The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-05-12
The License Question.
Written for The Spirit Of Democracy
The License Question,

Mr. EDITOR: l have heard that a trav-
eler ascending the Alps thousbtlessly
discharged pistol, and that the concus-
sion of the air was sufficient to start an
avalanche, which buried him hundreds Of
feet beneath mass Of earth and rocks
and snow
The firing off Of my questions two
weeks ago seems to threaten me with q
like calamity. Notwithstanding this, and
the further fact that one of your contrib
utors calls me "a timid man," l will, with
your permission, venture, again
Your vigorous contributor "JuLIus," !"
is evidently one of those decisive charac
ters who are prompt in taking a position
and bold in maintaining it. There are
other men, of whom perhaps am one,
who arrive much more slowly at conclu
sions, and who at the same time possess a
wholesome distrust OF their infallibility
For this reason prefer not to comply
with his request "to take decided stand
al once" Besides, do not clearly see
why it should not be as profitable to "JU-
LIus' to argue with one open to convic-
ton as with one who had taken q "deci-
dcd stand"
But to business Both Julius" and
an" kick the question of prohibition out
of the controversy without much cere
mony. Ireally supposed that prohibi
ton was material element ) in the solu-
ton of theliquor question, but find was
mistaken. Ihave then that much brush
out Of the way to better view of the
subject.
But now while give my assent, based
upon these dismissals, to the ignoring Of
prohibition, let me make one or two ob
servations.
First-That prohibition, being ban
ished from the discussion, is not to be
brought forward in case "no license
should prevail: that the fact that major
ity shall vote mo license" shall not be in
terpreted as in any manner warranting
prohibitory legislation.
Second -Thata as the "no license" or
gans disavow prohibition, they must OF
necessity favor system which tolerates
more or less liquor traffic / may there
fore with propriety insist that they shal
at no time assume that their policy would
avert all the evils of liquor selling. a.
Am wrong again, or is the conclusion
a fair one that we all agree to permit s
certsin amounto liquor traffic2 1fthis
be true. then is II not also true, that the
two systems may be thus stated9
.'License" permits selling under certain
restrictions, and forbids all other selling
mo license" forbids selling under civ
en- circumstances, and ignores all othe
selling a' u
Or, 10 state the matter in a differen
form: @'t.
Does not "license'' draw circle, ant
ay,inside but not outside Of this you ma.
sell?
Does not "no license" draw circle
and say, within this you shall not sell, out
side do not forbid?
/ Icannot Danish from my mind the i'm
preston that in the one case the la'
takes the seller into custody, and pre-
scribes the manner in which he shall con
duct his business and that in the other
takes no notice of him until he is caugh
transgressing its pale.
| In the one case the seller is at libert
to do only what the law says he may do
in the other he may do everything exceE
what the law says he shall not do
All this leads only to another question
If the traffic is to be restrained, (and
hope we all agree that it should be, ca
it be most efectually done by permt,in
certain acts, and forbidding all others (
by tacitly permitting everything excel
what is specifically set out in the law
forbidden?
/, And now a word to your contribute
an" You quote from Governor CLA
Film, of Massachusetts, as to the resul
of license and no license. AS you see
to have the documents at hand Il ha'
! not) it would be only fair to quote fro
his successor, Gov ANDREW, on the san
: ! subject. If my memoryis correct tt
= = latter would very completely neutrali
/, the former
Iadopt for the most part the interrog
= tive style, because I do not like to be do
: matte, and because my pride will be lie
: mortified, il, through the arguments
= sJULIUs." ""M," or others, | shall event.
ally be forced 70 take
: The OTHER SIDE
a a1st