The midland journal., 1886-06-18
THE MIDLAND IOURNA il,

he has occupied has he shown more tact
and ability than in the part he played
in the temperance conventions which
figured so conspicuous before the pub
lie last winter. Mr. Writ came forward
then as the advocate of "high license. p"
This phrase has a charm in it FOR the
old conservative cast ofintellect. which
eyer declares the present point of ap-
proach in the worlds affairs ia the ne
plus ultra. There is nothing before us
but tractless ocean without isle or
shore, and it is certain ruin to venture
further.
Ever mindful of this fact, he saw that
| by holding fast to this conservative
element, he could not be reproached for
affiliating with strangers or adopting
heresies, by the old jealous watch dogs
of his party, while the delusion which
promises to the ear and breaks to the
hope would be sure to catch, or at least
not repel, that large cla-s who see as
through glass darkly. and are lead by
sound to try and keep in with the larg-
est crowd
Mr.. Writ being the champion of
''high license'' before the Convention
was naturally chosen to draw and per-
feet Bill to go before the Legislature in
connection with a prohibition Bill. Mr.
Writ was too astute to allow himself
to be encumbered by the floundering,
drowning principles which constitute
the entire theory and substance of
license as practical measure for temper
ance reform, and in his draft of Bill
he manifests his Thorough conviction
of the manifest delusion of such
theory, when put to the test of practice
Hence he produces the draft of "high
license" Bill which no man who has
gumption enough to pour grog out OF a
tumbler cannot but see it would be i'm
possible to do business under without
eyading Its provisions.
1t is rare tact in public men or
men who aspire to popular honors, to
destroy the dead issues which cleave to
the partizans whose support they must
gain, without shocking by violence the
nerves of such followers. Mr.. Wirt's
''high license" in practice would either
be complete prohibition law, or ref
uge of lies. In either case it is self des-
tructive. The careful hand of the en-
g;neer lays the train to the dynamite
charge, but keeps out of reach of the
explosion that is sure to follow. This
high license" measure is stumbling
block in the path of progress, although
1t has no safe anchorage for the rum
trade. Large numbers of people are
prone to be deceived by all such meas
ures, TO wake up to their folly at fut-
ure day, and be compelled to plod wear
lily over the path they so stubbornly
refused to follow, losing time, losing
strength and losing patience in the
weary tussel with wrong and outrage.
Mr.. Writ, and all clear thinkers like
him, doubtless see this plainly enough,
but had rather enjoy present peaceful
ground than by taking arms against
a seaof trouble, and opposing end them,"
or what is more probable for season
suffer defeat and bide their time for
vindication and victory. We trust,
however, that the temperance senti-
ment is sufficiently strong in this
county to hold the fort, and not cow
ardly abandon it to the enemy who
threaten them with great rub-a, dub
beating of high license gongs, and thus
save all those astute politicians the hu-
mility of defeat through their delusive
high license barrel tossed to the popular
whale.