Litchfield enquirer., 1874-01-29
''Pay up, or Shut up."

0Ps VI SuNS
 If liquor sellers are allowed to prose- cute their business in any town in this county, they should at least contribute something towards the support of the paupers they make. Last year they did this. They paid about $8, 900 into the va- rious town treasuries for about eighty licenses. This year an examination of the county commissioners records shows that only one fifth of that number of licenses have been granted, winch are distributed throughout the county as follows: In Litchfeld, 5; North Canaan, 5; Torring- ton, 4; Washington, 2. The non-enforce- uIeut Or tho 1aw is uo uouDr the occasion of this falling off in licenses. New Mill ford is Q sample town. Last year the liquor sellers of that place paid $9O0 into the town treasury. This year no licenses are granted, yet the sales continue as be- fore. Its first selectman, who is also the leader of the democracy in that town, keeps the largest hotel in it, and, no doubt, sells llquor publicly. at its bar without license. He has this excuse, and this only, that the law was not enforced against those who sold without license last year. A meeting of citizens was in- deed held, with view to enforcement of the law, and much spasmodic zeal was dis played which came to nothing. No grand juror or other town official seems to think he has any duty to perform in this matter. New Milford's chief administrative officer keeps $1O0 in his own pocket, and $900 out of the town treasury, by this neglect of duty. The case of New Milford is by no means solitary one. The towns that vote "no license" even, gener- ally leave the law unenforced and lose the liquor dealers money without restraining their traffic.
 Now it should be remembered that the present statute is no temperance zealot's law. It is what those who despair of entire prohibition, with prevalent habits and opinions regarding non-abstinence, but who desire some real restraint of the traf- ic, have always thought might be enforc ed. But to make that enforcement effect ual we must return to the old methods of prosecution that the prevalent dislike of the old law has made unusual in liquor cases. Towns that cannot enforce entire prohibition should hold meetings and in- struct their officers to see to it that liquor dealers are compelled to ''pay up, or shut up." No respectable druggist or hotel keeper would dare to sell without license in the face of such vote as that; public opinion would everywhere favor the sup pression of the Glow groggery;;" and juries would convict on reasonable evidence. The general public of Litchfeld county may rely upon it that no prohibitory law can he generally enforced by our weak, total. abstinent minority; that no Local Option or License law ,OiU be enforced either by temperance extremists, or by licensed dealers; and that, if the entirely practice able existing statute is to be enforced at ] all, they must enforce it themselves. The death of Dr. David Livingstone, the celebrated African explorer, is again reported, and the papers abound in origi- nal notices of the deceased clipped from their old files with confidence in the for getfulness of their readers that is quite touching.
 Col. Boudinot will lecture in Cornwall (either at West or North CornwalD on l Wednesday evening of next week. He