The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-07-28
Written for The Spirit Of Democracy
The License Question.

this time, [ wish to review as briefly as
possible, the arguments offered pro and
con upon it.
There Is just one plausible argument
offered by The Other Side," on this
question, and only one, Wis: That a
license will, if adopted probably, change
the traffic in liquors to better hands
and thus avert, many of the evils, which
result from that traffic, under the pres
ent system. Without commenting or
this argument more, will now submit
the arguments on the anti-license side
lst. The demand for license comes
from those interested in the liquor
traffic; which, to say the least of it.
should cause temperance men to suspi
cion it's propriety.
I'd The reason it is demanded,-as
must be apparent to all,-is the danger
which of late, is threatening the traffic
Sd. Those who most strongly demand
license mean the perpetuation of the
traffic, by legalizing it in the Constitu-
ton.
4th. Consequently, the meaning OF
license is anti-temperance, and anti
temperance men know it.
5th ga license law protects the rum.
seller in his destructive calling, and fur
nishes the drinking classes with the ia.
cili.ies for gratifying their appetites
which results in so much evil: liquor
men see it, and cry aloud for license
-"M" an Spirit Hay 5.
9th. "The tendency of license law
is to increase the evils of intemperance
as the experience Of the past proves. y
I'M" in Spirit Nay
7th. A licensed saloon becomes ar
institution of the State, so that, by vir.
tue of her completely with the saloon
keeper, she becomes responsible for the
evils, resulting from the traffic, so that
in many cases, it must be that the
money obtained by the State for license
will be the price of crimes of all magni
tude.
Slh. The license Of the liquor traffic
is framing mischief by law; and tina
too, at the risk of loosing our fellow
ship with our Maker, 1 suggest that ou
great State, is not yet ready for such I
loss. See Psalm the Oath.
9th License, if it prevails, will give
data from which an unjust interpreta
lion of public sentiment will be deduced
which will induce our law makers to re
lax their order, in restricting the traff
by law.
10th. If license prevails, it will form
barrier, to municipal legislation, ii
regard to tippling houses &c, which
will take away the natural, legal anc
moral, rights, of corporations.
IL. If the price of license is low,
cannot change the traffic to other hands
not to say better.
18th. If the price is high, the ma
who pays it, will be induced per conse
quence, to make the greater exertio
to regain the money, and hence tn
evils will not be materially lessened.
18th. License creates an unjust mon
opoly. If, as license men claim, tn
traffic will be changed to so few hands
--if therefore the traffic is right, an
profitable, it would be wrong to give
to the few rich, and withhold it fror
the many poor.
14th. The same reasons, that wi
justify the licensing of saloons, wi
Justify the licensing of gambling hou'
es, and houses of i'll fame.
18th. To license saloons makes it r,
spectful to patronize them, to max
them respectable therefore, makes thel
more dangerous. Respectable saloons
make the drunkard. Those which al
not respectable only finish them.
we have no respectable saloons, whel
drunkards are made, we will have fe
drunkards, and consequently few of IL
, lower and more hideous places calle
saloons; and hence, less of the evils (
!, intemperance.
i Thus kind reader the matter stand
so far as the arguments are concerned
Please look at these arguments whic
it seems to me all reasonable men ca
: see are logically, and reasonably offere
against license.
There has certainly not been on
, word of evidence introduced to prov
the validity of the one argument {
, "The Other Side," except perhaps h
} own word or rather his own "probably
backed up by his own familiarity wit
saloons; which 1 suggest, is just no e'
idence at all; for while / would, ft
aught I know of him, be as willing
r take his word and experience, as th'
: of any other man, yet his knowledge {
experience in this case is not sufficiel
, to convince me, at least, that the asse
ton made, in respect to this argunner
can possibly be true. While the hi
, tory of license, stands as it now doe
, proving to the contrary, both of Il
: argument, and his word and experienc
: The Other Side" in his last artic
5 made great ado about the passage (
r license law by the legislature (
Massachusetts, and winds up by
strong appeal to the people not to r
a peat her folly. But 1 think, like "Iten
I, izer," that he had better re read h
S history when he will find that he hi
5 raised up very large something TIL
he will he ashamed of when he taxi
another look at it.
The fact is, it is not so at all, ft
while the legislature (as guessed b
fore) did become demoralizei, that be
for one of them man that Massach
e setts ever had did veto the license Ia
t after all. From what lofty lights we 9
= suddenly fall sometimes.
Unless something turns up Mr.. Ed
}, tor, I will not trouble you any more {
this question, feeling that all true ter
q perance men will surely see that it W
: be the interest of the great and GOO
r cause of temperance to cast their vot
against license. JULIUS.
e The Republican Convention of Il
J Fourth Louisiana district has nomin
I ted George L Smith for Congress, al
passed resolutions indorsing Grant f
! a third term.
= The Boston boy Pomeroy has CO
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