Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-03-20
Local Option.

and cider exception the law would be
imperative and as a prohibiJive meas.
urc, Ineffective
We failed to convince any one, or at
most a very insignificant number, OF
the correctness of our views and were
told, we will not say answered, that We
were in the liquor interest and that just
such arguments We're to be expected.
In the light of recent events, we
trust that it may not be futile hope
that pervades our breast, shedding u
light Of promise, that we shall finally
be understood, that tardy justice may
be done our sentiments and in neither
sentiment nor opinion have We ever
sweryed a jot from the position we held
four years ago, unless it were that our
sentiments We're deepened and our opin-
ions strengthened.
We said then, that at its very best, a
District local option law was but a
name and a promise, the first of which
would be dishorored and the second
broken, but that with the wine and
cider exccrtion,' it would degenerate
into hideous farce and back come the
answer she is in the liquor interest,"
she is on the other side and we expect
only to hear such clams,' and even
yet more personal arguments.
Have the people of this district any
grounds for charging us now with being
in the clutches of any particular fac
ton, clique or ring? Have We ever
been selfish in whatever Of benefits il
may have been our good or evil fortune
to dispense or have we vet to be taught
how far and in what way we may best
serve the pecuniary or moral interests
Of this community?
We protest against the assumption
Of any one to think for us or to place
other construction upon our words
than the words imply and every word
that we have ever uttered upon this
subject has only tended to make plain
our opposition to this local option law
on the grounds that as II law it would
be imperative and as temperance
measure utterly impracticabe and 0f-
ter three years of utter failure, judge
ment goes against the law by confession
and the sound merit of our opinions, it
is to be hoped, will 90 a great ways to-
ward convincing those who have ques-
toned our judgement or doubted our
hatred Contemporaries. We have said
that judgement goes against the exist
ing law BY confession; what we mean
by that is, that the recent movement
here, looking to the repeal Of the priv
ilege to sell wine and cider was a con-
fession Of the worthlessness of the law
and why it was not further urged is Il
mystery.
AS the law now stands, we may look
forward to more than two more years
at the least, Of the kind of prohibition
that has made mockery of the good
cause of temperance and of the kind Of
law that ind!cts the most consistent OF
temperance men because he violated
the letter of the law, while the letter
of the same law permits the sale, with
out license, of alcoholic liquors and
men drinking the vile compounds get
drunk and responsibility attaches to no
one there is no known appeal to law
"Ihngs without remedy"
"Should be without regard"
In another article we treat of meas,
ure that will probably be a law by the
time this falls under the observa.
ton of our readers; to every good citi-
zen OF this district, we appeal, in case
the Lane measure becomes law, tC
endeayor, even though the days Of the
legislature be few, to secure the right
to vote upon the repeal of the present
law, that the Lane license law may be
operative here, such movement should
i'll our opinion meet with the unquali,
fed approval Of every moral and chris
tan man in this district.
With the Lane law passed and thor
oughly understood by the people, who
we'll understand the working of the ex
sting law, we believe that they would
be overwhelmingly in favor Of the for
mer and that no liberal and right
thinking man could be found to oppose
it.
/ We are of those who regard Loca
Option especially by districts, as obso-
lete, antiquated, behind the times as ;
prohibitory measure and we are sure
that if We have "hobby," high license
with personal suretes to secure respec
for and compliance with the law is tina
hobby.
I'VE must not make scarccrow ofthe law
/ Setting it up to fear the binds Of prey"
"And let it keep one shape till custom make ii
! '"Thrir nerch and not their terror "