The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-06-09
The License Question.


no Notifications, but salIying forth to at
tack weak point, or capture foraging
party, and then retiring to his fastnesses
Or, dropping the military figure, be as.
sumes that shall confne myself to de
Tending the license system 10y proving
that it is unohjectionable: That in trying
to show that it may he less Objectionable
than other systems, l am going outside
of the discussion.
II license is to obtain only in case it
can be shown to be absolutely perfect, it
IS scarcely worth while to discuss it, The
very nature of the liquor traffic forbids
the idea of any perfect system of dealing
with it. All experience shows that more
or less evil will ensuc under any system
that can be devised. There is probably
no conceivable method of dealing with it,
from that of the most furious fanatic to
that of the most r.otous free drinker,
which has not been tried somewhere.
The result in one and all has been, that
many imperfections have been develop
ed.
Therefore when Brother "JuL1Us" shall
have shown, as think he will, that the
license system is not without imperfec-
tions, he will have merely proved what l
never thought of disputing.
Brother "JULIJs" wishes me to remem
Der that "We are arguing FOR no system
AS in writing of himself he generally
uses the singular pronoun, 1 infer that the
"We" in this instance is intended to CON-
prehend those opposed to license.
Let US suppose that they shall prevail.
The people will have committed them
selves 10 ''no SYSTEM" the Legislature
will be virtually instructed to establish
"no system" and we will have "no sys-,
tenn regulating restraining the liquor
traffic in the State!
Is this what the anti-license party pro-
pose to give US in case the license clause
is defeated2 If it is, 1 am of opinion
they will find reinforcements where tenn
perance men would be least likely to look
for them. We should, in this case, as in
the election at which the same question
was before submitted, find the prohibi-
tionists and no-restrictionists fraternally
voting the same ticket. -
But 1 Suspect this is only an artful bit
of strategy on the part of Brother "JuL1-
U.s." Itlimits his duty to the easy labor
of finding fault with the license system,
and relieves him of the task of ofinstituting
comparisons between that and any other
system. Itprevents any discord from
arising in the ranks composed of the pro.
hibitioniets and no-restrictionists. Each
wing prefers its own system to license,
and each is therefore to be gently led up
to q tly vote no license,in the hope that
license failing its own pet theory may
succeed.
1t might spoil this nice little arrange
meat if the question is pressed too close
ly, What are we to have if "no license"
prevail? Either wing would doubtless
prefer license" to the system of the 9TH
er; but both are to be kept quiet i'll the
ranks by each concealing its ultimate de-
signs from the other.
Now this does not seem to me like the
fairest or mostopen way of obtaining an
intelligent expression of public opinion
on the liquor traffic. Those who oppose
license intend that some system shall be
established. They may talk about argu-
ing for "no system" but most of them
do not mean it. --
They intend system. =.
What is it? Isit better or worse than
the license system? If the people will
approveit upon understanding it, bring
it out and let them see it. II it is better
than the license system, no su-er means
of defeating license can be adopted than
, that of showing more desirable sys-
TEN.
If / am asked to vote against license l
ask to know what we are likely to get in
place of it. lam not willing to skip out
Of the frying pan until / feel assured that
am not going into the fire.
Something can be said in favor of the
license system, though my letter is now
too long to more than hint at two or
three points.
1t was one Of MAcAuLEY's maxims
that ga government which attempts too
much will invariably do too little" /
think the ardent temperance men have
made the mistake of attempting too
much. They cause laws to be enacted
which public opinion will not sustain, and
the laws 60 unexecuted exceptina spas.
mo6ic and local way Conform the laws
topublic opinion and they will be enforc-
ed; go beyond that and the theory may
be most excellent, but the practice will be
most execrable. License probably per-
mits as wide latitude in restraining au-
thority as public sentiment will warrant.
Many advocates of the license system
believe that by means of license the traf-
fic will be within the control of men OF
greater responsibility and higher moral
standing, who will from self respect and
conscientious motives prevent many OF
the evils now resulting from the liquor
traffic. They believe that without license
it falls largely into the hands of men who
are so degraded as to recognize no re.
straining power but penal laws.
In short, that it would be better to place
this dangerous article in the hands ol
men of worth and responsibility, than to
drive it by legislation into the hands Of
the lawless and degraded.
The OTHER SIDE.