Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-29

h. J. Harrison, dealer in liquors in
San Francisco, appeared before the Super
viSors of that city the other day, in OPPOSE
ton to the high license petitioners. And this
was the remarkable argument he advanced
it Is so unique and so altogether curious
that we reproduce it nearly in full:
He did not think that the petition of l go
names was entitled to much weight. Everyone
knew how petitions were got up. For himself
he would rather sign anything than listen to a
temperance lecture. This was simply an at
tempt to regulate the liberty of the individual
10 compel us to drink according TO the wishes of
some one else. Some of these tefnperance men
desired us to drink water and swim to heaven.
The result of the adoption of this order would
SSln,pLy DC 10 throw the liquor business into the
hands OF two ciasses-the well-appointed saloon
Keeper and dive keeper. The dive keeper
would be able to pay the license but with a
monopoly OF the business he would give You
more funerals than you have now Every sea
port city must have class of low saloons for
the accommodation of sailors and other ont
casts OF society who would not attend church
or temperance meetings when ashore II was
his experience that it took more brains To he a
good saloon keeper than a good banker. This
petition was originated by fanatics and if al
OWED 10 influence the Board would throw many
men out OF employment and deprive many good
citizens OF the means of making living
50 men and women who believe that
ilquor-seliing privileges are not proper
tlonately taxed are fanatics. Nearly all
movers of reforms have been STYLED fanat-
les. So far as we have been able to observe
fanatics have done a good deal for the
world. These radical thinkers and pio-
neers who have borne the stigma fanatic
have given US railroads, steamboats,. tele-
graphs, asylums, charities, free States.
human liberty, civilization, religious toler-
ance, and other blessings. But there is
nothing in name to the man who is in
earnest. Mr.. r. J. Harrison can he
permitted the sweet privilege of vituper-
atlng, for there is no strength in il. But
the idea that the high license movement is
temperance endeavor is Mr.. Harrison's
and his alone. He is the discoyerer and
welcome to all he can get out of it. He
pieases himself with a SANDER. however.
that has already reused the sentiment of
the marine against him. For his declara-
ton that sailors are outcasts. and rum holes
must be maintained for them of necessity,
is SO base libel that the wonder is
Heaven did not paralyze the tongue that
uttered it. Bankers and other business
men will be very likely. to properly appre-
eiate the compliment Mr.. Harrison be-
slows on brain capacity; while those who
pay the fiddler, otherwise the Tax Col
lector, will not be inclined to accent the
statement that they must, at their own
proper expense, furnish certain vicious
Injuries for the benefit of class of the
community that it were better without.
For that is the sum of the Harrisonian
argument, that certain forms of vice and
poisoning should be fostered, as they are
necessities 10 class of low humanity that
must exist. Probably the people Of Chi
cago think differently, since they have
shut up 600 low doggeries, and the city has
taken no harm, while the public treasury
is eight-fold better off, and the decent
saloons find no diminution in their bust
ness