destroying
element. A FRIESD TO Law.