The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-10-31
Tl,eileoples Qolun,n
The olive" Question.

The Give" Question.
Local Option it is said, cannot be en-.
forced-that is bad enough. The voters
of Cecil county by a majority of over
1900 voters declared against the licensing
of Intoxicating liquors, and no votes
ever taken in this county raised the
character and intelligence of our profits
to Il higher standard, and never was
county that the enforcement Of the law
is very doubtful. 1t must be expected
that when the habit of drunkenness
had been formed, it would require a
great effort to abandon it, an! snch per-
sons would go out of the county to pro-
cure their accus Somed stimulus, and
they could not be prevented from doing
so, and that they would share it with
| their comrades, if they are what are
called gO0d .felLorS. And again it was
known that if there was a chance of
making money by violating the law,
there were plenty of persons low enough
to resort to that practice, then it must
be evident that it would require good
degree of existence to prevent the sale
of strong drink in the county, bEt there
has been no organized effort for that
purpose, and the law has been very
bravely administered when an offender
has been brought before the court. The
general defense has been in abusing the
prosecuting witness for his loose charaa-
ter, and his pecuniary interest in the
fine, and to this schathing TRADE of
abuse no reply would be made, and the
jury would acquit him. Now it is not
to be expected that first class witnesses
can be had against such offenders. Gen
tlemen of good standing do not go into
these sinks of iniquity, and tt is only by
taking their associates that these in
famous violators of law can be brought
to justice, and the officers of the law are
well aware OF the fact. The evidence OF
a thief is held as good against thief,
and the state saves the neck of our ac-
t'iASS III VIII ltSLlllGS a0llnS
his associates. 1t would be hard for a
witness to be more infamous than he
who in violation of the law gathers the
lowest characters about him, and spreads
wretchedness and misery in the commu-
nifty. of the scores that have been in
dlcted, and these set at liberty, not one
has been innocent, in all probability wit
neSses refuse to make oaths, and 90 clear
in these cases. This thing has gone far
enough-there must be an organized
effort to bring these offenders to Justice.
We must have officers that will enforce
the law-there are voters beside the
whiskey men. Some weak -kneed tenn
perance men are talking about high IL
cense, allowing men to commit all man
ner of wickedness, by paying a sum of
money. 1t is the doctrine of selling in
dulgences to farmers, that now might
commit crime if they would pay sum
of money to build churches If we H.
cense men to do evil we are accountable.
y man who would pay $4,000 for a IL
cense would have a monopoly of the
business, and could furnish enough to
demoralize whole community. 1t will
not be well for a member of the Legisla-
ture to speak of license law. NJ.
The debate at the Elkton Academy on
Monday evening last called forth many lust
such letters as the above from the residents
OF Cecil county. Many have been received
at this office, but we have only space to
print one, and have selected the above be-
cause OF the venerable judgment we know
its writer possesses. His views and ours
may vary and they may not, but without
obhgating ourselves to a concession to his
beliefs, we print the letter. Expressions o:
opinions upon the Local Option question in
public print, no matter how strong and Just
they may be, are hopeless OF proving effec-
tive, when the subject is universally agi-
tated by the citizens of Cecil county, with
out Difference to party rrcjudiceS, and with
the honest endeavor to make the law effcc-
tive, If 1t is at all possible to do so, or to
force its abolition from the statute books
then movement will have been made in
accordance with popular feeling-EpS
WING.