The Morning herald., 1877-02-19
THE FOLLY RF PROHlB1ClON
LAWS,

A4&A WV
We have frequently advanced the idea,
that prohibitorv liquor law, could not be
enforced in Delaware. That no sta'e'
nation, or people were ever able to execute
sumptuary law. We invite any tenn
perance advocate to point out to us an
instance, where it has been done. The
views of the HERALD in this respect, have
had sustainment from an unsupported
source. Governor Henry Lippitt Of Rhode
Island in his message to the Legislature Of
that State, last month, says:
ssThe law (meaning the License Law
went into effect on the first day Of July,
1875. X For the previous year the
so~called "Prohihitory Law" had been in
force. Many of the provisions Of this law
were harsh, tyranical, and unpopular, and
the attempt to execute it by body OF paid
officers, known as the State Constabulary,
after year Of trial was an utter failure.
The attempts to enforce the law filled our
courts with hundreds of what were called
"liquor cases." and to such an extent, as
to practically exclude for a time the other
interests of The State from obtaining a hear.
ing. 1t was. at this time, that the "Board
of License Commissioners under the
License Law, were appointed in the city OF
Providence and ! am informeds by them,
that on entering upon their duties, they
found over 700 places in the city where
Intoxicating liquors were sold openly and
in defiance OF law thus proving by year
OF active energetic trial, what is now
generally conceded. that Prohibitory
Law cannot be enforced in large compact
towns or cities. < y It is gratifying
also to be able to state that the number Of
arrests for drunkenness in the city have
been steadily on the decline. and are about
900 less in 1876, than III 1875"
This ought TO satisfy the widest Of tho
temperance men, Governor Lippitt is well
known as an advocate of temperance, and a
man deeply devoted to social reform. The
folly and indeed the wickedness of Pro-
hibitory Liquor Law, is shown in the
Governors message. Uuder license law
in the city of Providence drunkenness
steadily decreased-and arrests for that
crime were 900 less in one year where
licenses were allowed, than when "Prohi-
bition" irritated free will. and made the
bottle in every closet as common as the
sugar bowl. Will the Temperance men
halt; their pet project is shown to increase
the crime Of drunkenness 1.-THE Legisla-
ture were capable Of doing more thar
legislate upon mill ponds, bitches, dog.
hawks, and cattle running at large, they
would repeal the present absurd License
Law, and enact one that would be respect
ed and administered. There are as neal
as one Of our reporters could make out S0(
places where liquor is sold in Whining
ton, 60 of them are probably licensed. Tn,
law is therefore openlydetied and the Stat
cheated out Of large revenue, by virtue 0
our present absurd system. The Lesisla-
ture will higgle no doubt with the deputa
tien from the Board of Trade, to repea
the tax on manufactures; in the face O
the fact that it leaves upon the Statut
Book, a law which robs the State of trebl
the revenue, obtained by taxing industry
If the members of both Houses do not ac
in the premises they deserve to be retire,
for the balance of their lives. The revenu
from licenses last year in the city of Proyi
dence amounted to $53,666 OG. The popu
lation of Providence is of the sam
character, and about three. .fourths create
than that of Wilmington, the revenue from
license ought therefore to be in proper
ton, if so $4,000 per annum under wis
license law, could be collected in this cit
from liquor dealers. If our legislators ar
incompetent to frame a law, they hay
nothing much to do, and let them as com
mittee of the whole, go to Providence an,
learn; the State will be safe until thei
return.