Smyrna times., 1886-02-10

At a small village lying on the Della
ware q Chesapeake Railroad, between
Clayton and the Maryland line. a
whiskey saloon has been licensed and
established within the last six months.
In the course of human events. a man
whom we will name William, went
from an adjoining neighborhood to
said village to transact some business.
OF course William must examine all
| of the improvements of this thriving and
hopetu, village and accordingly he
takes a social glass or two in the new
hotel. In the course of the evening
William seems to have had misun-
derstanding with some of his intoxica-
! ted companions. At least some one
| struck William across the face with a
club, making a mark that will 90 with
him to the grave, which, by the way.
for some days all thought, would soon
have to be dug. The query that took
to itself wings and flew in every direc-
ton, lighting upon the lips of Old and
young everywhere was Who did it ?''
Who struck that blow ?" No answer
seemed to come as no arrest has been
made, and still the friends wait in anx-
iety to know who did the deed.
We propose to answer that question.
There was more than one who had a
hand in it and we want to trace it back
to all the parties.
In the first place the proprietor of
the saloon helped to strike that blow.
If he had continued in an honest calling.
an honorable profession, the blow
would not have been struck. He sold
the whiskey to some inebriate who.
fired by the mad poison, in hasty wrath
did the deed. The inebriate, whoever
he may be 1--WE do not know his namel
ought not to go unpunished, neither
ought his partner in guilt who put the
glass to his lips and "stole away his
brains" These ought to share the
| punishment whatever it be. But are
these all that are implicated? By no
means. Who else? Why the twelve
respectable" (pOOr word; what
abuse y men who signed that petition
for license to sell whiskey at the afore-
said village. These twelve men each
lent hand to strike that blow. and dis
figure poor Williams face and endan-
ger his life. Now when culprits Nos.
and 2 are punished, these twelve Ia
jury of criminals) should receive their
share, be it whatever the righteous law
may decide.
But are these all? Not yet. The
men who signed that license helped To
strike that blow. For if they had not
granted the license William would
have had an unscarred face to Gav.
But they are Judges. True. aud !, i
honor to the all-impOrtant Office and
! trust; but the Divine tribuuaI i, as
quick to call Judge unjust, when d -
! served, rs it is to pronounce H. woe
upon the outlaw. Whatever may be
the fashionable sentiment in the case,
the ineXOrable fact still stands that
whenever Judge signs license to
dispense poison, to make widows, to
break hearts, 20 destroy homes. to riot
and hloodshed, that judge has a han
IN all the crimes that are entailcd upon
that signature. Nay, if absolute JUS
tice had it's way, instead of prOnounc-
ing the sentence such u judge would
merely receive his part Of the penalty
with culprit No. l.
Nay, the inevitable divining rod of
truth taxes us further than this. 1t
involves those who make the laws to
license such dreadful work and back of
them the people who sanction or fail to
condemn such legislation. All who is
not guilty?
Notonly the terrible blow that poor
William got but the untold misery and
death of all this State, and if human
laws fail to reach all who are implica-
ted in the attack upon William, the
Divine Justice will not. Thus we de-
clare who struck that blow.
A. S. NJ.