The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-03-24
ADVOCATES OF PROHIBITION.
Want an Amendment to the Constitution.
Messrs. Higgins and Wilmer Speak.

Want an Amendment to the Constitution.
Messrs. Higgins and Wilmer Speak.
ANNAPOLIS, March 20.-Large delega
tions of citizens, and representa- tives from
temperance ana other societies. appeared
before the Joint Committee on Temper
ance this morning. Edwin Higgins.
president of the State Alliance, SAID:
1--WE appear before you in the interest OF
a cause which, while it had enlisted She
practical sympathy of many, yet had not
secured a prohibitory law for either an
election district or county in this state
before the year 1872. five years after the
adoption of the present constitution.
Siuce 1872. in response to progressive
and enlightened puolic sentiment many
local prohibitory laws have been OBJ
tanned. aud the drink traffic has been
outlawed by the United action of the
legislature and the votes of the people
in what is equal to more than one half OF
the counties of the state. Few days have
passed this session without appeals from
other portions OF the state for local legis-
latlon TO suppress the traffic.
Thousands of our fellow citizens, be-
lievlng the drink traffic to be great and
unnecessary evil, have petitioned This
legislature tor the submission to the
voters, at the next general election, i'll
November, 1889, year after the presi-
Dental election, of proposed amend
ment to the Constitution of the State, to
be entitled
article XFL-7hc ProhiJitjon Of tie
Htnutacture and Sale Of AicOh0Ljc LII
Qu0rs for BeGerdges.
"Sectiou 1.-The manufacture and sale
of alcoholic liquors for beverages shall
be prohibited in this state from and after
the thirtieth day of April, eighteen hun
dred and ninety
Section 2-The General Assembly
shall pass all such laws as may be neces-
sary more fully to carry into effect the
provisions of this article"
"While these petitions have been in
circulation scarcely sixty days, you have
received appeals for this submission from
30. 600 to 30, 900 citizens. aud before the
close of the session they will probably
exceed 80 600. Ten times as many citi-
zens will have asked for the submission
rs have petitioned for all other purposes
combined.
1--WE seek to present this question
separated from all others-upon it's own
intrinsic merits to the people. in the
manner prescribed by the Constitution.
The legislatures of eleven states of the
Union have referred this question to the
decision OF the people of their respective
states-am0ng them West Virginia and
Penusy lvania are yet 20 vote. No valid
objection can be urged against its sub
mission in Maryland
1--WE earnestly trust it may be the
pleasure of the legislature TO submit the
proposed amendment to the people for
their ratification or rejection, and let the
responsibility rest upon the people,"
DR.. w. r. Wilmer said: Gas public
men and private citizens, as observing
and thoughtful men, you must know that
the use and abuse of intoxicating drinks
have caused, do cause and will cause
more sorrow, crime, poverty, debt and
broken hearts than all other causes COM
bined. Its evil influence extends over,
pervades, penetrates and permeates coun-
tries states, counties, cities, towns, viii
lagos, neighborhoods, families aud indi.
vduaiS It. is the closet skeleton of
many family household. 1t is Lhe SUBJ
iect now exercising and agitating the
thoughtful public mind in this country
and other civilized nations. You have
forced upon you fearful responsibility
and glorious privilege. You cannot
shake off or get rid of this responsibility.
More than 1900 petitioners have asked
you, and thousands more are coming, to
let the people of the state vote upon this
subject at the next general election i'll
1889. Your privilege is to drop seed
now whose good fruit will never end.
The women and children signing these
petitions would siren CITIZEN them with
me. They are innocent sufferers"