Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-08-17
LICENSE.

llttlc or n0thlng from actual observation |
aud experience Of the workings Of u Ii.
cense law. Many Of them, doubtless. are
too indolcnt To investigate and think for
themselves but acquiesce in the conclu-
sions Of those who seek to have the liquor
traffic recognized and protected by
law. Others, seekers Of Office, because they
wish TO secure the friendship Of the saloon
ISIS for the votes which the latter can con
troll, but by far the greater number for q
reason which will be stated hereafter.
A license law was adopted in this State
in 1881. Under 1t, drunkenness and crime
became so general and rampant that the
condition Of society became uncomfortable,
and the people sought relief by providing
in the constitution of 1851 that no more
and has been salutary. 1t stamped the
brand OF outlawry upon the liquor traffic
and from thence hitherto the business has
been regarded disrcputnble. Before that,
men OF high respeclability were engaged
in retailing intoxicants, but as the bust
ness, IN the estimate of all good men and
women, became more aud more odious
they quietly and silently withdrew from
IL. The sentiment which that provision
OF the constitution fixed in the public
mind and the character which il stamped
upon the traffic were worth more to the
cause OF temperance than the reclamation
OF n hundred thousand drunkards. 1t was
against that, President Schram of the
Brewers National Association, at its last
meeting in Washington, protested when he
said they desired to pay reasonable IL
censc fee so MS to be recognized and pro-
tected by the law and thereby remove from
the traffic the odium of outawry. He
was willing, like the shodyiie, to pay mon.
ey for admission into good society.
But why should saloon keepers be re.
quired TO pay for the right TO carry OH
their business? The argument used in
the convention OF 1851 has never been an
swered and probably never will be; "IF
THE TRAFFIC is RIGHT IT NEEDS NO Ii.
CENsE, If WRONG IT OUGHT NOT TO HAVE
ONE" 1fit was right, the venders OF rum
would resist to the death before they
would pay, but because they know it to lie
wrong, they are willing to pay for the
privilege of doing that wrong While no
other business requires license for its
prosecution, the fact tn at liquor selling
San not he conducted without one, it he.
comes the seal of odium stamped upon the
traffic. From this there is no escape.
Many advocate the Scott Law or license
because these would weed ont the low and
disreputable doggeries and place the traffic
in respectable hands, and thereby the sale
and consumption OF ntoxicants would be
restricted. But what are the facts thus
far under the Scott Law? Two weeks
since, in Cincinnati, 1900 saloonisis had
paid the tax, which was within twenty oi
the number previously engaged in the bus
iness and the treasurer said, others are
coming in daily and paying for the re-
mahder OF the year. At this time, the
number is greater, probably, than it wal
before. In Springfield. five new drink
shops have been opened. In Perrysbnrg
the number is substa ntially the same will
! the facilities for getting drunk unimpair
, ed. From other towns and cities | hav,
seen no reports, but Mr.. William Backus
President of the State Liquor Dealers As
sociation, said to a convention of the As
sociation, held at Toledo on the 9th inst
, THE Scott Law proved that instead O
= regulating and diminishing the sale Of in
toxicating beverages II has increased III
number Of lou dives, which the law was Ca
they said) TO drive ont, hut they are per
, mitted to sell their hell fire. free and with
ont molesiation by paying the sum o
$780," This quotation is made from hi
y opening speech as published in the Isie
gram and Commercial, Il paper sym pathizin,
: with the Association. This Is testimon.
, which may lie accepted as conclusive
= coming from The adverse PARTY and tina
party in position to he well Informed.
: This result was predicted by all who hn,
r bestowed careful tlought upon the snhjecl
1t must he so in the very nature of til
. case. Bad men will rush into any nefar
ious business, when profitable, il protecte
n by law.
a The liquor traffic in the State of Ne,
: York, has been regulated by license 70
about 200 years, and yet there is NOR
drunkenness, probably, in that State nc
\. cording to population, than in any othei
u The same result, under the same cond
z ton, exists in New Jersey, Delaware
II Maryland and Pennsylvania.
n Instances might be multiplied showin
= that tho licensed dram shop stimulate
d drunkenness instead of restricting it. Un
der the shield and cover of law the dram
y seller will practice every conceivabl
g nignity to enhance his proils. All chri,
b tendon has resorted to license in some fori
), or other 10 regulate and hold in check tn
! evils resulting from the sale of intorica
e ting liquors, and all history proves that
e has been n delusion and snare, an ute
u acknowledgements has increased unde
n 1t.
e And who is it that advocates the icens
u sysiem?
e /. The saloonists and manufacturers {
e intoxicants. They are men OF ordinar
II intelligence, versed in their respectiy
!, callings and il would he idiotic To smppo,
a that they would iavor n method of dealin
d with their business which would serve
y cripple or lesson it. They are moi credite
j: with having conscienccs morbldly sens
% tive, aud we may rest assured that the
II like Others, would select that course wliic
D. promised an increased income. Every ten
n perance man will feel n conscious certaini
y lie is right when he votes a ticket, upL
d this question, in oppposition to thni vote
e by the liquor trafficer. 10 know the conr,
rs saloonist pursues is sufficient to dctci
'e mine mine.
ii 2. Those who placea higher value upo
0. money than they do upon right and in,
a tice. These are the ones who are viii in
IN to see man led down to Iuin, the wife
'e heart crushed and the children drag o,
y their existence in ignorance, wretchedne
ID and crime, If they can only get their tan
reduced. When the manhood of tina
m which was designed to he man, become
lie 80 shrinken that il can have no though
~ but how to accumulate money, he will e
cape the wrath 10 come for nj the last gre;
day there will not be enough of him +,
n identification.
A 8. But by far the greater number Al
m those who profess TO be the friends Of TEN
y perance, who deplore drunkenness, VIII
n advocate the punishment Of those who gt
NJ drunk and who boldly declare that prob
~ biiion has proved a failure wherever triec
~ II they are observed closely, il will lie dis
a