The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-02-27

habitants, in place Of as at present,
licensed bar-room to l2S inhabitants of
the entire population.
The letter of Rev. Mr.. Skinner, on
the subject which is claiming so much
attention at this time, which we publish
herewith, is one of the most cogent and
clear presentations of the subject Of
our rum traffic that has ever been made,
while its terse and nervous style cannot
fail to present the subject most distinctly
to the mind of every intelligent reader.
His reasoning is unanswerable.
For The Cecil Wing
Mr.. EDIToR:-In view of the deep inter-
est now felt here in the action of the Grand
Jury in March upon the question of liquor
license, allow me to call attention through
your paper to some important considerations
overlooked by too many friends of sobriety
and order.
Were it not so grave matter, it would
provoke smile to observe how perplexed
some of those people are between their duty
as good citizens, and their singular regard
for the interests of the liquor sellers.
would ask, in all seriousness, what have
those interests to do with this question, and
how can this community, or any member
of it, be bound in justice to consider them
first in this matter?
For the business of the liquor dealer is not
to be dealt with on the principles of politi
cal economy alone. Indeed, even if it were,
the majority of them would soon have to
close their doors. If, in other WORDS it were
merely question of supply and demand,
it is plainly enough proved every day, that
the supply is enormously in excess of the.
demand; and by this rule about twelve of
our fourteen bar rooms ought to close out at
once, without waiting to run the gauntlet
of the Grand Jury.
But the truth is, and here is the main
point, this question must be dealt with upon
moral grounds also. 1t is not like regulat-
ing market glutted with breadstutfs, or
cotton goods, or any other necessary of life.
1t is not even matter to be considered on
the same grounds as a glut of any, or all,
Of what are called lururies. But we have
20 consider now a business whose moral reld-
tons immensely over balance all others in
importance; q business whose I'M uries to
social morality, to political morality, and to
Christian morality UNNECESSARILY outweigh
any actual advantages in the way of profit,
which it may bring to the man who engages
in it.
A dry goods store, hardware store, a
provision store, green grocer's shop,
confectionery, butchers shop, or even a
toy-store; are all, in their measure, neces-
sary to the being or well-being of society.
Moreover, they dispense nothing especially
calculated in itself to poison the blood, in
flame the passions, unseat the Reason and
Conscience and degrade human beings be-
low the level of brutes. Nor, on the other
hand, are they ever found to be the head
quarters of small armies of riotous or vicious
persons.
But each bar r0om-and here is an essen
tial difference never to be forgotton-is a
centre from aohich is perpetua'1y going forth
an eCH influence. Every bar keeper is con
stantly dealing out dangerous agency, and
potent for evil, which we have reason to
know, is in most cases supplied without any
limit except lack of money on the part of the
drinker For how many of them refuse.
under all circumstances, to sell to minors !?
how very few care to inquire strictly Of the
age or homage of the youths who flock to
them? Whilst it is almost an unheard of
thing for them to refuse in all cases to sell
to a man intoxicated. Yet bar keepers and
their patrons, and those who lack the nerve
to oppose even while they condemn, the
multiplication of bar-rooms; would per
suade us that this business stands on the
same plane and is defensible on the same
grounds as that of the men who feed and
clothe the community, Nay more, they
not only demand that they shall be allowed
to increase, as other trades do, by the ordin-
airy laws of political economy; but, defying
alike those laws and the well-being of So
ciety, they ask that they may be author
lied by Law to multiply themselves indetin-
itely, and to go on thus, building up pow
erty, vice and crime, and destroying for
tunes and characters, throughout the com
munity. Surely, the good sense of the PEG
pie, and, let us hope, of the Grand Jury,
must see the fallacy of such reasoning
But it is objected by some who would ad-
NIT the truth of all this, that it would be
unfair to Discriminate; that the Jury would
have no other course but either to refuse all
licenses, or to grant all; and that they
should not put it into the power of few
men to grow rich by the sale of liquors at
the expense of the majority.
To this it is sufficient to reply, that the
Grand Jury are invested by Law with the
high responsibility of conserving the inter
ests of puJlic morals; and that they are in
duty bound to discharge this duty without
fear, favour or affection, without respect of
persons or classes. If they do not, they
simply betray very solemn trust and are
unworthy of the public confidence.
If, then, A. were to complain to me that
he would be broken up and perhaps must
leave Elkton, should license be issued
to b. or c. and none be granted to him, |