The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-07-17

The High License Law Of HlIfMois.
Editor Florididn An article from the yels"nf
Of Commerce on the above was published Hith,
out comment in the issue of June 26th, df cur
valuable paper OF course such puhhts,ion
does not necessarily commit yon 10 the "piai' ne
ofsthe article; but the name of the .jotvH1& is
deservedly of such weight AMI confidence, sh"'.
| unless you approve, comment is called for Fro
so presented would do the greater injury, having
the favor of good name Believing that,ih,rc
is error in the article, beg leave to cnict hi,
dissent
Temperance is vital question everywhere.
Prohibition, by which it is sought 10 promote
the cause, is a living issue in our State. W.
have, probably, the best feature of the law 'fhch
has been offered The whole burden, together
with high license, is put upon the liquor Hsll'r
! 1t also aids in developing healthy moral s:n,i
ment in favor of temperance. 1t, Therefore. in,st
be tie latest nc7rs, when the journR .,iIs H.
Prohibition being now Il conceded failure, lis
old friends turn to high license as the best prac-
ticabe measure" That prohibition statutes bayc
not effected the desired result is conceded but that
is very far from saying that proAibitjon /, tinh
contradicted by facts, and The active optps.iun
of dealers shows that The business is Injured
| The failure to execute the law is not 10 nc
! charged as II failure OF the cause Neither lac
cause a law has so Tar failed To accomplish al
that is desired, is ii to be conceded as IA iaiblrr
The statute against felony is prohibition Be
cause men continue to commit murder, AMI oule
are punished and some are not, is il TO lie Gun
! coded that tint prohibition is failure, and the
statute 10 be- repealed: But the promising ont
look is high license rs the hes, practicable. meas
/ ure." This draws to aid OF temperance tlvpSc
who were never prohihi,onists but always H..
| licved in a rational system of legislation" cad
also " The most respectable liquor sellers Tb's
increased aid perhaps makes the measure pr,t.t3
c"be, and may indicate the cause of the la4are
OF other efforts The rsul, Of snch fusion ,.an
hardly he favorable to true temperance The
surrender OF an opponent who continues ihr
fight, as tn" liquor seller in this case VIII ,it,--
not give peace. Little wisdom is NEEDED 10 s,r
that The compromise measure will not advat;cr
the cause very hopefully But high license
is species OF prohibition in that The inelioi
liquor shops are weeded out" Note here un
cNh resulting iToHl pnlF llSt pI words. We
speak of some places as more respectable tmcan
ing simply more tOlerablcl than Others but iat
makes them more dangerous and ininr'n. 10
temperance. 1t fosters the idea that the b,,a,4s,
can be respectable. Respectable men mrv Cd.
gage in II, but il adds nothing to their r"spct ia
bllity. just as The gambling operations IN
futures are considered more respectable than ne
faro, and respectable people engage in the former
and dcsrise the latter The only difference per
haps, is that the former does far more injury but
has more capital II i, difficult to see the Nd
vantage TO temperance. when on high liccn>.
" it is estimated that on such basis hlcago
will reap All annual revenue of not less than 81
100000, or a gain OF about 5000 600 on her pres
ent income from license fees" Are the lluuor
sellers SO patriotic and unsclish to devote
themselves 10 raising revenue This would
be decided relief to taxpayers, and insurts the
popularity OF the measure with thai class 1t
is plain that the more liquor must be sold To- pa,
this increase of revenue. The liquor will llo b.
increased in price and there must be more
drinking and greater effort to induce drinking
But revenue is the beam in the moral eye md
the political lever When the people VALUE. the
morals ana lie OF the community more lhdn
money they can make the sacrifice Though
the court records lead t. evidence which i4mlY
question any relief To tax payers from such
revenue.
Prohibition does not succeed, high license l"es
not promise much, shall we, then, abolish ali IL
cense, and give up the attempt 10 control The
evil: No, tor that means moi merely to deprive
the STATE OF the revenue but much more to
license the evil, by which temptation and c,;nl.
petition will be increased. NosvsIen has entirely
accomplished the desired result but some good
much good has been attained The best pruc.
iicabe measure may be high license but he
principle is a modified form OF prohibition which
is not conceded failure The advocacy Of the
liquor sellers is a straw indicating an East-N ind
from which more evil than good may b., tx
pected J. VA