The Cecil Whig., 1885-12-19
V''tptoplfs (olun'"
NORTH EAST, MD.

out pupllc oar. L would ike to
ask the gentlemen who make this asser-
tlon in North East, whether any better
accommodation was afforded the public
when the town had two licensed hotels
$50 called) than it has afforded it now?
Was stranger arriving at night in North
East more comfortable in the old lower
hotel, and with the reputation the upper
one had, was a strangers life entirely
safe? There has been in this town a
constant effort by those pecuniariIy in
| terested in the sale of rum, to make the
present law unpopular by talking it down.
And with those who did not see the mo-
tive of these attacks, their efforts have
been successful. Whenever a drunken
man is seen upon onr streets attention is
called to him, and the impression is
sought to be made that more whis KEY is
used now than when it could be legally
bought at two licensed hotels in the
town. have no hesitation in declaring
that such is not the case. Compare the
| condition of North East to. day in this
respect to what it was in the days of Ned
Larue. Were these gentlemen who are
now so ready to point out drunken man
on our streets as the evidence of the
failure of Local Option, then in the habit
of calling public attention to the drunk
enness and disorderly conduct about his
place. Aud yet did not these same gen
tlemen indirectly protect and defend him,
and were they not also indirectly respon-
sibe for his conduct in the implied coun-
tenance they gave this traffic? Not con-
sidering the fact that it cost the taxpay
ers of Cecil county about $1,000 to get
rid of this man, it was worth that much
to the morals of the town, if morals can
be measured by money.
know there are men in North East
who long for the old whiskey days to re-
turn, disorder, drunkenness and all. They
see no question of public morals insoved
in the sale of rum. They long for these
days of license of rum traffic to return
simply for the money to be made in the
traffic.
Better accommodation for the public
with two licensed taverns in North East,
Heaven help the work. What were these
accommodations they talk about? Wasn't
whiskey the principle accommodation for
the man who could pay for it, Or who if
he had not the ready cash, was unfortu-
10 l.
it con tick?"
But why should we return to the
license system even if it was limited to
two taverns In North East? If the traffic
is to be made legal, why should only two
houses have the right to engage in that
traffic? If it is right to sell whiskey at
all, all should have the right to sell who
can pay for the license. The law don't
limit the number of stores in North East,
why should it give the monopoly of the
rum trade to only two houses? l don't
believe that the reputable citizens of this
town want any such monopoly granted
to anybody. They don't want rum sold
at all either by two men, or by two dozen
men. In my Judgment the Legislator
who goes to Annapolis from this county,
and substitutes the law known as high |
license law for the present one would
meet his political death in Cecil county. |
The people of this town and district
have had in the past enough of the whis-
key influence. 1t ran the town corpora
tion, and 1t tried to run the church. The
leaders of this element attempted to run
the Republican party under the name of
Half-Breeds. But they received stun
ming blow at the last election and heavier
blows await them in the future. TIE |
truth might as well be told now as at
any other time. u aoas around the uhis-
Key influence IN this district tile Half
Breed cloak ,cas Mrorn last fall. Years
gone by men in North East were afraid
to raise their voices against this inf1u-
ence. 1t was power in politics. 1t isn't
so now. We know the War these advo-
Gates of free rum waged against the late
Billy Scotten as We called him. His
zeal sometimes may have ontrun his dis
cretion, but if he erred at times, he erred |
at least on the right side of great ques-
tion ofpublic morals. But BILLY" Scot
ten had the courage of his convictions
and he held bravely in check the animal
whose back was covered with wool, until |
the Rev. ]. A B. Wilson came to his as
sistance. Tnen it showed signs of weak
ness, and its back bone was broken. |
When Mr.. Wilson left North East VIM.
l.. S. Murray took up his work, until un-
der the Providence of God, the covering
was stripped from this wolf in sleeps |
disguise and he stood forth in all his ma
tive deformity. We thought that we were
rid of him forever. But recently he has |
shown signs of life. Men who want to
traffic in his word, and fleece their fellow
men are trying to breath fresh life into
him.
And we must be ready to meet them. |
The temperance men of North East don't |
propose to take step backwards. They |
hope to strengthen the present law, by |
the repeal of The cider clause, and they |
will ask their Representatives at Anna
polls to frame a law for Ceoil making it
illegal to sell ahy Intoxicating drink
within the limits of the county.