Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-09-17

do 1t, because this proves that it can and
does do it. These are stubborn, unbending
facts and he who doubts is laggard.
Again, | assert that it is eminently, yea pre-
eminently a simon pure, unadulterated Dem
ocratic measure. | believe we style our
government Federal Democratic Republic,
and in we ancient day it was such. How
dId our progenitors elect their rulers and
enact their statutes? By the will of the
majority, even though in 100 they stood 81
to 40. You ask, have the minority no right
that the majority are bound to respect |?
Democracy says to the minority, if you are
right present your cause anew to the people
and become the majority; ifyou are wrong,
go to pieces as properly you should. Thus
you see, my fellow citizens, looking over and
above the gentleman to whom am reply
ing because he already knows it that all
things are conducted by the sovereign will
of the majority, unless conspiracy and fraud
intervene. | am well acquainted with many
of the licensed men of this county, and
knowing them to be gentlemen of enlight-
ened, broad and liberal views boldly ven
ture the assertion in their behalf, that they
would not wish to retail alcohol in this coun-
ty if a majority of their tellow-citizens de-
clare against it at the polls, in November.
Yes, the struggle of "'76." was Il successful
protest against taxation without representa-
ton, and the Local Option struggle of 1880
in Montgomery county merely asks the peo-
pie, do you consent to the taxation supern-
| duced by the license system? Convicted
by your own words, Local Option is not I'M
Democratic, but prominently the reverse.
You solace yourself with the sweet lullaby
that Local Option is politically dead Now
does this prove that it is wrong? The party
L.,
| been hopelessly defunct nationally for a
full score OF years, yet You have faithfully
and intrepidly followed its banner, and
would be the last man to say, that it is one
whit ajar.
Again, how long would the wholesale
dealer rectify with poison, and the distillei
stretch his venomous worm, if there were nc
retailers? Break up the demand, stop the
consumption, and the fountain dries in
stantly. Again, the same dealer in Wash
ington city who sells the rich man his gallon
! or his barrel, would cheerfuly and obsequi.
ously sell the poor man Il pint for his TWEEN
| ty-five cents and chuckle as he tossed the
money into his till, to think what silly fools
both Of them are. Oh yes, Mr.. Hutton
the same huckster who brings Mr.. Tittlebat
Titmouse his barrel, will bring old man
Hart his pint No discrimination here
Now as an "Old Salt" let me tell you there
is no such thing as Temperance in using
alcohol Its use means abuse Show me
100 men who use alcohol and | will show
you 80 men who get drunk or will get drunk
then, 'it biteth like an adder and stngetf
like serpent" In the fell region where
Pluto holds reign and Cerberus keeps guard
the bottom pit is tessellated with immortal
souls, whose owners thought they could use
| it,
But weary with your pleasantries, su bile
ties, vagarics Pardon me for closing these
lines by metaphor. Is is to be regretted
that you stand solitary and alone on this
subject among the young men ofthe county
| endowed with genius, tact and talent, your
| contemporaries. Solitary and alone, not like
the imperial eagle Of the Alps, that skim!
with ease where no human foot has ever trod
den, and makes the topmost crag of Blanc
| his tootstool-monarch of perpetual frigidity
| in latitude Of perennial verdure; but soil
! tary and alone like the condor Of the Andes
that swoOps from the loitiest peaks Of Chin
/ borazo down, down, down to the loves
! plateau of the valley, where he riots in {
/ carnival Of carrion.
Mr.. ident-pleasc call the next gentle
| man on Tile OTHER Side
SILAs WRIGHT DAVIS.