Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1882-03-30
1sfo.rtin Clarion.
Ehas. z. casseli, A; "
X, l. Root, i PROP'R's
Ehas. e. CassoN'
THURS, MAR 80, 1882.
lsNALSE PREMISES"


ten for and published in the Valley
REGISTER on the subject Of intemper-
ancs and profanity in that locality
aud commenting upon it, made it to
appear, that the Fearful increase OF
;n,.mperance and profanity was
chargeabls solely to that district be-
ing one in which mo License" pre-
vailed at the late Local Option cleo
't!on.
Whereupon the Emmitsburg chro"-
,c2e takes issue with the Union and
says ",he differences Of the On'o"
from the above communication are
logically void because they prove too
much. The actual plea in the case is
the ron. observance Of the laws IN
force, and not, as the Union so broa'-
~ asserts, the ineficiency or evil re-
suits of the Local Option laws.
While we do not fully agree with
tho Union in all the points that 1t
would make to prove Loca! Option to
be solely responsible for the dep'ora-
bic increase Of immortality in Middle
town district, we must entirely d'sa
gree with the conclusion that the
Chronicle would deducs from the
premises.
When the Chronicle says that "the
actual plea is the INCONSISTENCIES Of
the laws in force" it speaks the truth
but we insist upon it, that from the
nature of the Jaw, its local nature, the
fact that it is effective only in limited
and separated localities, from the fact
that its indirect violation and the pos
tive and open defeat Of its intent and
purpose by those who throw togetn
err" order and divide it (mesnine
~hiskey) are separated by such fine
line Of legal distinction, that were
Local Options best ard ablest advo'
safes to endeavor to make the point,
it would end in bubble; that these
and other reasons may be deducted to
prove that the mon-observance Of the
Jaw springs from the inehciency o!
the law and the non observance being
admitted as the plea in the case the
Chronicle must 60 farther in quest Of
q conclusion to cover the evil results
in Middletown district for if the inet-
ficiency of the law, or the impractical
bility Of it's execution in any locality
IL the prime cause of the non observ-
.ance Of the law, then it is not sound
reasoning to charge evils upon such
observance and relieve the law
itself of all responsibility. The Chron
,cle refers to this district as one
which, from all we have learned
has improved m orally, as we'll ~ in
dustrially, under the action Of thu
law"
We modify that assertion and say
that it has benefited some indlvid
nails in this that they drink less; whil'
there are others who are drInkir!
more, now that they keep it in tn
house" which they did not do before
that public debauches are unknown
which is a decided improvements tina
generally business ia not better an'
that in individual cases, whereof W.
know, it is decidedly worse; that t.
sum IN the debit and credit, boil
morally and commercially, we woul'
not give a fig for the difference be
tween this and License times.
It has driven sotue away whose alb
sence, morally, is a benefit, CONNER
c;alIy the reverse; it has drawn som
hithsr that may add to the forme
and subtract from the latter. Som
individuals, peculiarly situated hav
been benefited, without doubt, other
find in it the reverse.
In its open and public influence 70
good, all agree, in its private and 81
lent influence for evil, some are be
ginning to recognize its weight. Tha
it will effect more good than it doe
evil, counting everything is, as it al
ways has been with us, an open qnes
ton and that the law is efficient to d
no more than to stop the sale of liq
nor lover the bar" we knew by ez
psrienec, before the law was passe
in this district and that it is efficen
to do no more here now, we know b
an experience Of nearly year. Thl
community was not one of drunkard
and brawlers before the passage of tn
law and were it composed of sue