Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1880-07-29
e atottsn e larian.
Chas, e. CasseiI, A. w.,
Editor.
E, L. Root. pRop,1,.S
THURSDAY. JULY 20, 1880,
LEGAL Option,

In final and decisive action en- matters
OF local or public import, It sometimes
hes,oovcs the erbiter to acknowledge
The claims Of policy, IS we'll as right
and that which might appear under
different conditions, to be q line of
duty to be couscientiously followed,
may come TO be impolitic in the face
of existing circumstances. After a
calm and dispassionate survey of The
issue of Local Option as it now pre-.
sents itself to the voters Of this dis
trict and others Of this county in The
northern tier, we have come to
believe and that without reserve,
that this apparent anomaly does exist
wherein even those who, at heart
and conscientiously, oppose the Local
Option issue should to a man support
the measure. There is sentiment on
both sides oil this issue, and all that
we have seen printed or heard spoken
has favored OF sentimentahty and
somewhat of prejudice. No right per
contra, no wrong per Sc. There IS to
us a practical view savoring not OF
sent;mentaNty, unbiased by no pre)-
ulce or fansticism plain business
view of the situation, taken on the
eve Of the cattle and with fair op
Fortunities to judge Of the probable
result.
II is this; that Mechan!cstown,
Creagers,own, Hauvers and Emmitts
burg districts, in spite of all oppo-
sition, will each give majorities against
license, although, in all probability,
small, nevertheless majoritjes, which
even though but Of one each, yet,
that will control those districts, any ad-
verse majority in the county notwlth
Standing.
That Frederick city and some other
districts will give large maiorities in
favor Of license, we Ia &c to be an &C
ceptod fact. That these aIorities in
favor of license in several districts
will be large, so la5'ge, that they may
defeat tAe measure, as affecting the
whole county, is among the possible
ties. Then, with TIE moral certain
ty Of the success Of local option in
this and other northern districts, what
comes to be the duty Of every citizen,
who desires to see each and every dis
trict in this county placed on an equal
footing in this question What comes
to be the imperative duty to himself,
II every man whose business and
property, real and personal, will be
affected by vote in these districts
slve~e to license . What would be
the shrewdest policy to be adopted by
those who might desire or count upon
future repeal Of the law? IN fine,
and outside of all questions Of tem-
persnce or abstract morality, what Is
the plain business proposition made
to the opponents of Local Option IN
this and o.her districts, in which they
are beyond all peradventore IN mi
noritv? We desire to be fairly I'm,
derstood in our answer, hence before
giving it, will announce several car
dinal points Of our faith, so far "a We
have located Ourselves in this issue.
First: When convinced Of its elf
cheney we viii favor any law that will
aid Temperance all lessen the posi-
bilties OF intemperance.
Second: Being in doubt as TO the
availability Of Local Option (as sub.
mittee in thi s issue, as an aid to tenn
perance we have proposal TO allow
the expression Of our opinion to 90 by
default, 50 far as the moral or temper
ance point in the issue is concerned.
Third Accepting cacts and condi.
tons as We may be subjected to them,
We find ourselves in position that not
only justires but demands Of US that
we 81 olld take position in this matter
outside Of and not directly pertinct
TO the issue.
Fourth These facts aud conditions
having direct reference to local (Which
may by many, and possibly justly, be
construed 10 he selGsh) interests, our
argument will have reference only to
extraneous and irrelevant consdera'
tions, viz those Of policy in a pure
business light.
With the foregoing confession
OF faith and platform of prin-