The Cecil Whig., 1874-05-02
for The Cecil Wing.
Does Legislation Relative to Temperance
Promote the Cause!
BAY VIEW. April 21st. |,


Mr.. EDIroR:-The postponement of the
Local Option bill, in the House of Dele
gates of Maryland, gave rise to very
interesting debate on the above question.
some weeks ago, in the Washington School
House. The subject still attracts much
attention in this vicinity. There is not
sufficient legislation relating to temper
ance, to be of much use, and what exists,
is not properly regarded; therefore, it does
not promote the cause. Ii wholesome leg
islation could be obtained, it would, no
doubt, check intemperance, for while at
least. How then is it to be obtained? is
the first question to be considered. 1t can
not be accomplished by the political agita-
ton of the question. This is evident by
the light Of experience. Temperance has
been politically agitated a number Of times
in this State, within the last thirty years,
and the parties favorable to 1t have been
invariably defeated. To show how politi-
clans manage this subject, it will only be
necessary to notice their actions during the
campaign last Fall. The Temperance Alli-
ance, including peri!dious politicians, met
in convention in Elkton, and resolved to
support four of the bes5 temperance men,
out of the eight then before the people, for
the Legislature. This they failed to do,
for majority of the defeated candidates
were known to have been identified with
the cause, while all those elected were
favorable to the liquor traffic. This move
ment by the Alliance aroused the liquor
dealers, and caused them to exert all their
energies in defence of the traffic. They
opened all their whisky batteries with re-
newed vigor, and kept up constant fire till
the night of November 4th, when the Alli-
ance retreated with heavy losses. The
Rumites secured captives sufficient to in
crease the majorities of their friends from
two to three hundred votes. Early the
following morning all the bitches along the
Dead River Line" in Elkton, were
strewn with the wounded of both parties
Then the good people of Maryland peti-
toned the great law making power at
Annapolis to assist them to restrict, and
ultimately eradicate, this blighting curse.
But its members, by their actions, answer
ed them and said You first appealed to
the ballot and lost, now we hold our posi-
tions by the aid of King Alcohol, and we
cannot go back on our friends. Most, If
not all, the laws restricting the sale of in
toxicating liquors in this State were passed
without the question being agitated in the
campaign preceding their passage. Now,
| if wire pulling politicians and temperance
| fanatics would cease the political agitation
of the question, we might elect sober men
who would legislate for the benefit of soci.
| ETY. and the prosperity of the State. This
was shown by the result of the election
held to fill the vacancy occasoned by the
resignation of Mr.. Groome. The Whig de
clared that there was no political issue in
that election, and the Doctor admitted the
fact, after the election, but said that it wal
a Democratic defeat, and seemed to eau
ton his friends against ike occurrence
Yet with all this experience, the temper
ance convention, on March 9th, resolved
to renew and continue the agitation. |
they do, we may expect to witness anothe
drunken and demoralizing scene, whicl
will cause mothers to weep, and children
to beg for bread.
Such resolutions are worthless, Will
protesting christians allow party spirit t.
outrun their moral and religious duties
therefore, more pure religion, and less i'm
pure politics would cure intemperanc
without unhinging society.
REALITY.
The last paragraph of the above lette
doubtless expresses the whole trouble, bu
how to secure "more pure religion an
less impure politics is the difficult pre-
blem to solve.
LIE DowN AND REsT.-Dr. Hall say
l the best medicines in the world, more eft
} cient than all the potations of the mater
medica, are warmth, rest, cleanliness, an
} pure air. Some persons make it virtu
brave disease, "to keep up" as long a
they can move foot or wiggle fingel
: and it sometimes succeeds; but in other
r the pow ers of life are so completely e.
hausted by it that the system has lost
power to recuperate, aud slow typhol
: fever sets in and carries the patient to
Il premature grave. Whenever walking {
n work is an effort, warm bed and CO.
room are the very first indispensables to
sure and speedy recovery. Instinct leat
all birds and beasts to quietude and re
,nls SS1