Smyrna times., 1878-11-06

NEW LIQUOR LAw.-Except the fundamental laws
that are the basis and frame work of laws to
protect society there is that much concerns
the happiness of families and the peace of communi
ties the law regulating the sale of intoxicating
liquors. The enactments since the passage of the first
license law have been many, and though the temper
ance wave has ebbed and flowed and the efforts of its
friends at times seemed hopeless task yet every in
coming tide has advanced little further and to-day
as a moral influence it stands higher and stronger
than has stood before Law if it has served as
policeman to arrest after crime, has also protected
a traffic whose principal Office to manufacture
criminals. Temperance men have seen and felt the
force Of this anomaly in their warfare against
power that defied them because of this protection
under the Gegis Of the law; but with the idea (and
natural one) in their heads that laws made TO
protect the good and punish the evil they way
but regulation They knew that murder theft, arson
could not be regulated and very properly has never
been licensed. No would have the temerity to
propose such thing. Right at this point where the
hosts Of temperance stand to-day, with this wall in
their front Shall be scaled? 1t may require council
of war To determine the course to be pursued, but
the road in this direction looks like the surest to
move great obstacle. The present law. taking into
account the moral sentiment of the people at the
time it enacted, satisfactory. but in addition
to the advanced state Of public sentiment it has been
stiffness of cartilage The changing by the last Legis-
lature from twelve freeholders" to twelve respecta
BILE citizens" accomplished just what was intended
The word respectable applied to individuals has
more shadings than ever conceived of by a
painter The line as to who is and who is not can
not be fixed and the benefit of all the doubt inures
TO the applicant. Besides. the present law is bother
to the judges, ruling in county one way and in
another just the opposite do not doubt they would
hail relief to its nanglements if for other reason
to preserve a high and consistent character in dis
pensing law.
What propose a substitute is law Of the same
warp and woOf as that known as the Ohio Law. ,
Briefly stated it ignores license entirely; giving
man privilege over another all who want to may
sell spirituOus liquors. but, with this provso tey
must be responsible for al the results fOlOwing The use o.
that ,ohch they SELL This responsibility" must be nc
snomer. but must consist of obligation 10 The State
signed by the vender and sufficient number of mer
OF property who shall have ability to meet all pros
pective damages to wife, children aud all others tina
ID. proceed from the sale and use of such intoxi
cauts some Of our best thinkers have protestec
against license laws-making the State, they say tn
'-t.4a.t - protect and defend crime. The pre-
.uge relieves the State Of this charge. an
.-.- !, instead the protector of the weak and helT
less. 1t is demOcratic-it gives the same right
use and sell as another 1t does not discriminate b.
tween men; and both and all political parties stan
in the same relation TO it. It does away with tn
charge Of sumptuary laws and no man can complai
that the law discrminates against him.
We have written the above without knowing whG
ether men think the subject and throw it out f.
their consideration.