The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-06-30
The License Question.
Written for The Spirit of Democracy
To "The Other SIDE"

Written for The Spirit of Democracy
To 1.-THE Other side."
ED. SPIRIT: Whether intoxicating
liquors can be bought and sold, or be
bought and drank, without injury to
any one on earth," or not, is what / do
not pretend to decide positively. The
question with me is whether that Kind
of selling and buying, selling and drin-
king, contemplated in license can be
carried on, "without injury to any one
on earth; )" you will allow me presume
to doubt the first, and deny the second,
your guessing to the contrary notwith-
standing
Do you not by giving license to a
traffic which results wholly in evil,
make yourself more or less responsible
for the evils resulting from such traffic ?
The trainers of the license clause them
selves contemplate "ihjuries resulting
therefrcm" and you have quoted it,
thereby admitting virtually, the very
thing you would condemn in me; and
condemning your own theory as TO sell
ing, buying and drinking, without in
jury dc.
1t does seem to ME from your arti-
cles that the only reason you have for
taking The Other Side" is to get rid
Of "prohibition;" for you seem not to
see any effect that license would have
upon the regulation, or restriction of
the traffic, or the suppression Of the
evils Of it. Thus you seem to think
that license can do no harm, and hence
you advocate license. Suppose you
tell us in your next what good will be
worked by license. But you forget you
are on the affirmative.
You array me, chow artfully, l will
leave. our readers to judge,) in "brief
quotations suppose for the purpose
of condemning me by myself; let US
see how you succeed "We are arguing
FOR no system" this I said in reply to
your effort to force US into a conclusion
unwarranted by anything either in our
position or by what we had said, This
certainly does not logically alter my
'motto," or change the object of our
search. I only say my motto is, and
we are searching after, the best and most
effectual means of repressing &C.; and
believing at the same time that license
is not even good way to accomplish
the object desired, we are found "argu-
ing against license"
Would you like to have the "prohi-
hition'' question discussed, and you
take as now, "The Other Side"? 1t
seems to trouble you so much.
But now as to your flirt about "lNo
SYSTEM" do you not recognize the pow
er of emphasis2 Notice; I capitalize
the word FOR: you know what that
means do you not ? and still you try to
make the impression that we do not
acant any system OF regulation Of the
traffic; such mis- representation of an
opponent, certainly do not think you
intend.
Again as to your demand for the
"best ,oay" you certainly will not claim
that we are logically bound to get up
any Uay, as negative disputants will
you2 l understand you to say that IL
cense is the best way; why don't you
prove it, or try to? Where, in the IL
cense scheme, is there any evidence
that, certificate of morality is to be
required o: any one who might apply
for license? That is some more of
your guessing I suppose; well, we are
told some times, that "guess work is as
good as any if it Only hits" but truly I
can not see the chit. in this guess of
yours Hence 1 cannot see that there
is anything to warrant you in your be-
lief that there will be such change of
men engaged in the traffic as you sup
pose. Your strongest argument there
fore, is wanting of any evidence to sus-
tain it. Now one word in regard to
the kind of selling; suppose that you
and / both agree that the kind of sell
ing which is to be licensed, is the per-
mission to sell to he drank as COM
mon beverage. We do not need to
talk about medicinal or mechanical uses.
1t is then the selling and drinking as
beverage that we are both talking
about. Therefore my assertion in ref.
erence to moral men selling &c.
I object to license because, if license
is placed in the constitution, it will be
a barrier to municipal legislation, in re.
gard to tipping houses &c, which they
otherwise will enjoy; and without which
corporations, have not their rightful
liberties.
If the price Of license is low I object
to it because the traffic will not be cur
tailed no more than now.
If the price is high object to it be-
cause there will be plenty of men found
who will pay it, and 60 into the trade
and from the very fact that they are
taxed high for the privilege of selling
they will be induced to make the greater
exertion to increase their sales; which
will certainly not result in the suppress
ion of either the traffic, or the evils
thereof. JULIUS.