Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-14

conscientious. the sympathetic and the lovers
of their species to exclaim, away with At, I"
and demand total abstinence and entire pro-
bibition Of the sale Of society's great en-
envy, the whitening, blasting curse that de-
sirovs the body aud RUNE the soul. 1at
effort. energy, toll, persuasion, exhortation
and deuunciation could do TO make The sale
of intoxicating liquor unlawful has been
done. Has tie results proved equivalent TO
the labor? Has the use OF strong drink been
banished, by the forclbie measures oil leeislA-
ton, from any large community? These
questions, willingly or uuwillingiy, must be
answered in the negative. Where moral,
Der.oual conviction mas entered Inc mind,
there is abstinence. Where legal force has
been imposed upon the unwilling feeling
OF opposition has been engendered. Even
many of the strongest enemies OF the drink
ing custom object to forcible measures, as in-
consistent with that personal independence
without which man becomes passive slave,
doing right only because he must, and avoid
log evil only because he is compelled
to do so. The result is, after many
years of patient effort, that the enemy
is nowhere subdued in the way the
prohibitiopist has striven go faithfully 10 con-
quer il; neither in cur own land or in other
countries where efforts earnest as our own
have been made. Rude experience and I'M
relieved disappointment is leading many in
teIligent minds to the conclusion that, If the
evil against which they have contended and
mean to contend ali their lives cannot, for the
present at least, be eradicated, efforts must be
made to reduce it to the smallest possible
limits These are turning their attention to
the work of reducing the number OF places
where liquor is sold, holding the sellers I'M
der strict regulations. and combining the sale
to persons who are under severe responsible
ity, having heavy pecuuiary stake depend
ent upon the sobriety, quiet, and good order
observed on their premises. This is done by
exacting the payment of heavy license,
simple plan that secures responsibility and
obedience TO the law. The best plan is that
carried out in Sweden, which We
have described in our columns more
than once. In the State OF Nebraska
the bare plan of high-priced license, without
the Efficient adjuncts which can be connected
with it, is on trial. The price OF license is
$1,000 annually in cities having 10000 in
habiia ants, and $500 where the population is
smaller, with bond of $4,000 in all cases for
a faithful Observance of the law. After the
6rst opposition had been overcome, the liquor
retailers of Nebraska themselves generally
FL IL l., oh hara
ninety saloons, paying S9O,OOO year, which
is $4,000 over the amount paid formerly.
The number of drinking places in the whole
State is about one-third of that under the old
system. Lincoln, the capital OF the State,
has ten saloons with population OF $4,000,
and these are kept by men from whom a
Judgment in court can be collected, and who
live strictly up to the laws requirements.
The law prescribes closure at II o'clock at
night and on Sundays, both of which re-
luirements are rigidly enforced aud
observed. There is still drunkenness be-
cause there are habitual drunkards, bat the |
amount Of drunkenness is reduced, and dis |
order is rare Mr.. Byars, chief OF the Lin
,oln police, reports: 81 can now look after |
he welfare of the city with one-third fewer |
men than could if there were thirty or
orty doggeries, as would be the case under
he loW-license system. l md the saloons
rderly. There is little drunkenness. The
iolice service costs the city less by three
ourths than it would under low-license
ule." This striking result of only one
ealure Of the Swedish system. III each city
nd county were divided into districts, the
lumber OF saloons that could be opened in
ZACH district fixed by the authorities, the
license TO keep one of these places put up
very two or three years by auction, and
i~sn Ouly tue highest r,sPeotable
nd responsible bidder, each saloon
eld under strictly defined regula-
ions, and fair amount of the license
money collected appropriated to the discov-
~ and suppression OF unlicensed dealers
necessary protection TO those who have
aid heavily for a license, and to the public
gainst drunkenness-the result in Nebraska
Tould be much more striking. Drunken
ess would be rare when it endangered the
ontinued possession of a license. Each
ouse could be well kept under police sur
eillsnce. The police force required in each
istrict would be small, and crimes, null
ances, ohscenity and street disorders, and
lisdemeanors would be greatly reduced.