Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-04-03
As stated In an article of last week,

AS stated IN an article of last week,
space is given in this paper to argue
the question of licensing tipping houses
pro and contra. The contra part is the
part which we have undertaken, and II
any one has anything to say for them
in the shape of argument we are sure
they will be heard, and not only so but
we shall be glad 10 hear them and con-
slider candidly what they have to say,
for no man has higher object than
truth. and truth will never suffer by
fair argument.
Last week we referred in brief to the
financial, moral and social objects OF
the Question as also is the action taken
by our State and county authorities to
abate the nuisance of tipping houses
which it was the object ofall the old
license laws of Virginia to suppress, by
the distinctions which they set up be-
tween such houses and those intended
for the entertainment OF travellers, do
oil the lawyers know.S -"
We stated further the good effects OF
the County Court last May bu' so'ne
saw there IS as much liquor sold now as
before the license were withheld. Ii SO
those who sell II can have no reason 10
complain, for they have no license 10
paw for, and thus far the law has never
mcddled with them aud. as to broken
laws if there be any tenderness OF con
science about that everybody knows
tina, the old license laws were broken
as constantly and grossly as any laws
we'll could be- So that as 1t respects
returning to the old license laws, this
cuts. off the plea that we had better
have no law than law which Is not
executed. This plea will be
fully attended to hereafter upon Its gen
eral merits. But this story-"more
liquor sold now than before the law was
passed"-is the old story i'll all the pro-
hibitory States, but it is too transparent
to deceive any who do not wish to be
deceived. 1t is sufficiently retuted by
those who put it about. For If there Is
more sold why are they not content
Why have they formed rings, lobDled
legislatures, and buttonholed and bribed
the members in New York alone at the
cost cf hundred thousand doilars-to
ye, the law repealed? One of two
things follows inevitably either the
demand for whisky oas diminished, and
tho enormous profits stopped, tor there
is uothimg for which the people begin
to bay as much in proportion to its cost
or there was more danger in violating
the nsw law than the old one. Both
these things were true. Governments
,,aye had nothing but trouble with 1t,
from the Illicit and fraudulent opera
tons OF the manufactures and dealers
great snJ small through lis downward
course 10 the paupers, and crimes anu
criminal courts and prisons IN which SO
fneeh of it enGs
Tie history OF restrictive laws where
shey have been longest in operation has
hccn generally this. The people have
demanded these: laws They have OBJ
tanned them, and then being lulled into
secarity, the enemy has watched her
opportunity Qor the love of money
never sleeps has manipulated leglSla-
lures and courts torepeal the law
Troubles of course broke out afresh AMI
the deceived people. turned out the
agents which lad betrayed them and
had their law:re-enacted. Experimenting
tirst,with one form and then with an
other still open 10 conviction for the
best. One thing is certain there las
never. been any peace OF rest under any
back ward movement since the practical
bility of relief or eyeH partial relief by
law from this great earse was ascer-
tanned.
Still We admit a violation Of the law
cod that it has incrcased, the reason tor
which we shall examine hereafter. Old
tippIers can get all they can pay for and
if it could stop here confirmed drinkers
disappearing pretty-fast from the slage)
and 10 more of our sons be ensnared 10
take their places we might be better
reconciled to letting the matter drop:
But all experience shows that this Will
not be the case. The temptation cor
1inuing the victims will be as sure IN
time to come as in time past.
We have had thus fora ,fulhllment OF
one part Of the fable of the frogs who
petitioned Jupiter for a king. His
majesty wishing to deal mildly with his
subjects and not being very well &C
4uainted with them pitched log into
che lake wherest they were at first much
terrified. But finding no harm come.
to them, fear was succeeded by respect
and respect by carelessness until they
crayled, up and sit upon the log with
great contempt The remainder of the
fable we need not tell, but propose Civ
ing plain account Of how the first part
has come about. -
We conclude for this..week as for last
by adding some items af:what is going
on elsewhere. .''">;
MISSOURI,
In last month,s..7drocate We gave an
account of the progress of the crusade
in Carthage No. where ladies and
ministers were, arrested for. violating
city ordipance against praying in the
streets, and Rev. Messrs. Miller and
Pendleton were fned@$50 each. The
e