Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-02-14
Local Ontion.

1r E3itor Among the reforms 10 come
before the people this Fall the question OF
"Local Option" will undoubtedly occupy
prominent place. The question is used as
applicable 10 the traffic in ardent spirits or
spurious liquors. There are some persons who
think that any interference with this traffic
by authority Of law is an interference with pri-
waite right. Our Bill of Rights, said to contain
'immulable principles OF government no
where suslains any such claims. On the con-
trary, the Isl article declares that this Gov
ernment is Instituted "soiely for the good of
the whole, whatever therefore is for the good
of the " hole must have precedence in other
words must prevail over the rights or inclina-
ton Of any individual or set OF individuals
Thas is held The right 10 laad-sutject TO
the superior claims Of the State, when wanted
for 'lhe good of the WHOLE To the county
commissiohesa and 10 every turnpike and rail-
road company is delegated this right of emf
neDt domain, and no one has heen able sue
cessfully to resist The exercise Of :his right
The Metropolitan railroad cases, as illustra-
ton, must be fresh 10 the minds Of your read
ers. Again the 4h article of the Bill of Rights
says That ''the people mot an Individually Of
this State have the sole and exclusive right
of regulating the internal government and
| police thereof What Incomes then OF the
declaration that every individual has he righ,
| TO sell whskey even were there no other laws
| regulating and restraining the traffic? But
| the legislature has seen fit, under the authority
Of the constitution, adopted by the people, TO
pass laws ''for the good ofthe whole, 4" to regal
aie and control this traffic. lst she licence
! Law by -Nlssvh-szssy indjgidn1 IN the Stale
lis forbid TO engage'in this traffic without htst
| paying license 10 the government; 2nd, a
( law with pains and penalties forbidding every
! irJ iv; nil pra
scribed distance or circuit Of a Methodist camp
ueeting 81 excluding the sale or traffic, ex-
cen under prescribed CONDITIONS within FIX
! ed limit around several schools, factories and
manufacturing companies 10 this State and
4h, il has entirety forbid the sale or afIic on
Sunday and on tile day of elect ion, and also
has prohibited horse racing and liquor. selling
I near any Quaker meeting. hope ! hnye ef-
| fectualy disposed Of the question of private
or individual rightin The premises, and es-
labishcd the proposition that The Legislature
alone has the right and for a very long period
of time and upon various occasions has OBJ
served and exercised the sole power aud au-
lhority TO regulate ibis Traffic.
Now comes up The interesting question oil
Local Option-that Is, The right Of each local
ity, town, village, neiqhborhood, district or
county 10 say whether ibey,will or will not
have this traffic in their midst Each COM
l..
muniiy as the case may be, is, under the pro-
/ posed law, to have the power and option by
and under auihority,of law to elect and choose
.whslherait Will or will not haEeaa daFal shop
liquor saloon, tavern or restaurant where
Aiqaor is sold established ip. its,neg hborhood
u nder thisilaw n the peoplAl w,sht tses traffic,
they can have il; If they don't want ii, they
can exclude it, " is u question for each, com
MUMMY TO choose add decide for Itself! / 1t is
as free as air as clear as water. Nothing but
plain, simple yes or no. This is all the friends
of Local option ask, that is, 10 let the people
living Immediately in and interested in
each community decide for themselves. IL is
what our Bill OF Rights declares they have the
right 10 do. and its denial is The denial of a
Fundamental right.
The present license system ia subversive OF
this right. Itgres to any Individual, high
or low, rich or poor, black or white, moral or
immoral, the power upon The payment of a
small license fee TO set up n dram-shop, res
taurant or saloon wherever be can build or
rent shed or shanty, without regard to the
will or wishes Of the people living in the ueigh-
borhood or community in which such shop or
saloon may be started. 1t is therefore pow
er arbitrary and tyrannicaf, unjust and subver-
sive OF the rights of the people TO regulate
their own local aGiirs as may best comport
with their wishes and promote their interest
and welfare. In other words, it is subver-
siye of the great iLndsmental doctrine OF
home-rule and local self-gdvernnent
A. b. D.