Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-02-04
CIizeas Of Juntata :

ney nave already man IN our Legis-
lsture united TO their wishes, rLo has
submitted bill of Local Option repeal
10 the Senate. Said bill Is to be acted |
upon on the 22nd inst - Sunday
being Washington's birth day, as if the
business Of the liquor traffic had some
legitiaate connection with the fatLer of
bis courtly. Let not Washington's
birthday be thus desecrated.
Petitions are secretly gotten up to
support this repeal bill aud to secure
its enactment These petitions are to be
found ia .he hands of those who have
snarted and are still sore beneath The
Local Option lash. under the form of
$50 or SI5 fine with the cheering prom
ise from the Court of something setter
he. s.fter, to the tune of $500, and
lduA'up.
The writer having some acquaintance
with the petition of repeal, will here
submit its form AMI substance in para
phrase as follows:
To the Honorable Sensts 8-c.-We the
undersigned former liquor dealers,
dram driRkers and their very subservi-
ent sympathizer do aver and petition as
follows: Iuasmuch as Local Option Ia
cur opinion las been failure mainly
on account o. our constant and most
bitter opposition to it: and inasuiuch
as we former liquor dealers ardently
wish TO make more money by selling
what benefits no one, and Injuries all !;
and inasmuch as we live in constant
dread Of deserved prosecution, fines
and Imprisonment and inasmuch as
dry souls, not few, are longing for the
old easy way of license to have their
raging thirst quenched +; and luasmuch
as We think, that we 4 Co, have mon
ey enough to buy host of signers to
this petition, and in addition thereto to
buy, up at least, one more than half of
your Honorable bodies, to favor US In
our greatly beloved enterprise: There
fore, we do petition the Immediate ana
unconditional repeal of that much ha-
ted thing, Local Option, SO called. And
we ever pray, &c.
This is the substance, the very cream
Of the thing, should it prove success.
The drammies are to have grand ju-
bIlee Characteristic of their craft.
Citizens of Juniata, friends of order
and humanity, shall the liquor men and
their sympatbizers have this whole
matter all their own way! Has not
Local Option been a success wherever
enforced, Has it not in the past nine
months done all we could reasonably
expect, Can the deep rooted growth of
centuries be overturned in day? Can
the flowing lava of Etna or Vesuvius
be stopped in day' Can the monster
intemperance, with its million lives, at
tended BY so many doctors and wor-
shippers, be slain in day.
Let rs have 8, 6 or years of Local
Option, send score or two of its vio-
latOrs to the Penitentiary, get the clos
ed eyes of dram suckers opened, and
better days will begin to dawn. Then
give us, at least, 20 years of universal
prohibition, and Paradise will begin to
be restored.
Are we Americans capable of 10th
ing better than dealing IN human blood,
and swilling and guzzling dram ls
drunkness an indispensable element in
American civilization and progress
Let not these thing be said to our dis
grace.
Now what should we do7 There is
but one answer-na,ntdtn the Local
Opfion iaw. For This now repealed
would only re-impose on US what has al
, ways been an unmit.igated curse
Have the nerve to say, NO, when bIlbes
and fatteriDg words, invite, and urge
you to put your names to petitions tC
repeal Local Option. Spurn the offer,
to be made tool in SO base a cause
with outspoken Indignation. Have The
manliaess TO do right, and to support
the right by at once advocating Loca
OPTION, and putting your names to
. strong remonstrauce or petition agains
repeal. Let the majority in favor OF
Local Option 90 down to Harrisburg
r from noble Juniata, in a petition, a
least, one thousand strong. We here
; with submit a petition against repeal
which it is an honor for any true mai
to sign. Read it carefully and stanC
4 ready 10 put your names to it, wheI
presented. Ii is as follows:
To the Honorable the Members ef the Senat
and House Of Repressnt4l,res Of the Stat
S OF Pennsylvania:
q The undersigned, citizens of the Com
monwealth OF Pennsylvania, having accept
ed. and voted upon, in good faith, the Ac
I approved March p, 1872, and its supple
meRt. Commonly known as the local opiioI
acts,) as an honest compact for three year
4 between the Legislature and the people, anc
having already seen much good result t.
g, the community from these acts, though il
force but few months, RESPECTFULLY
But EARNESTLY PETITION your hen
0 orable bodies NOT TO repeal said acts bu
0 to permit them TO remain in force Tor tn
fun term OF three years as provide in saiC
. acts. By that time experience viii hav'
proved the wisdom or IA lacy of these acts
whereas to repeal them now ~il be 10 de
Q ny the trial promised when they were pas
/ scd.
We also petition you NOT to repeal an!
= of the General, Special, or Local laws nos
in force in this Commonwealth, prohibiting
the sale of intoxicating liquors, and regu
s latIng the granting OF license.