The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-02-28
HIGH LICENSE.

HIGH LICENSE.
"A SENSIBLE LOT OF PREACHERS
. On Wednesday evening of last week
there was a rather remarkable meeting
at St. Paul's church In st. Paul. The
meeting was under the auspices of the
American Church Temperance society
and was held to present the advantage
of high license! Rev. DR.. Thomas,
Rev. M. N. Gilbert, Rev. Mr.. Kittson,
and Gordon f. Cole are reported rs
among the speakers. The Pioneer. Press
gives an extended report of Mr.. Coles
remarks from which We make some
pointed extracts:
PROHIBITION LEADS TO REVOLUTION
So long AS governments cOnfine them
selves to their legitimate province of
protecting each citizen from the en-,
croachment aud violation of his rights
by every other citizen, there is little
cause of complaint, but when it. has
essayed to 90 beyond this and regulate
the private habits, thoughts or opinions
OF the citizen. without awaiting the
overt act which may result from such
opinions, thoughts or habits, it has al
ways degenerated into tyranny. and
unless such attempts have been aban-
dOned by i timely repeal of the Obnox.
ious laws they have always resulted
either III revolution or in an utter dis
regard and open violation of them. 1
can instaE ce cases which every lawyer
will concede are in the same category
with the prohibitory legislation about
which we hear so much, and it is very
safe to say, if the experience of 5000
years is any guide, that this species
must, like its predecessors based on the
same radically unsound theory, either
be dead letter or result in revolution
ary resistance.
THE RESULT IN MAINE.
To the answer that will be given by
pointing to Maine, have just this
reply: Turn to the article Maine IN
the American Cyclopadia for 1882
There you will find, that after nearly 4
quarter Of century Of prohibition,
more than one.half of upward of twelve
hundred prosecutions, which the at
torney general reports, were for VIOLA
tiOns of the pr0hibitory law. If this
were at the beginning of the trial l
could understand it. but that after
twenty-five years so many violations OF
the law are most remarkable. But the
general opinion of practical temperance
men seems to be that the best and most
practical method Of restriction is high
license. While this doesn't reach as
far as would like, it is a step in the
right direction. 1t will not suppress
liquor selling nor very greatly diminish
the number Of saloons, but rs the abuse
of Intoxicating drinks causes large
amount of the crime which municipal
governments are organized to prevent
and punish. it is, logically, right that
as it makes this expense necessary, the
traffic should be largely taxed to sup
port it. AS a source of revenue TO be
used in defraying expenses which it
occasions. am strongly in favor of 4
high license. But after all the diff
Guilty does not so much lie in the char.
acter of the law rs in the fidelity with
which it is enforced.
ENFORCE THE LICENSE LAW.
A thorough enforcement in all If its
clauses of the present license law would
present the spectacle of more strin-
gent regulation of the liquor traffic
than exists or ever has existed in any
State in this Union. not even excepting
Maine itself. What, then. is the rem
edy? Why, say extremists. with char
acteriStic logic. enact a more stringent
law. 1t is notorious that the more
stringent laws are the more difficult
they are Of enforcement. If the people
cannot or will not elect officers who
will enforce the law, the fault is in the
people, and until they are educated up
to their duty, little remedy is to be
hoped for. Laws won't enforce them
selves. While I approve of 4 high IL
cense. my greatest confidence is in the
faithful enforcement Of the license law
in It's spirit and intent.
AM INSULT TO COMMON SENSE.
The thief or murderer understands
this and acknowledges the justice of
the law which Furnishes him. But it
does not attempt to punish the mere
intent, however wicked, so long as the
act is not done. 1t does not punish the
loading of tie pistol nor the sharpening
of the knife with which the deed is
done, nor is the sale of these weapons
prohibited. although everybody knows
that they may he used as instruments
of murder. To say in Christian land
where religion prevails, whose founder
ordained the use of wine in perpetual
commemoration of himself, that to sell
drink or to bestow upon a friend OF
guest a glass of cider or currant wine
(fOr prohibition laws treat these in pre-
clsely the same manner in which they
treat ardent beverages) is of itself Il
crime, is an insult to the intelligence
and common sense of the people, il
nothing worse. But what can you dc
with man who persists in the asser.
tion that black is white, or can be
rr ade so by the all embracing potency
of 4 legislative enactment?
PROHIBITION WORSE THAN DRUNKEN
NESS.
In 1881 in q single county in Maine
the bOasted cradle and home of pvohibi
ton, there were ia prosecutions fol
violating the liquor laws. Think OF
that number of prosecutions in single
county for theft or murder and you
tempting to compare things 80 utterly
dissimilar. Drunkenness is sad and
dpplorable. and it demands the
best efforts Of Il Christian community
for its suppression; but there are worse
things in the world than drunkenness
lying and cheating are worse; the int o
duction into free government Of 2
bad and dangerous precedent which
may be used to justify tyranny in worse
causes than temperance, is worse. Thu
practice of dishonesty and evasion OF
law wherever prohibition exists, IS ont
of its most demoralizing effects.
DON'T SPILL THE MILK.
''There is no use crying over spilled
milk - saws the old saw If Won arr
only bald, but have no life in the roots
of your hair, there is no use crying oyel
that, either. Take both time and your
self by the forelock while there is {
torelock left. Apply ParkerH Hail
Balsam to your hair before matters gel
worse. 1t will arrest the falling off u
your hair and restore its original color
, gloss and softness. It is a perfec
, dressing withal, clean. richly perfumed
cOols and heals the scalp: