Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-12-19
what shall 1 do TO Prevent the SaIOO
Keeper selling Liquor 10 my BOya


Keeper Selling Liquor 10 my BOyl
This was the question asked me a few
days ago, by one of our most prosperous,
honest, and industrious citizens. 1t was
an earnest appeal. yelling up from the
depth of troubled heart of a father, for
son whom he feels to be on the road to
ruin. 1 did not stop, or even think to ask
him whether or not he voted for license
last spring. 1t would have been cruel to
have done so. My heart was touched with
pity fer the father, in his deep concern
for his noble boy. told him that there
was State Law prohibiting the selling of
Intoxicating liquors to minors, and that,
although our city council had granted
licenses to the saloOn-keepers to sell in
toxicating liquors, these licenses did not
abrogate the statute against selling to
minors; and that the only way that saw
fer him to do, was to ascertain who sold
or furnished his boy the liquor, and then
prosecute him or them for doing so.
But, sad to relate. this is only one of
hundreds of similar cases, in which the
saloon keepers are violating the laws
every day, by selling Intoxicating liquors
to minors and other prohibited persons, as
evidenced by the number of drunken
young men and habitual drunkards seen
reeling on our streets; and it is only an
other evidence of the utter futility of at
tempting to control or restrain the traffic
in intoxicating liquors by a system of Ii
cense. 1t is also another evidence of the
total inadequacy of our present local Op-
tion laws to meet the emergency, and in
any manner do away with this body and
soul destroying business. Iti well au-
thenticated fact, that wherever men are
found mean enough to sell liquor, even
though it be under strict license, and
they have been recommended by ten or
more of their fellow citizens, as being
persons of a good moral character, and
safe men to be trusted to carry on this
hellish business, yet, in most instances,
when they have got their license, they
are mean enough TO sell to minors or
drunkards, or to any one who comes up
to their bars for it.
1t is apparent to us, and ought to be to
this evil, and put stop to the sale of in
toxicating liquors as beverage, is to do
away with all license laws, and enact
laws, as has been done in the State of
Maine, that will prohibit its manufacture
or sale anywhere within the borders of
our States or Territories, and to make the
penalties for a breach of the law severe
TO 10o %ho,
strictly enforce the law. Then the work
will be accomplished, and this vulture
viii cease preying upon our people. But
this thing can only be accomplished by
putting good temperance men, and not
only temperance men, but thorough pro-
hibitionists, into our State and National
Legislatures, to make laws for us, and
then elect honest and trusty temperance
men to see that the laws are executed.
1t is not enough to know that men are
temperate themselves, for many such there
are, who are yet so tied and bound to
some old party, that they are not safe
men to be trusted to make or enforce such
laws as we need, i'll order to bring about
this so much to be desired end. Thus let
every man that has the good of our com
mon country at heart, see to it that he
does his duty this fall, and not be hood
winked by any loud professions of love for
the temperance cause, by any person who
is not pledged to the principles of prohi-
bition. Let every man do his duty at the
polls this fall, and we shall be enabled to
set the ball rolling with velocity that
will never be stopped until our glorious
| cause is triumphant, and drunkenness is
driven from our land Western Bonner.