Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-02-14
License or no License.

anu IL QOeS not seem pUlllIO lVt
the law to assume the patronage OF
what is injurious to citizens. 1t IS
replied that liquor will be sold any
how; that refusing to license, or leg
islation to prohibit, does not prevent
its sale or use, and, therefore, We had
better license it, and so get 1t under
control of the law, and receive as
much return from it as possible.
This argument will apply to murder
or robbery, Just as well as to the
sale of liquor. Even if it does not
prevent the sale and use, it at least
relieves. the citizens who are opposed
to licensing it, ofthe responsibility.
For if the law license it, then all up
holders of the law who have not pro-
tested against it, become parties to it
for in citizens reside the authority of
the law. Then refusing to license
would relieve the law ofthe RESPONSE
bility and throw 1t where it belongs,
on those who insist upon selling 1T at
all hazards. Just as we'll license rob-
berry and get respectable men to do
it at revenue, and SO take it out OF
the hands of the highwaymen.
And then, if men would sell it re-
gardless of law, who are they? Is
It the same zen who now sell it ?
Why not ? If they wonld do SO, or
who ever would do so is not a law
abiding citizen at heart. And it is
not wise to conciliate non law-abld-
ing citizen by granting unjust de-
mands. If so, then the Governor of
Missouri ought to have capitulated
to Frank James. If a man is not
loyal, why recognize him as such !
If he loves money more than ne
does law and order, so much more
that he will brave its threats, will he
love it any more than he does money,
when itgrants his demands ! This
whole argument reminds me of the
tame tiger that licked the blood from
his sleeping masters hand, growled
when he awoke and would withdraw
it. l am aware of the fact that this
argument does not apply to all men
who sell liquor. ] believe that
most ofthem would prefer some 9th
er business, if it paid as well. They
follow it simply for the gain that is
in it; will the consumer stop here
and reflect why there is so much
gain in it. Again. Is the law COM
Piled with by those who sell under
its license | am not alone nor un-
supported by the facts when | un-
dertake to say it is not. The law
requires bond to be given that the
vender will keep a quiet, peaceable
aud orderly house, and that he will
not permit nor suffer any riotous or
disorderly conduct, or any drunken
ness, or any unlawful gaming about
the house or premises. That he will
not sell or give to any Indian, minor,
or intoxicated person, vinous or spir-
itous liquors, (see I104 of revised
Code 188O.) Is not this law violated
by nearly every man who sells liquor
in one respect or another? Bear
witness, We that go behind the green
screen, and ye minors that testify on
the streets of every town.
Lastly. Is it not both wrong and
detrimental to the best interests of
the town to license its sale 1t is
claimed that the revenue from it is
helpful to the town. On the con-
trary, it is hurtful. Who pays the
revenue? It's the breada and clothes
thatproperly belong to the women
and children They must live on
scanty, hard fare, and suffer IN 81
lence that it may be paid. 1t comes
from the fund that ought to educate
the children. When the law has
paid back the amount made necessa-
nv for its own administration; and
taken care of its criminals; and fed
its poor, it will not have enough left
to pay for the broken hearts, broken
homes, and ruined lives.
No one partofa community has a
right to extort from another part
more than their proportion of the
support of the whole even though
the machine of torture be called
law. Yet this is what the revenue
from license is. The poor and help
less women and children ought not
to be compelled to pay the revenues
Of the town.
Again. The law ought not to
tempt men to its own violation, and
then punish them. The law ought
not to provide drunkenness for a man
and then hold him responsible for it.
Yet this is exactly whatit is doing fit
issue license, and then enforce order.
Don't saddle the saloonist with all
this; he has paid the law to carry
his responsibility, so long as he
complies with it. The law ought
not to lure those who are to become
Its subjects to habits that Will insure
its violation when they become
amenable. Yet this is the known
result of the license system. The
law owes every youth that grows up
under its protection, to allow him
to attain maturity without a disad-
vantage. Licensing is opposed to
| this. / have heard it said that if a
Young man has not strength to resist
temptation, he ought to go down.
| What an argument ! Autocracy Of
| the strongest man. 1t is the duty
| of the commonwealth to make the
best citizen possible out Of every
man. Also to help the weak as
| much as possible. Then which is
better a vicious criminal or a rescued
! gentleman. o. L. HALEY.