Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-03-02
= ~ tFor the HERAsD.l ~
W hat can We do 10 Check In
- HaeW temperance ?

vOur fathers said that intemperance
was an evil. In order to protect them
selves they passed license la VS.. One
Iobject Of these laws TO prohibit tbe
promiscuous sale Of liquors. The more
efftcuiaIly|sto accomplish this object
they licensed the best men in the COM
munity. Hence in Puritan New Eng
land the Deaeons ia the churches were
the men who most commonly were the
dealers In liquors. 1t was on the right
to prohibit the sale, or Eto restrict the
sale OF liquors that the license laws
we're based. Times have changed and
men have changed with them. The
evil has not only out grown It's restrlc-
tons, but also another object Is now
sought to be attained by the license
law. Men asxious to increase the
revenues Of the state strained mlschi'
by q law" reverse the wisdom Of oar
fathers and made license 10 sell
liquors certificate of good, moral char
actsr. Under this new order If things
the object is to make the moral money
for TIA State by placing Alternative busi
ness in the hands of few privileged 81
men, and on the part of the licensed
dealer to make "a much money as he
can by feeding the depraved appetite'
4 his tellow-men.
What Is the RESULT The state dc.
sires revenue. men are allowed the
privilege of selling liquors in ait and
convenient" places and protected in
their right ~ to do so.
The State Of PENNSYLVANIA received
in the year 1867 s3l7.742.75 for licenses
to sell hquer, aud paid for pauperism
and crime caused by the use If strong
drinks o. 259, 9l0; or, in other words.
the State from licenses received IA
cents, and spent one dollar for crime
and pauperism. l doubt not that The
same is true Of every State. There are
other results injurious 10 the State
whi:h cannot be formulated in stalis-
teal tables.
license laws have failed both IN THEN
original eintent 10 restrict the evil Of
intemperance and in their later intent .
to increase the revenues Of the State.
License laws have failed, then let US
try prohibitory laws. They. If faith i;
fulls administered, willrestrict the evil.
They will aot eradicate 1t because man
has depraved appetites. If they do no
more they will withdraw the certificate
ofgood character which the State has
given TO the liquor dealer. They Will
remove the occasions Of temptation
which are now placed in the way Of
our young men. ~
But, a prohbitory law will not exc :
cute Itself. laws are powerless will :
out the moral support of the people.
The law against murder does moi
wholly prevent murder in the best OF
communities. The law against Tie
does net entirely prohibit stealing.
These laws would be wholly powerless
in a community where the majority
would agree'ts their violation. SolWilL
a ptohlbitOry law against the liquor
traffic. If a community is not agreed
that il shall be executed it would be Of
no avail.
The difference between license and
prohibition is this: License gives pow
er to a privileged fec: it gives power
10 corrupt the morals Of the young
And if my son is made drunkard al
that can do lie 10 beg the dealer IN
LIQUORS not to ruin therest If my family
Prohibition places the pOwerin the
hand, of the majority Of the people
who desire to protect themselves against
disorder and CRIME.
-.f eTsf .rOt-'