Litchfield enquirer., 1881-09-29
License!

We have no objection on principle to h- cense, provided it accomplishes anything and our impression from a somewhat close observation is that it does accomplish just one thing and no more It tends to limit the num- Der of dealers. Especially is that the case with high license tax, such as is now im- posed by our county commissioners. So far the license d6es some good. It also tends to increase the costof dram drinking, and that is a good thing in itself. Beyond this it does no good, SO far as our observation extends. The provisions of our license law which forbid selling on Sunday to minors, or to drunk ards are never enforced, 80 far as we have known The selling is in the main, indis- crminate, checked only by the conscience which occasionally exists in the rum seller, unwilling as temperance people are to concede the fact.
 The Springfield Republican has always been strong friend of license, yet it is obliged to confess that it's result in Boston are anything but satisfactory. It quotes the fol- lowing from the Boston Advertiser
 The more respectable classes among those who opposed prohibitory law promised by implication, if not directly, that the communi- ty could rely upon their aid in the strict en- forcement of a license law. They Drofessed to disapprove as much as any of the abuses Of the traffic and the evils of unrestricted rum- selling. We'll, we have license law, and what is the result !? Do the friends of public order and morality have the active assistance they have right to expect in preventing un- regulated and illegal selling They do not. In our large cities prosecutions are discour- aged by the courts the police are unwilling to take the responsibility of appearing against offenders the licensed liquor interest is indif ferent so long as it is itself protected i; and public opinion lets the mischief go on. If an orderly and quiet citizen cares to see how the law is violated every hour of the day and night, let him take stroll through the lower wards of the city and satisfy himself.
 The only remedy, so far as the Republican can discern, is for the State to take the mat ter in hand and appoint metropolitan police. I've do not wish to see It tried, but it is pret- ty evident that the State as whole will not allow its chief city to run riot and suppurate over the whole body polite. carrying it's blood- poison to every part of the commonwealth"
 The fact is that license is only make shift, half way house. It accomplishes little not much. Prohibition is the natural result to which license tends and the question the peo- pie of our several towns are asking themselvs is this Are we far enough along in our temperance feeling, our temperance practice, to try ''no license ?" More towns are making an effort this fall than ever before. Among others, Torrington temperance people make strong pull, again they came within five votes last October. and they mean to carry it this year.
 Here in LitchGeld, let every man cast his vote squarely and candidly, in accordance with his convictions If he sees some chance for improvement in our morals and manners through vote of no license, let him cast it. We think we can assure such that if vote is passed, strenuous effort will be made for it's enforcement.