The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1881-03-03

which would take probably not more than
half the profits of one Sundays sales.
Pardon me for saying so much, but the
beauties of our liquor tax law are so abun-
dant that the half cannot be told. It does
bring a large revenue to the State, and
that is its only source of strength. It also
has tendency to make the traffic respecta-
bic, not only in giving it legal protection,
but also because some mean wretches, who
would otherwise be in the business, can
not raise the sum necessary for the tax.
But you and know, an appearance of re-
spectability in this case adds infinitely to
the danger.
In regard to the claim that the tax law
has reduced the number OF saloons 50 per
cent, have to say that this is as false as
its other claims. This is a true statement
of the case. In 1874 the "Crusade" fire,
kindled in your State, reached us, and al
though it had not the intensity with US it
had with you, it produced great effect,
in some places causing the closing of every
saloon. The tax law went into effect in
May, 1875, and theiclaim for its wonderful
power in closing saloons Is based on the
number Of the first half of 1874, compared
with the same period in 1875, which shows
a reduction Of 1873. No mention is ever
made by the advocates of the law, of the
fact that the temperance movement was
just then having great power in our State,
and 1 venture to say that Mr.. Dufield, in
his address, did not mention it as a posi-
bic factor in the problem. However that
may be, a reduction Of l ,173 on 6,164; can
not by any arithemetic be made reduc-
tion Of $50 per cent
But notwithstanding the wonderful eff
cacy of our law, which ought by this time
to have brought to US a Millennium, the
number of saloons in our State has in
creased, so that from ,991 in 1875, we had
in 1880, 5,34I, and this too, notwithstand-
ing cur wonderful reform movement,
which gives US in the State, thousands of
total abstinence men, who were once con-
stant patrons of the saloons.
You ask what is the state Of public
sentiment in regard to prohibitory legisla-
ton? The sentiment Of our State is
strongly in favor of submitting to the peo-
pie an amendment to the Constitution,
prohibiting the manufacture and sale OF
alcoholic liquors, and we feel sure that if
we can secure the submission, it will be
carried by large majority:
The enclosed bill is now before the
Legislature, and early in the session we
had strong hopes of its being passed, but
we begin to fear that, through the inau-
ence of moral, temperate, professedly
Christian men, like Mr.. DuffeId, who ad-
vOcate the tax law, we shall be cheated out
Of it this time. But it will only be delay
ing the matter. The temperance people all
over our State are seeing that the traffic is
crime, and they will not rest till our
Legislators consent to treat it as they do
other crimes. 1t will prolong the fight
another two years, but We shall not become
discouraged. God will, in the end, give the
victory to the Right.
I am personally acquainted with Mr.,
Duffeld. He stands well in his profession
and in his church, and in the community.
I grieye that his influence should be given
to continue the legal respectability of so
vile system as the rum traffic.
I am glad you wrote to me, and would be
glad to confer personally with you regard
ing the interests Of the cause so dear to us.
I hope that you will not feel that my an
swer is too heavy an inAiction.
Very truly and respectfully yours,
BIB. HUDsON.