The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-01-07
For The <fsyis d. Mteiliyencer
"Thc Liquor License Question:

MR. EDITOR: In your last number ! find 4
remarkable paper ON this question. With great
propriety it is placed under the head of miscel-
laneous reading; for it is the most mixed com.
position have ever read. The only way 10 nc.
count for the wondt riul creation is on the nv.
pothesis that The writer had INDUCED in alOJt
than "a little plain whisky and water" One OF
the strongest arguments in favor of a prohibi-
tory law, is the fact that "a little plain whisky
and water'' makes man talk like n "phool u
inns writer has made some grand discoveries.
II they are founded in fact, he has shaded the
most accomplished eXpounders of science, law
and religion; and needs no other monument TO
secure his Immortality.
L. Whisky is an article of food TO be classed
with pork, beef, poultry, or even fish, Even
"siX pence worth of beer, or ale, enables the
poor man to Withstand His daily toll" How we
have been fooled by the old-fugies who, in the
name of science, have affirmed, again and again,
"Atcohot Is po'certW ai0tHidnt, bm is not nutri.
iouS." Where is The man whose "digestiye sys-
tenn can make chyle, for the nOurishment of The
blood, ard the building up Of wasted tissue in
the human body-out of alcoholy Let him
he king. Trust in him the power to say what
we shall eat and what we shall drink Well I!
well This discovery explains why it is that
some towns support more whisky shops than
provision stores. did not understand it be-
fore. La, me, | am SO glad to have the matter
explained. Whisky, pork, &c" Our friend
is fond of pork as well as whisky and water
wen, llVlt 10 u ulNIlc pIcccucnl Tor mixing
pork and evil spirits and water; but the re-.
cepiacle III that case was "the sea-" and not n
human stomach. But he is afraid that some one
may interfere with his pork; and asks, "to whom
has been delegated the authority 2" Now SUBJ
nit this question. If eating pork, beef, poul-
try, or even fish, made man stand on his head
tangled his legs so that he could not walk
tangled his tongue so that he could not talk
caused him to neglect the duties of religion
excited him to inaltrcat his wife and children
disqualified him for the highest duties of cti-
zenship-provoked him to speak evil of dipni-
ties-and blotted from his moral nature every
line OF that divine image in which he was crcu-
tcd-should there not be, somewhere, II power
to stop the eating of pork &c. 2"
=. But our astutc friend has made another dis
covery, quite Ill advance of men who have been
regarded as masters in the science of political
economy. lie has discovered that the 'founda.
tions of sovereignty" are in the digestive and
nervous system" and the king who sits upon
this foundation Is, the "natural appetite"
What pity the world was not blessed at an
earlier day with the wisdom of this savant We
have been clinging all our lives to the foolish
idea that, "thc natural foundations ofsovercign.
ty "werc wisdom, goodness and power" Wis.
dom, TO discern the rGa! interests ofthe commu.
nifty; goodness, to cndcavor always to pursue
that real interest; and strength, or power, to
carry this knowledge and intention into action"
But our whisky and water man has swept the
cobwchs from our eyes and we see clearly, that
wisdom and goodness should have nothing TO do
with government, and power should only bc eX.
crci:ed on the side Of natural appetite" Well,
we'll.
3. Yet third discovery stands before
our astonishcd vision in this paper. The first
may be called II chemical discovery The second
profoundly metaphysical and physiological
discovery. The third is the development of a
moral principle, and the application of this
principle in our system Of jurisprudence. II is
this. Ihciaw is to blame for lie crimes commit
ted undcr il, and the lar makers are the ycSDouSi.
Die parties. The law taxing distilled liquors is
to blame for 'thc stupcndous operations of the
whisky ring" by which "the government has
been defrauded of over ten millions of dollars."
The Ubiquitous laws which tax the nccessaries
of life, Il. e. whi'ky) or rather those cnacting
them, should be held responsible for the damna
ton of many souls" The grand jury law, which
has closed up the legitimate trade in drink, in
Hartford county, is to blame for all the double
deeling of men engaged in the trade Human
depravity had nothing to do with the disgrace.
full lawlessness which has ruled the hour. These
illegitmate whisky sellers are perfect saints;
but the law is the very devil The law defining
and prohibiting murder is TO blame for all the
murders. The law prohibiting theft is to blame
for all the thetts. Legislators are irresponsible
for all crimcs.' God, the first law-muker is the
author Of evil, and He alone is responsible for
the sin of men.
Men at Annapolis, do you hear. Arc your 'di.
SestNe systems capable OF using this food for
thought" This "whisky and Water man has
been to ''the bottom Of the WELL" and has
brought up the truth Don't close your eyes
against it. You have u chance to escape from
this awful responsibility. Don't, rs you value
the good of society, the souls OF men, and your
own eternal salvation, pass any more laws. Blot
from existence our whole system of jurispru-
dencc, and leave the question of government
with The digestive and nervous system of the
people of Maryland TO be administered by
"naturNl appetite"
statement is made in this paper which will
sound strangely to some of the people of Har-
ford who have regarded our courts as places
where "thc dignity of the law is indicated"
"1he fines" upon illegitimate whisky sellers,
who "had accommodated jHdgcS d1H juIynae,,s;"
were "impOSed for appearance sake" If this be
true, some one has soed his erlninc, and should
''step down and out" Ifnot true the man who
publishes it TO the world should suffer for the
SANDER to the full extent ofthc law. One the
greatest evils in our land to-day is the freedom
with which any man may cast reflection on
those who hold the scales of justice. For con.
science sake let us try and educate our people
to respect those in authority. hope our Legis.
lators will show thcselves worthy of the conf
dence of many good citizens by leaving the fines
imposed by the Court where they are, and by
giving lis n good Local option and damage
law" When the people of Hartford speak at
the polls on this question it will be found that
q large majority are in favor of peace prospcrl-
ty and plenty, and opposed TO whisky, wrong
and Indebtedness.