The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-10-30
Discovery of a Mares Nest.

Every once in while there appear in
the world, persons noted for making I'M
portant discoveries. \ communication
appeared in the Wing of last week over
the signature of 'Self-Restraint, in
which the writer claims to have discover
ed in the local option law for our county,
Il deadly poisonous serpent cooled up.
ready to spring out and sting unsuSpect-
ing farmers. and their wives when warm
ed into life by those opposed to the licens-
ing of taverns and other places. for the
sale of liquor. The farmer, says Self
Restraint. has his place of business
and under this slyly gotten up law, should
he or his good wife, offer a friend glass
of elderberry. or blackberry wine, or a
doctor inadvertently prescribe whiskey
for an old rum-bloat getting on spree
under the impression that he has worms.
or the cerebr0 spinal mcningitis, then they
will be pounced upon by these local OPP
ton temperance fanatics, and suffer all
the penalties of the law. The most sing
ular thing about this important discovery
is the manner in which it was made The
writer says: that while at church a
few Sundays ago the preacher took his
text from the 14th chapter of Romans.
and latter clause of 9Th verse. which in Il
strange manner. set him all of a sudden
to thinking about our local option law
and on Monday morning he sent across
to friendly neighboring Justice of tn,
Peace and got the Acts of Assembly OF
$780, and then and there discovered
this trcacherous snake coiled up So nicely
and obscurely as to eludc the perception
of any person of ordinary capacity, ST"
much so that he. notwithstanding think,
the framing of the Act must have emf
mated from brains of higher order than
those possessed by our State Senator, or
Delegates. To cap the climax of this in
iquitous attempt to inveigle farmers. their
wives and the poor innocent doctors into
the clutches of the States Attorney, the
penalty will also attach in like manner to
the good Christian or druggist who may
furnish the wine to be slipped during sac
ramental services. s. Self Restraint,
calls upon the newspaper men to publish
the law again, so that the public may
see where the deadly serpent lies, and
which only for his miraculous, aid We
may say providential discovery. numer-
Gus persons who lay up 4 store of elder
berry wine, and careless doctors. nigh,
Iy subjected themselves to fine and i'm
prsonment. We imagine that Self
Restraint" is in the whisky business
owns a tavern, or rum mill stand, or has
taste for those delicious beverages
usually found about where loafcrs and
toperS congregate. Now. as to drinkin.
whisky, wine, gin, rum. elderberry wine.
lager beer. or bitters the law as framed
| 1,nc NOT ,,robihit - Salf RaStr,iut - frnp
! filling himself as full as tick. and the
hide of his neighbor also; if he is not en-
gagged in tavern keeping or in 4 public
business, where heretofore license has
! been obtained to traffic in ardent spirits
| This is the boldest attempt yet made in
| the interest of rum traffic: and no one
! else but an emiSSary of the brewer and
whisky distillery could get such con
struct,on out of the Act of Assembly.
| the spirit and meaning of which is simply
! to remove the great cause of depravitl
which exists by the licensing of men to
sell to his neighbor that which brings
him and his family to desolation and
want; and entails burdens Oh the sober
and industrious. so far. during this cam
pai9n. no one has dared to take the stand
in favor of this iniquit)us traffic: and at
last when the matter will in a few days
go before the great jury of the county.
we have this man 8 Sclf-Restraint. be
hind his nom de plume, carping ut the
law, because lie will not and dare not
come out boldly and advocate this abom.
Unable business before an audience OF
intelligent persons: OF even behind his
assumed name, go into print in its favor
HONEST CONVICTION.