The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-07-14
The License Question.
Written for The Spirit of Democracy
"Fhe 0.ver Sidev

Somehow or other you still try to avoid
the direct issue. Perhaps it may be we'll
for US, just at this point,to look after the
"situation' as it stands and with your
consent l will start with your artfulv
devised road scheme:
"You and stand where several roads
separate" some of which lead towards
the point we both desire to reach, viz:
The suppression $50 far as possible) of
the evils of intemperance. You say the
license road is the nearest, the smoothest,
the safest,and the surest. The travellers
(voters) arc hence directed by YOU to
take the license road. Let us now look
after your reasons for taking that road,
the travellers, meanwhile, lending all at.
tention.
Your first effort is to interrogate the
travellers with your FIVE queries as to
something about the prohibition road
The travellers say, That's not the ques-
ton; we are talking about the license
road; we want your reasons for going
that way.
You say, 81 really supposed that pro
hibition was a material element In the
solution of the liquor traffic"
The travellers say, 'sThat may be, sir :;
but the prohibition road does not have
anything to do with your license road "
You say "that prohibition being ban
ished from the discussion is not to be put
] forward in case no license prevails"
The travellers say, 81 don't know,si "
You say, ''That as the no license or
gans disavow prohibition ther must OF
necessity favor system which admits
more or less of liquor traffic"
The travellers say, "That's bad logic
for the no license advocates only disa-
VOW prohibition so far as the license
road is concerned"
You say, License draws a circle"
Travellers say, Yes; but we can't tell
the size of it."
You say, "No license draws a circle u
Travellers say, "No mo license draws
no circle, but leaves the question open to
the broad expanse Of the law making
power"
You say, "You don't know whether
no license permits any selling"
Travellers say, "That must be the rea
son you go for license; you are in favor
Of too much selling anG we believe ma
ny who contemplate voting for license
are in favor of no restrictions of the
traffic, and hence they mean to throw ur
legal impediments in all the roads to the
restriction and suppression of the evils
spoken of, in the shape of license"
You say, "T'hat to license the traffic
you do not license the evils of it"
Travellers, think, will see differently
for when they remember that the license
is to be granted for the purpose of legal
izing that kind Of selling, which cannot
under any circumstances, result in good
but does, in nearly every instance, (and
l am not sure but in every one, result
In injury then 1 apprehend they, sir
will differ with you, and charge the evils
TO the State, or at least to license
You talk as though license was only
to regulate selling for mechanical, me
dlcinal and sacramental purposes; ant
you make great ado about the exceed
ing weakness and unsoundness of al
who oppose license on that account, both
Of "mind and body" Travellers, I sup
pose, sir, will not fail to see your design
In that, which looks to me like the las
| dying struggle Of "T. o. ST." which
seems only to be designed TO cover ny
the real issue, which, in part, is quite diff
ferent from that you seem to assume
There is no necessity for licensing tina
kind of selling neither is that the kint
of selling sought to be licensed,or reall,
contemplated in license, and il it wer
not for that other kind Of selling, which
contemplates the use of liquor as com
mon beverage, there would be no cry fo
license, nor no necessity for regulating
the trafIic-it would, as everything els
does, regulate itself. All your bombast
therefore, on that subject will be perfect
ly appreciated by all the travellers.
! You say moral men live along tha
road. Travellers, I apprehend, will no
see it when they understand the kind o
selling meant.
j You make a great ado a5out the NJ
system which you pretend to deduce from
my articles. Travellers, think, will SCI
that you grossly misrepresent me In that
l am tired Of replying to that misrepre
sentation. You assert, "They intend {
system" Travellers say. "Why, then,dt
you try to make US believe to the contra
| ry, and thus contradict yourself?'
You say. "License will probably pre-
vent many of the evils resulting from
the traffic" Travellers have been tt
Massachusetts, and learned that ther
the reverse has proved true that insteac
of preventing them, they have beel
alarmingly increased But you tell Of
radical change recently taken place ~
there. Well, what has wrought it?
hardly dare TO conjecture; but really
looks like "the dog had returned to hi
vomit," or, "the SOW that was washed
: had returned to her walloVing in tn
mire." But there is such a thing as
people becoming demoralized on certain
subjects, especially those they seem no
to be able to manage to their liking ant
liz not a change Of politics, perhaps
change of politicians has taken place
the present ones liking whisky, as mos
, Of them do, you know.