Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-03-31
HIGH LICENSE.

AS you are willing that both sides of the IL
cense question may be heard through your col
umns, ask the privilege of giving my views
in reference to what conceive to be the fallacy
OF high license. Numbers of my Democratic
brethren, during the heated canvasses we have
passed through in the past two or three years,
have said to me, time and again, don't force
your temperance issue upon US now, but walt
until the questions that are prominent in the
canvass are settled, and then if you make a
light upon the question of temperance. at q
time when no political issues are involved-or.
to put it palmer, ~ hiskey or no whiskey."-
we will be with you. That time is at hand
The temperance people of Virginia asked the
Legislature to take the temperance question
out of politics, and to grant the privilege to
vote upon it separate and distinct from all oth-
er issues. and the request has been granted
Every man must now rally to his co!ors, and
will be known by the motto emblazoned on
the flag under which he rallies.
Sam Jones said recently in one OF his SER
mons, THE road to hell is the road to heaven
the only difference is in the way you are trav-
cling" So in this issue there is but one road
At one end of it is home-yes, ''sweet home"
with all its blessed influences, happiness, pros
perity, peace heaven, and all the hallowed
this road are the low and high-licensed dram
shops, low dives, and splendid gided saloons
for the retail and wholesale liquor traffic de-
stroyed, desolate homes, drunkenness crime,
want broken hearts, starving children, wreck
ed lives and sQuandered fortunes.
Every voter in Va. will soon pass over this
highway, and as he deposits his ballot, so he
will cast his influence in favor of the results
that lie at end the other of this road
You cannot avoid the issue by the cry of '.high
license" and by our influence and vote give
the men who have grown rich in the traffic a
monopoly OF the business.
am opposed to thigh license first, because
do not believe in class legislation. 1 shall
never cast Dy vote with party that dscrmi-
mates in favor Of the rich man over the poor
man. Or the man in moderate circumstances
If 1t is right and proper for the rich to engage
in the business, then no law should be passed
denying the same rights and privileges to the
poor man. Again, am opposed 10 ''high IL
cense," because wherever it has been tried, it
has proven an utter failure-either to advance
the cause of temperance lessen the evils CT
the liquor traffic.
The 81 900 high license law of Nebraska was
drafted. and urged through the Legislature as
a temperance movement few years ago by
that splendid man, Hon. John B. Finch. When
IN New York recently, he was asked whether
the bill.had met his expectation. he replied
"No; it was the gravest blunder I ever commit
ted. To my amazement, the effect was to in
crease the worst evils of the liquor traffic. 1t
placed The business in the hands of men who
hsd both brains ard money TO give organza-
ton to the villainy. The men who controlled
the business were just as mean, if not IL ore so,
than were the low doegery keepers, but far
more capable. The effect of the law has been
to convert the low dives, into which no decent
young man would enter, into magnificent gin
palaces, with pictures, music, and every other
attraction-all fatally inviting to the young
men, and with near y every one, directly or in
directly, is connectt a gambling hell and a
bawdy house, and concluded by say ing, "God
save New York from the high license mad
ness"
Again, am opposed to either high or low Ii
cense. because when granted, it legaliZes a
traffic which is in conflict with Christianity. I
hold and maintain. without the fear of sue
cessful contradiction, that no Christian man
can conscientiously, with the fear Of God and
the everlasting welfare of his fellow men be-
fore his eyes, either by his influence or his bal
lot sanction the ira fife, for he cam ct, from a
Christian stand point. do an act that he cannot
retire to his closet and ask the blessing CT God
upon.
License must be granted to an individual or
individuals When granted, some man is au-
thorized to deal in intox icating drinks. Then,
my brother Christian professor, can you, by
your influence or ballet, place your reghbor
in position in whit his conversion to re-
ligious life is not ex pected, and from which he
would be required To withdraw in he be-
came Christian? If you are an office bearer
in the church, (and I have heard some of the
official members Of some of our churches In
this city say they favored high license in place
of prohibition or local-option). would you vote
to admit into your communion a man engaged
in the whiskey traffic although he may have
paid $1,000 for Ais license? No, you would not;
and if you did, your church would repudiate
you.
No drunkard- maker can be admitted into
any church. mo drunkard shall inherit the
Kingdom of heaven were the words of our Sa-
vior, recorded in lst Co.., 9Th chap, and 10th
verse. Can any Christian, by his influence or
his VOTE place his neighbor in position that |
would debar him CT church membership here, |
or heaven hereafter?
These are facts for your consideration and
your prayers. Ia the words of the Hon. Geo. |
E. Foster, NJ. P. ! wilt close by saying, Arise |
quickly, 0 Christian voter, and come ont from |
this awful partnership. which throws upon
your soul past guilt for every broS en- heart ev-
cry saddened home, every wrecked life, which |
but for the dram shop you, by your vote, placed
in their way, might have been singing for
joy, frightened with sunniest hope, and filled
full of refining influences
Very respectfully,
JAS. w. NEWTON.