The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-05-05
Written for The Spirit of Democracy
"rhe O,her stde."

Dean Sis: | am quite diverted, st the
way you put things in your com1nuni.
cation to THE SpIRlr Of the 2Sth uit.,
! ien the license question lit were not
for hint or two in your article. one
would scarcely know whst side Of the
Fcelise question youwere on, for moth.
| ing 10 either affirmed, or denied by you.
Why not come out md take decided
stand at once, SO that your position can
be understoodl You sign yourself
"The Other Side," but, ! acknowledge
It rather hard task for me, to tell Ger
tainly, from your communicaiiop, which
is "the other side" from the ona you
desire to take, 30 nou.committal is your
article. -. =.
But, supposing from the tenure of
your article, that you are in favor Of
license. I shall attempt to answer some
of your queries; though do not want
1t understood, that am thereby bind
ing myself to answer all the questions
you or others, may ask; so we'll do ]
know, how easy it is to ask questions,
and what an endless task it would be
for me, were to set out to answer all
the queries, that might be asked on this
question
Now, in regard to your first query, I
am OF the opinion, Sir, that, So, far as
the question Of license, or no license, is
concerned, it does not matter whether
we answer yes or no for we anti license
men are not trying to find what two, or
three, or four ways are equally effec'ual
in restraining the evils arising from in
temperance, but we are searching after
the best, and most, effcctual means OF
restraining intemperance and the evils
thereof. Now, Sir, suppose you affirm
that the license policy is the best way
Of restraining intemperance and the
evils thereof, and then some of US per.
haps, may join issue with you; at least
| am quite anxious to see what can be
said on "that side, of the s.l;cense ques.
ton
Suppose, Sir, that we admit the force
Of your second query, "that the expe.
ricnce Of the last twenty years in this
State" has not proven, that, the evils
OF intemperance can be controlled with.
out license, and what have you gained
by the admission Has this same cx.
perience proven, that they cannot be
controlled without license9
i Again, has the experience of any
number Of years, in any State, or covn-
try, ever proven that, the evils Of in.
temperance. can be controlled by any
system of license, however well "guar-
ded' it may be3
Your third query, answer with an
emphatic no, "the contest against Ii
cense," is not intended as a stepping
stone to anything, but, the defeat Of the
license scheme; by which the traffic in
ardent spirits, is to be legalizcd and
perpetuated, if it succeeds The total
prohibition question is not ir it at all,
and is not likely to be in it, unless it is
drawn into il, by the advocates of Ii.
cense, in order to divert the minds oI
3 the people from the real issue at stake
/ The contest against license is the effect
OF certain cause, and that cause, ia
the contest for license; you remove the
cause and the effect will cease. Now,
4 suggest, that we leave prohibition ou1
Of this discussion, and let it take care
Of itself, which / have no doubt it will
/ A thing SO ''insigniicant," certainly
merits very little attention from you OF
a
! Having said this much, Sir, in ans
wer to your third query, / suggest tha'
unless my answer is wrong, your fourth
and fifth queries, need no comments
for their force, (if there is any force il
them at alD depends upon an affirma
tive answer to your third query. ant
/ hence having answered it in the mega
tive, l pass them by for the present, t,and
await your next, which I hope, vii
either be affirmative or negative o
something. u
J, See mine of 2Sth ult., in SPIRIT.