The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-04-25

not to degree prohibitory in its func-
tions and even a clear 100000 fee
fails of that result. If we would have
what could be justly called high license,
we must follow the example of Barnes
vile, Pike county, Georgia, where the
fee required is 500, 10000 ; or of that
other Georgia town, which requires
$4,000. But we must look at the
plan as it is advocated.
Our second objection is, that the
scheme is acceptable to the liquor in
terest. at meets the views of honest
(?) saloon keepers, for it would, in
reality, be their best protection, and
not inimical to their interests" EX-
actly so. Especially SO, since the
rumble of coming prohibition fills their
cars. "The Brewers and Distillers'
Association" of Illinois, have just de-
cided to make no objection to the ex-
listing law, before the present Legisla-
ture, and let things take their course.
They are satisfied with it. Their eX-
perience with license laws in general,
and with this one in particular, has
taught them that behind the law they
have nothing to fear. Protection is
just what they want the withdrawal of
protection is just what they fear. But
that which is acceptable to the traffic
is the very thing that cannot be, and
should not be acceptable to the mass
of the people who oppose the traffic.
1t is a serious objection to the plan
that at meets the views and protects"
the very man whose interests it should
be designed to curtail.
High license corrupts the source of
authority-the people. 1t may not be
true that it is advocated principally for
purposes of revenue. 1t is only claim
ed that this is no slight consideration
1t is true, nevertheless, that every such
law, sooner of later, comes to be val
ued chiefly as means of revenue, to a
degree that blunts the public con-
science and sadly influence public
opinion as to glazing evils. As long as
large portion of the Nations revenue
comes from the present sources, it
will be a strong obstacle to effective
dealing with the whole evil. Not only
does this corruption affect the number
of licenses issued in the first place, an d
also measurably the strictness Of the
requirements as to those who receive
permission to sell, but it makes the
people and their public servants less
careful to revoke licenses when they
should be revoked. The revenue de-
rived from it is the chief reason why
England does not blot out the disgrace
of her enforced opium trade with China.
So with the license fee. The saloon
becomes related to the municipality,
and the traffic to the State, as the wolf
to the old hunter, who used every
spring to claim and receive the bounty
on from three to five wolf scalps regu-
larly brought in. Anxious to solve the
problem of his success young Nimrod
once begged to be taken along. They
had not gone far into the woods when
a large wolf was sighted. Up went the
young mans rifle. "Hold on there "
cried the veteran, knocking it aside,
"that's the old she wolf. If you kill
her there won't be no more cubs. VI
Then it came out that this unframed
breeder had been the soucrce OF his
gains. What we want to do is to kill
the cold she wolf''-the license system
But while cubs, i. e., saloons and tav-
ems, afford a revenue, men will be
found base enough to cry "don't kill
her."
The click of silver pieces is louder in
many ears than the wall of wife and
widow, or the moan Of hungry children.
Judas will take the price Of blood as
quickly today as of yore, and the effect
of high license is to increase his clan.
The Federal Council of Switzerland, a
country cursed by drink as no other in
the world is, refused to grant petitions
for restrictive legislation, the Chi ei
ground of its refusal being the revenue
of thirty thousand dollars. When will
men learn that this traffic imposes a
burden too grievous to be borne; and
that it cannot be made to pay a 1.-THE
nor a hundredth part, of its own expen
SEES? What is fair compensation fol
the ruin of home? What is flesh and
blood worth? What is just censid-
Grafton for the manufacture of drunk
ard, or broken-hearted widow, or an
orphan with an inherited appetite fol
drink? What shall the State require in
exchange for soul? And who pays
the license that is supposed to reduce
our taxes? Does it come ultimately
from the well-to-do william who hands
it in? No, it is wrung from the already
impoverished homes of the miserable
victims of the drink. as this pleas
ant view of the reduction of taxes? Is
it a Christian device to grind the faces
of the poor already marred and SCARED