The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-02-07

-lbe iollowlpg tract puOllShed ny
the Temperance Association of Friends.
Philadelphia, is enc of the most pithy ar
guments against license we remember to
have seen;
PAT FLANIGANis LOGIC.
Patrick Flanagan said the District
Attorney one day in court, stand up and
plead guilty or not guilty TO the charge
the Commonwealth hath preferred against
you.
When Pat had complied with the polite
request thus made by the officer of the
law, the attorney proceeded to read from
paper in his hand very graphic de-
scription of certain transaction in which
Pat had been engaged a few days before.
What say you? Are you guilty ornnt
guilty ?"
"I'm not guilty of half thin things
you've read to me, said Pat looking at
the Court, "but did have a bit Of a row
last Saturday was a week an ! dunno
just what did, for We see | was stavin'
drunk on the meanest corn whiskey yer
honor liver tasted"
But, Patrick. we never taste it, said
the Judge, while smile lurked behind
the grave judicial countenance.
Pat, with look of mingled surprise and
increduliiy--'' well, thin, ye ought to,
iist once, to know how it acts, and TO
know how to pity poor fellow that does.
Sure yer honor grants licenses, an how
do We know the mischief yer dom to hon
est men like meself unless ye take drink
now and thin, .jist to see how it makes a
man behave hisself.
who gave you the liqnor Patrick ?"
asked the Court.
. Well, | dunno watts his name, said
Pat, too honest to turn informant. while
CLEAN of true native humor twink]ed in
his eye. But knew ! seed license
hangin' behind the bar. Ye see, Judge,
| was working for the city, on the streets
iist close by, an was thirsty, an it was
so handy / wint in an took a drink that
orient to have hurt a baby, an in tin
seconds was crazy drunk, an | dreamt
that was at Donnybrools fair, an that's
all reminder till mkt moruin', when ]
was boardin' at Sheriff Ryan's Hotel"
8 But said the Court, you are
charged with perpetrating an aggravating
assault and battery on Mr.. g., The hotel
keeper
.'Well, yer honor, said Pat, F" if did,
l only gin him back watts in his own
whiskey an if yer honor hadn't give
him that license | wouldn't We been
drunk !; an if / hadn't been drunk, |
wouldn't We got into the fight, and
wouldn't We been here this mornin', any
how"
This was process Of reasoning new to
the Court. 1t was self-evident truth
dressed in plain clothes, and while the
law was with the Court, Pat evidently
had all the logic, and he here summoned
up all the mischief of the license system
in few sentences
Scores of men are made drunk every
day, just because it is SO easy to obtain
liquor. The law places it in reach of
every man. On the streets of our towns
and cities are hung notices of "Choice
Liquors, :" Ale, F" and Fancy Drinks,
to tempt the laboring man to come in and
spend for strong drink the money that his
family needs for bread.
On the path he must walk to and from
his daily occupation he sees those tempta-
tons. The licensed saloon aud grog shop
afford him every facility to become q
drunkard His appetite, renewed and
kept alive by indulgence, urges him on.
There is no obstacle in his road TO ruin
on the other hand, that road is opened
and made plain and easy BY the law.
What wonder is it, then, that the rum
shops flourish while the families of their
victims starye2