Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-06-18
NUMBER 81.
License.
From the western Christian Advocate.

meaHS peTlniSSlOu. lubllOflZdliOI. III
n return for this permission and au-
thOrization the "license system" pro-
poses to impose on the liquor traffic a
special tax.
In regard to this system the argu-
e ment against it, so often repeated, has
not been answered, and is unanswer-
I able, namely: An occupation that
is proper in itself or beneficial to So
ciety, ought not to be taxed above
, other forms of legitimate business
ought not to he Disseminated against:
and the occupation that is improper
in itself, that is not beneficial to So
ciety ought not to he permitted, even
though it he willing to pay for the
permission.
But we are told that license sys-
TEN also means restraint and reguia-
tion, and that it will diminish the
number of saloons and the amount of
liquors sold. These are mere as
sumptions. 1t is safe to say that
wherever a saloon could be profita-
BILE to the liquor trade, there one
would be established-the liquor
men would see to that But if the
number of saloons were somewhat
smaller, the amount of liquor sold
and drank at each would be proper
tionately greater. 1t might be some
what less offensive to the eyes of
temperance people to see but two
saloons where they now see three,
but they would know that the two
which remain had divided between
them the patronage of the third; that
the quantity of liquor sold aggrega-
ted as much as when the three sa-
looms were in operation; and that the
number of drunkards manufactured
and killed year by year, would, by
that system, receive no diminutiOn.
But let us ask the advocates of Ii.
cense, How can you restrain and
regulate the salOOnists after he has
paid the public a sum of money for
liberty to do just what he is doing
better than you could do before? Is
it not obvious that the very act of
permitting, Of licensing, abridges the
power to regulate, fixes a limit within
which you will not further regulate.
or control the traffic, no matter how
great the evil wrought, no matter
how enormous the quantity sold, or
the number of people made drunk
ards?
But the desire to regulate and re-
strain is in proportion as the public
sentiment is favorable to temperance.
And the pOtcer to do so is in the
same measure. But this desire will
be stronger, and this power can be
more easily exercised, where and
when the community has not sold it's
permission and authorization of the
traffic for money.
1t is said that the ''license system"
imposes regulations and restraint.
But will it in that way lessen the evil
results of the liquor traffic? On the
contrary, would not such regulation
increase the attractiOn.Of the saloon,
and make it all the more destructive?
Would not the amount of liquor con-
sumed be rs great, and the cases of
be as numerous as un-
der the present system? Fully as
great, fully rs numerous! Yea, more!
And nationally so; for the increased
sales made by each saloOnist would
enable him not only to more easily
perform his part of the contract by
paying his license tax promptly and
regularly, but also to make his sa-
loon more elegant and attractive, and
therefore, all the more destructive!
Mr.. Mansfield, who, by his famili-
arity with statistics and his large ex-
perience, is most competent to give
on this subject, said re-
Gently in public that under the license
system, twenty-five years ago, Gin
cinnati had proportionately as many
places and as much drunk
enness as it has to-day. But we may
also refer to events of recent date.
About two months after the women
commenced their temperance efforts
in Ohio, the liquor manufacturers
and dealers of Cincinnati began to
bestir themselves to get up a pro-
license meeting in Exposition Hall.
1t is said, and with good evidence,
that the first move in that direction
was made by the proprietOrs of 4
liquor house. Men of the
same class were the busiest on
Change and on the street to pro-
cure signers to the call, and Off
GERS and speakers for the meeting.
And afterward, in the same places,
hey were the busiest in ridicul-
ng and in opposing, in every way
the call for the anti-license
meeting subsequently held in Pixies
Hall.
Why? Was it with the hope that
4 ''judicious, a ''well regulated IL
,ense system would restrain and les
,on the quantity of liquor sOldI Ger
-ainIv not. Had it been, they might
nave spared all their labor then, and
IN their efforts with the Mayor and
Police Commissioners since;;D y for the
women were already accomplishing
hat result without their aid.
No! License does not mean re-
traint nor dimunition; but it does
mean permission and protection
ermission to make and protection IN
making drunkards; in invading peace
III and well ordered households with
olson and disease, with tears and
with poverty and deg
adation, with blasphemy and crime,
nth sin and shame, with the ruin of
very earthly hope and the blackness
f despair for the eternal future.
a. Co,,,,o,, plaae fsonrf IF