The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-09-18
ORGANIZES.

NOW llldt tllS SOtllliilllSSS lldNC DSSi
named, and the business of organiza-
ton has begun, we call upon all the
friends of Temperance throughout the
county, to lend their aid in pushing
forward the good work. The mana
gers OF the present prohibition cam
paigr in Cecil county don't propose to
pursue the ordinary political campaign
methods of drumming up their voters
with brass bands and base drums, but
they do propose to excite all possible
popular enthusiasm, by intelligent and
well directed organization and demon
stration.
The advocates and friends of Rum
in Cecil county prefer just the opposite
method. 1t is true they have secured
the weekly services of two newspapers
in the town of Elkton, through which
to make their specious and fallacious
appeals, but these do not touch the
popular heart on this important local
issue.
We assert that the great body of in
telligent, law abiding, self-respecting,
and tax-paylng classes of Cecil county
would like to see the Rum Traffic
wiped out of the county forever. There
may be some difference of opinion
among them, as to the best method to
accomplish this desirable result. This
question of enforcement of absolute
Prohibitory laws has been a stumbling
block to many sincere friends of Tenn
perance. The opponents of Prohlbl-
ton have lost no opportunity TO 7t0rh
ub, the comparative failure OF the pres
ent Prohibitory law, for all it is worth.
They have grossly exaggerated its viola
tons with the hope of making sentiment
against lis continuance, or against the
adoption of more stringent law. They
have stereotyped the phrase "Pfohibl-
ton doesn't prohibit" and have echoed
it early and late"
In whose interest has this been
done?
We say in the interest of distillers
and wholesale liquor dealers, who in
the event of the adoption of High
License in this county will put in their
pockets the pecuniary profits of their
sales.
VIII the men of Cecil who drink
that rum be CORRESPONDENCE benefittedo
There isn't an intelligent man within
the borders of Cecil county or any
where else, who advocates the High
License system, but who will concede
that the rum traffic in any shape is a
curse to society. He simply treats Rum
as a necessary evil, and assumes that
the drinking OF it is personal matter
which the individual drinker decides for
himself and which cannot be controlled
by any agency of the law.
Now this is just where the opponents
of Prohibition misstate its objects. The
drinking of Rum or the drinking of
anything else is not, and cannot be a
matter of legislation, any more than
the eating of tainted meats, or unwhoIe-
some vegetables, can be prevented by
law. Men can drink adulterated liquors
and eat unadulterated food if they pre-
fer to. Their individual acts are not
within the control of society, or its au-
thorized agencies.
But the public traffic in these dan
gerous and unwholesome articles of
meat or drink is quite another thing,
and one which comes with the purview
of law, for society can protect itself
against anything which affects its SAM
tary or moral condition.
This is the point, the gist of Prohi-
bition.
The man who talks about sumptuary
laws, and abridgement of personal
liberty in this matter of prohibiting the
Rum traffic, either does not know what
sumptuary law is, or if he does, is at
tempting to mislead others.
1t is then for the intelligent discus
sion of this question in all Its phases.
1t is to give the people all true informa-
ton upon the character and workings
of Prohibition. To inform them, not
to mlslead them, that the managers of
the movement in this county, ask the
Cooperation of the friends of Temper
ance. 1t is to provoke intelligent dis
cussion of Prohibition on its merits as
question, eliminated of all faint of
politics, sect, or creed. TO have the
people Of Cecil county see, that not
only their material prosperity is involved
in this question, but what is higher and
more important still, that the moral
welfare of society is even more involved
in it. In word, that 1t is in the highest
and best sense, movement in the in
terest of all tie people, that the mana
gers of the cause of Prohibition in Cecil
county call upon its friends to organize
in its behalf.
SHAW VICTORIOUS AT LAST.
The Doctor is Renominated Without Oppo-
sition-But Fred Talbot Says That He