Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-01-29
Dort Goboffo Gimes
The GRAND Jury ana liquor Licenses.
tGUMMUNICATEDl.


tCuMMUSIcATEDl.
MR.. EDITOR: Durrg the November
Term of our Circuit Court, "The Grand In
quest for the Body of Charles County" did,
"upon their oaths" recommend the licens-
ing of fifty-five establishments at which
to selland retail Spiritaous Liquors. Well,
sir law is law-and they were acting under
the law, and, as we areall aware, the Grand
Jury have no power mar than other people
to make it null and void were they erer so
inclined. And if, in heir secret wisdom,
and in obedience to &c law, they have
deemed it erpedient tomake such extensive
recommendations Of licenses to retail
Spirituous Liquors wsAs,.o are in the dark
rs. TO the .graa, mS Seehst prompted
them in this matter, have but one alterna-
tive-quie. submission to the action of
their sound Judgment and wi'e discretion.
But, verify. verify, how hardly is it posi-
ble to save our people, our young men es
peciallv, from the snares that are thus laid
around them upon every hand in every
community, in every neig1borhood
throughout the length and breadth of our
beloved county. Fyty,fce Establishments
in Charles county retailing Spirityous Ii
gu0rs' Think Of ii. Is it not almost
miracle that we are not all drunkardsl I
wonder whether the proprietors of these
fifty five establishments actually made ap
plication TO the Grand Jury for q recon-
mendation for such license If SO, then
those proprietors must be men of bat one
purpose, and that purpose must be gain al
all hazards, without regard to the gross
and damning evils that grow out of their
Legitimate business. They must also
possess much knowledge of the frailties
and weaknesses Of their fellow mortals
Understanding this as they assuredly do.
they seem determined 10 take advantage
of il, and become the sharers in, and it
may be in some cases, the sole posscssors
of their fellows means. Yet allow me to
say, Judging from appearances, that those
proprictors are in most cases. perhaps in
all, gentlemen (and ny the way, ladies too
must be included for some of them-the
fair daughters OF Eve-are engaged in the
selfsame traffic. of the highest respectable
ty-honorable, and are often termed NOR
alists and even christians. But, sir, can a
moralIst, so-called, be moralist in fact
while in theory, if not in actual practice
he is encouraging immortality which often
leads his victims To vice, misery and 10
utter ruin We know that sucA cannot
he christians, such as The word Of God
declares shall inherit the kingdom of
Heaven. Again, whether application was
made or not, in each case. In the Grand
Jury for = license TO retail Spirituous Lii
quors, il is certain. that they must have
deemed it very expedient TO lnve so large
anumber of retailing establishments in the
county in order 10 accommodate all her
citizens. IA osher ,ssr1s, that q place To
revel and riot in drunkenness might be
conveniently located in every section Of
the county. Very considerate, Gentlemen
of the Grand jury Sir. almost venture
to assert that there is not a reasoning man
in Charles county to-day. that will not
SAY. that the retailing of Spirituous Liquors
is not only Eoi a blessing. but ddmHing
curse in any community May God grant
that ere long we shall he entirely rid Of
the nuisance. Mr.. Editor, will say no
more now upon the subject. but with your
consent, may take it up again at some
future day. Pardon me tor intruding upon
your time and patience
PRoHIBITIoSIsT.