Smyrna times., 1881-03-23

The LICENSE QUEsTIoN.-Every Evening,
which seems to be the anti-temperancr
mouth piece, or rather the recognized lead
er against Local Option, now proposes IN
Its place rigid license law. The oppo-
nents never take on advanced position
until they are driven or dragged to it as n
counter measure, and the legislation this
winter is no exception TO the rule. Nearly
half of the voters in the State have petl'
toned for law submitting the question to
n vote of the people, willing to abide the
issue. With nothing on the other side but
the money Of the liquor men and lev
debased politicians, their prayer is almost
certain to be disregarded. Considering
that the petitions represent the highest
moral worth and interest of society, work
inR disintereatedly fer the moral, social and
financial good of the very men who spposr
them, it would seem a difficult thing fOI
the law makers to disregard them. But
after all Local Option" is only a means to
an end. The advocates of temperance are
net particular about the former il they can
obtain the latter. What they want is to So
hedge around the sale and use Of liquor as
TO remove the temptations frsm eur young
men. Their object Is not so much to cure
as secure. They want to save young neI
who bat for this temptation would become
our most spirited and useful citizens. Ii
quor is an outlaw-it respects neither tb.
laws Of God or man, and knowing thi,
quality Of its nature and how unruly ahC
rebelliOHs il is at restraints, il was deemsc
best to risk disturbance with it by giving i
no legal place Of lodgment. Outside o
medicine and the arts there is no call fo
liquor except 10 crafty dsbsssd appetite
ultimating finally in domestic misery o
crime. One or the other Of these in
mild or Aagrant form is inevitable, and ye
Every Evening .lsps forward with a plan /
regulate q U.---4Ie a. sIealthy as an assai
Fin and as murderous as Nihilist. II ac
vOcsIss rigid license Law and pronounce
the Local Option law az
"cumberssme and absurd. The requir,
tnent that sigHatures shall be procure
- oi no acceunIs AAu the decisions OF u
judges as TO who shall have and who aha
not have licenses are as uncertain az
lottery as TO good, for the simple and e
tir~ly proper reason that the judges of OF
courts do not know the liquor dealers i
timately. There ought TO be no such d
tretion lodged anywhere. Make the licsn
ZOO or $500. Make il work forfeiturs
license TO sell TO minors, drunkards, g.
CT otherwise violate the regulations. al
make selling without license punishat
with fne and imprisonment. Then
thsll have Law which can 10 enforced al
which will reduce the number of lou
saloons at least one half"
II the advocates OF stringent lioer
law we're actuated by the same prin
ple az the others, vn, to get as mu
instead of as little legislation az po
ble, and would, be sponsors for it's
iorcement, there might be a ready acc
lance Of its measures. Can e. e. give 81
sssurance7 That paper well knows the
sluenees political and otherwise that opp
the one and advocate the ether. Will 4
and the nen holding offices under Il
control give earnest attention 10 the
forcenent Of stringent license law 8
ns the exigences of the case demands 7
no, we doubt not the temperance ,
would be pleased to give them n trial
probation.