The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-09-18
LOCAL OPTION.
} The Editor Of The -Egis and InteRigencer

To the Editor Of The 1Egis and InteRigencer:
Without entering into the abstract question o.
the right or wrong of liquor selling or drinking
WIN very clear views upon the fact that temper
ance is not total abstinence and purely as a non
partisan, not being committed to either side oil
the question, as at present constituted because
it is clear to my mind that both sides have more
than modicum of truth, and because the ques-
ton is involved in difficulties that prevent it's
clear statement, that men may see 1t fully all
round, and agreeing to differ as to essentials
and without prejudice and over zealousness,
work nevertheless in unity on the main issue, viz,
Temperance in all things, without which there is
no righteousness. Non committal for these rea-
sons, we come to the discussion of some points
concerning Local Option, because we know our
selves made its subjects by the legal majority
that put it upon the statute books of State or
county law. But we deny that it was put there
as absolute and unquestionable as to its right to
remain there. AS we conceive it. it was put upon
its trial, and claimed to be all sufficient to abate
the evil at which it aimed, and settle the question
as to the main point of the sale and drinking of
intoxicating LIQUORS within the county, And the
legitimate question is, and maintain every man s
right to ask It, is 1t satisfactorily accomplishing
that object? Positively it is not. This fact does
not, why not? Or does it follow therefrom, that
Local Option Is mistake and ought to be abol-
1shed, and High License, or something else tried?
We hesitate not to answer, that we believe that
when properly understood no such result need
follow, however much additional legislation
may be needed to finally settle the matter. Nor
need the advocates of Local Option deny the
plain truth, known to all, that liquor is drank, if
not sold, to large extent in the county. Nor do
we think it helps the cause to claim that the re-
suit Is due to the non-enforcement of the law by
the constituted authorities Nor do we think it
could be accomplished, If every Local 0ptonist
were to constitute himself detective and give
his entire time to seeing the law thus executed.
because 1t is more than the law contans more
than could be put into it; more than it possibly
could accomplish, unless reinforced by some
more strenuous legislation. For instance, Local
Option must prevail in every place reached by
our public roads, railroads and water courses.
This is not now the case, hence liquor is easily
procured and you can't put into this law here an
element purely impossible to it. Hence is seen
failure so far. But, shall we not have Local OPP
ton where we can get 1t, because we can't have
it everywhere? We must make a beginning
somewhere. Be it so. But don't expect the re-
suits of universal Local Option from special cases.
Besides, does it help cause professedly moral
to claim for it in one place where it exists
suit it is not accomplishing, in order to secure it
success elsewhere? Manitestly not. Hence the
cause is injured by its very advocates. In word,
you can't make Local Option accomplish the re-
suit of the absolute non-sale and drinking of Ii
quor in Hartford county, or elsewhere and by
such a claim the main cause is imperiled and
laid open to the sneers of opponents, by claiming
too much for the law, more than public opinion
justities; more than the very men who supported
the measure at the ballot box justify or expect
So it is not necessary to yield the position to the
liquor men, abolish the law or try something
else. Simply abate the demands upon the law
that are manifestly excessive. Claim for it what
1T is actually doing, and leave the rest to be
fought as man of straw, by those who desire to
crush the whole movement, by giving undue
prominence to plausible faacy. Now what
may be legitimately claimed for the law as it is
Why that it stands as the declaration of the State
dS DOuy, anu VI tDe county lUuU pass
ed 1t, that the sale and use of liquor is wrong.
That much is gained and it is much. 1t is the
majesty of the State and the expression of the
ballot box gained, Hence, IRON this standpoint
it becomes an act, manifestly against the express
ed wish of the county and against the majesty of
the State, to sell, buy, or drink liquor of any
kind. where such law prevails. Patriotism and
good citizenship demand much. Here the
Local Optionist may take his stand and defy crit
icism and opposition, ami rightly charge the vio-
lators of the law with disrespect to the American
principle OF government. that majorities rule and
nnrifi nln TNan hlty fnntt
supplant the majority, and themselves dictate
thelaw.
Again, it may be claimed for Local Option, as it
at present stands, that it drives intvxcaton to a
very large extent into secrecy and out of the
public gaze. Nay, more, if it does not-and we
say again that II can't be claimed that 1t does pre-
vent entirely the sale and drinking OF liquor; it
at least closes the public bar; shuts up the sa-
looms and causes the seller and the drinker to
feel under the ban, and he hides himself viii he
drinks, and feels himself to be vioator of law.
And this is a splendid result. One that of itself
should array all good men and true on its side,
and no doubt would did ii not also commit him
to much cant and stuff that he can not acquesce
in. Let the leaders be wise, and see this point.
1t great thing to put out the alurng lights of
the Raudy, gilded saloon, and remove from our
sight the loathsome drunkard. 1t is great thing
TO quiet the brawler and silence the rioter on our
highways, and stay the hand of the drnk-mad
dened murderer. 1t is splendid thing to accom-
plish in one generation. Claim it, and demand
that for this, If for nothing else, Local Option
shall remain. And this will lead to no extrava-
gance. But this exaggerated claim we have re- |
ferred to is leading the movement into grave
error. 1t is this that is demanding new party
in our political sphere to elect men from its own
ranks to enforce the law from that standpoint. |
1t must fail 1t is the Prohibitionist fallacy. 1t
is the error of men who read their own excited |
prejudices into the law and calling up the spirit
of dead past, the spirit of the Puritan, compel
wise men to part company with them. If it were |
true that every voter for Local Option was as
thusiastic as some of the leaders, and then the
law was not enforced, it might prove that the
average American official who knows his tenure
of office to depend upon the will of the people,
had so far forgotten his own interest to fly in
the face of his constituents and arbitrarily deter
mine to dsrespect their known will in the matter
yet been born. Hence it must be that this habit
ual pulse-feeler knows that public opinion is not
in favor of such execution of the law some
understand it, he feels safe in the hands of the
manipuators of party machinery, who don't
want the law enforced, or are determined to make
this be true? Local Option was passed by u ma
jority of the votes cast. Of course this majority
Is the ruling element for the time being. Party
workers can do nothing without this majority,
hence they either will not oppose it in this man.
ner. or they know that this ajority is lukewarm,
as to the full enforcement of the law. If so. how
will new party remedy the matter? If elected,
these new officers must be by the same majority
that passed the law. But they manifesty don't
want the law executed as these officers would do,
hence they would not vote for them, and so the
the law and yet voted against the party based on
the law, and so they would be stultifed. The
cause In hand can't stand any such wrench as
this, whatever may be the ambition of few
men. Party or cause must go down. Let the
party go, that the cause may live. Let pure men
and true be selected and elected out of the two
political parties, to fill the official stations. Let
public opinion be SO educated as that no man, as
officer, would feel safe to dare not to execute
all law, as by statute constituted Rest assured,
that this question is no more political one than
it is a religious one. 1t is purely legal one.
There Local Option has put it. There it must re-
main so long as Local Option continues; and the
men who have put it there must feel satisfied
with what the law can be made to accomplish,
without forcing any mans conscience, or seeking
to drive public opinion into position for which
it has not previously been prepared by careful
and persistent education. And Local Option, as
q law, must take its place with all other laws
without favor or Partially, and as part of a
whole, seek to accomplish the result of pure up
right and just citizenship.
JESSE G, TAYLOR.
Per7YnadRS, Md.