Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-02-03
[For the Evening Capital,
The Death TrafIic.-Number A.

1ue Ue0tu IF0WlCs-NumDer f.
Mr.. Editor :-"Observer" says that
1.-TWO thirds of our merchants declare
they would vote tomorrow to repeal
the obnoxious law" (Local Option)
Probably most of these are under
false impressions and have always
opposed it as "sumptuary, etc., etc"
| know that many merchants would
not vote for its repeal. They do not
want to see the saloons opened again.
with their perpetual inducements to
drink, and their tendencies to breed
poverty, in full operation. He says
also, "strip the question of it's moral
aspect and the argument in its favor
falls to the ground so far as Annapo-
lis is concerned" This is emphati.
cally denied. No wonder the mer-
chant or other person who can write
that sentence wishes it's repeal. It
opens to full view the tone of his in-
fuence. Have we gotten so low in
Annapolis as to say that money is
worth more than good morals to our
place !? Tell it not abroad Is he q
father Has he no love for his
fellowmen? Would he not rather see
our people with mere competency
but of pure morals, than more wealthy
while of debased morals? l hope he
wrote that thoughtlessly and not of
deliberate intent.
And now word as to the views
of "High License" / am glad to see
that he has the manliness to abandon
his hasty impressions as to depression
of business here being caused by
Local Option. He complains that I
class him among the friends of intem-
perance, and the death traffic. Now.
| distinctly say that | hope his inten.
tions are better than his words. But
he has, whatever his intentions. got
ten on the wrong track and seems by
his pleading to be helping others on
the track to death. Whatever might
be the fact in single locality as to
the failure of Local Option in saving
men from drunkenness, it is no reason
to plead for License, high or low.
Beer and whiskey saloons breed poy-
erty and death. All true friends Of
temperance say this. Judges, crimi-
nal lawyers, Methodist Conferences.
other Protestants Councils, the late
Plenary Council of the Roman Catho-
lie Church, and the Pastorals of Ro-
man Catholic Bishops agree on that
fact. We want no better advisora
than these The churches are insist
ing that oil their people shall give up
this business. Yet he reviles the
workings of Law good in itself:
proved by immense testimony to have
done a glorious work in our own
State and county evaded, it is true.
in our town by the machinations
largely, of the friends of intemper.
ance. High License VIGOROUSLY but
confines in the hands of few mono.
polists, what ought to be open to the
poorer business men, if the sale OF
liquor is good thing. If it tends to
promote prosperity and good morals
throw it open. If it tends to crime
and misery, poverty and death, phys-
ical and moral, then in the name Of
purity and prosperity, help do away
with it. respectfully say to him
that | do not charge him with intend.
ing TO aid drunkenness. But I earn.
estly appeal to him and to all others
who share his views, that no true
lover OF humanity should be in league
with those who to promote their bad
business would break down law.
Help to ferret out its violators Helm
break up the clubs Help do away
entirely with the death traficl We
want more law not less. We want
al good citizens to help sustain. not
break down the majesty Of the Law.