The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21

that il is OF so seductive a nature that very
continue temperate that ia a short time
nearly all becoue ~drunkards. We are in
clined to believe thaf TO say nearly all be-
come drunkards' is an over statement of the
fact, but from our observation We believe a
very large number of the moderate drinkers.
perhaps a majority o. them. end by drink
ing to excess. This being the case, it be-
comes thar q question for the individual
conscience, whether it is right TO do thas.
not in itself wrong, which impels to excess
or even ifthere be no danger TO the Particu-
lar individual, whether it is not wrong to
set an example Sc full or peril to Others of
less hrmness of character. We can very well
understand how men of susceptible and ten
der conscience consider it wrong to temper
ately use SO dangerous q stimuiaut. But
aside from the consequences which may
thus indirectly follow from It's moderate use,
III itself, the moderate use of alcohol is not
morally wrong.
Absolute prohibition has been in force
in Maine for more than thirty years, yet with
a population of only six hundred and fifty
thousand, there were more than one thous-
and prosecutors for illegal liquor selling
last year. If men will drink liquor, it
seems that men will sell it fthey can get it
TO sell. lift will be dealt in, and will be
sold as long Us there are buyers, then it is
better that those who minister to the de-
maad shall do 1t legally, under a proper IL
cense law, or Illegally in defiance of law,
and under which legislation will there be
the minimum Of evil and wretehedness?"
Judge Dean then boldly attacks the favor
tie argument of the prohibitionists that the
license system begets crime and quotes sta
tistics IN support of his proposition. Ia
conclusion he says
Our own observation, extending over
many years, leads US to the conclusion that,
in cities and large towns, in the present con-
dition of public sentiment in such places.
the best thing that can be done is to restrict
licenses strictly to the cases prescribed by
the law with such populations III demand
for the stimulant is SO active that there is q
clamor for the licensing OF more
drinking saloons, and We are glad 10 have
the aid Of public sentiment in separating
these from hotels necessary for the accom-
mediation OF the public. While we are
heartily il accord with the remonstrants in
this particular, we are not sure. with our
present light, even if we could under the
law do 50, that we would go further weare
not Vet convinced that commodious hotels,
conducted by honest. temperate men, regu-
lated By license laws, do increase drunken
ness. We suspect if they were not licensed
the traffic, to the same or greater extent,
would probably go into the hands of the ir-
responsible and vicious men and women.
Further opportunity for observation, access
to moro, as well as more comprehensive sta
~tistics, the experience now being had in
states where absolute prohibition is under
going trial, may show that the remedy for
the evil of ihtemperance is that which the
remonstrants express so much confidence in.
At present we do not see as clearly as they
do
Forty-seven applications were granted
and Is were refused.
Easter Egg Dyes at C. y. Boyd's.