The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-10-02
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Mr.. Bond has no Faith in Prohibitory Laws

Mr.. Bond has no Faith in Prohibitory Laws
To THE EDITOR OF CECIL THE WING.
hy Dear Sir:-My attention has ueen
called to an article in your issue of Sept.
18th, in which after quoting certain words
attributed to me aud reported in the
Baltimore American, you go on to say.
I'VE beg leave to Correct what is MIR.
Boud's miscOnceptiOn of the situation in
this county," and continuing farther, that
was fully aware that | committed my
self squarely to the liquor interest of the
county in favor of the repeal of that law
Local Option) etc. Why not state the
matter in palmer ''terms." to quote the
words of another gentleman, that had
allied myself to all the worst elements of
society,"" So far is your statement from
the truth that the Republican Party never
in It's annals presented candidate for
the suffrage OF the people freer aud more
untrammelled. Somehow, | received the
impression that was candidate of the
"Republican Party for the purpose of
advocating its teachings aud Carrying out
it's principles. Nothing was said to me
when reluctantly accepting the nomina-
ton for State Senator last fall. that
would lead me to believe that | was ex-
pected to inject into the canvass the vari-
Gus tenets and doctrines bearing upon the
moral nature of inan. Had this thought
been mine the mantle mighG have fallen
on more worthy shoulders. AS for the
assertion | allied myself with any class.
counting their favor, my impression is
that you see, | have never solicited Office
under the people at any time, nor with
supple knee and bated breath pleaded for
their votes when unfortunately candi-
date True, whilst on the war path did
state to some my position, and said that
if the principles avowed by me accorded
with their views, would be pleased to have
their endorse ment, this and nothing more.
Not few Democratic friends thinking
well of my sincerity of purpose gave me
their votes. thereby placing me under
grateful obligation to them. But admit
ting all you say to be true regarding your
action in my case, and that you simply
opposed me on the Local Option issue,
upon what ground with due difference
permit me to ask, did you antagonize
other candidates, had you for each one a
distinct issue? Curiosity is aroused to
know how you can show that in your
action towards those gentlemen you were
justified in your course.
Editing journal purporting to be de-
voted to the PRONUNCIATION of the doctrines
and principles of the Republican Party,
being a member of the State Central Com
mittee, Republican pure and simple,
sound in the faith, and OF fair social stand
ing would naturally look to you aud your
paper for cordial support, not on per-
sunal grounds but for the interest of the
cause, which all good Republicans pro-
Tess to serve.
Has the Repub lican Party taken new
departure? d res it propose to eufol ce
the dogmas aud theories OF every over
Jealous would be reformer? Is 1t to be
an il quisitorial party to set its stamp
upon every member. imprison freedom OF
thought aud action, aud burn at the stake
all dlssen,ers. Methnught, that Torque
NADIA and the iDquisiuion has passed into
the grave.
Does the Republican Party expect to
WELD over the minds of men a greater
power than the church in which is cen
tered all moral questions? Have you
ever known church and state to be blend
ed without detriment or destruction to
both? Can the Republican Party WELD
a mightier sceptre than either Or both?
These observations are only suggestive
and can be pursued nd infnitum. To get
back again aud to disabuse your mind
if possible as to myself. Long before
dreaming of being before the pu bile as a
solicitor OF their votes my opinion was
formed as to the possibility of enforcing
sumptuary laws, by the perusal of history
and personal observation-To Cite
MacCulloch says There are perhaps
no better subjects for taxation than splr-
ituous and fermented liquors. They are
essentially lu1uries; and while moderate
duties on them are in consequence of their
being generally used exceedingly produc-
tive, the increase of price which they
occasion has tendency to lessen their
consumption by the poor, to whom, when
taken i'll excess they are exceedingly per-
niclous. Few governments have been
satisfied, however, with imposing moder
ate duties on spirits, but partly in the
view of increasing their revenue and of
placing them beyon the reach of the
lower classes. have almost invariably
loaded Them with such Oppressively high
duties as have entirely defeated both OBJ
jects. The imposition of such duties
does not take away the appetite for
spirits; and as no vigilance of the officers
or severity of the laws has been found
sufficient to secure to the legal distiIers,
the real effect of zig III duties has been to
throw the supply OF large proportion of
the demand into the hands of the Illicit
distiller, and to superadd the atrocities
of the smuggler to the idleness and dissi
patton of the drunkard" 30 much for
state Now the effect upon the people,
again quoting.
The prevalence and direful effects of
gin drinking in the latter part of the
reign of George |, and the commence
ment of the succeeding reign, were so
marked that public attention was strong
ly drawn thereto. 1t was naturally
thought that the cheapness of spirits and
the great number of public houses were
the sources OF this general evil; and for
getful of the danger of extreme meas
ures, the ministry of the period I736)
passed stringent act, which prohibited
altogether, the use of spirituous liquors
except AS cordial or medicine This
attempt pot to regulate and repress the
drinking of gin, but to abolish it alto
gether, was most unwisely made and had
an effect directly opposite to what was
intended. The enormous duty of twenty
shillings per gallon was laid on spirits,
besides heavy license duty on retailers
and every encouragement was given to
informers to seek out those who should
vend the smallest quantity of spirits
which had not paid the full duty, and to
exact the penalty of 600 (s500) for the
offence. On the passing of this act re-
spectacle dealers withdrew from the
trade, and it fell chiefly into the hands of
low and profigate characters, who hav-
ing nothing to lose. were not withheld
by penalties from breaking through Its
PROVISIONS. The populace supported the
cause of the smugglers and unlicensed |