The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-11-15
Reason vs.. Sophistry.-Saloon Au-
daclty.

reason vs. ophlstfy.-Saloon Au-
daclty.
Scarcely are the election returns counted
till the Democrat opens its first parallel
against the prohibition law of Cecil county.
1t travels by long and meandering route TO
req ch the objective point but that point is
reached. The object lesson used to prove
that Cecil county and the business of Elkton
have lost immensely by banishing the sa
Icon, is Deer Park Hotel of Newark, Del,
and the Howard House. The liquor license
law of Delaware has enabled the proprietor
of the Deer Park property to wax fat, and
the prohibition law of Cecil has made lean
and saunt those of the Howard and FELTON,
House Of Elkton. Hence, rum, riot ard
crime are the signs of wealth and prosperity
Of a community, while good order, industry
and sobriety are the tokens of poverty and
distress. This is the logical inference of the
Democrats argument.
The purpose for which hotels are estab-
lished is the accommodation of business men
and travellers with food and lodging. This
business requiring hotel accommodation has
been banlshed from Elkton by the facilities
afforded by the railroad. Those who have
business ir Elkton transact it and go away
by the next train. But few are compelled
to stay oyer night or take meals. The bona
fde hotel business of EIkton has been de-
stroyed by the railroad and no; by prohibi
ton. The saloon or grog business has been
destroyed by the prohibition law, and has
gone in large measure, it is probable to
Newark, but no legitimate hotel business
has changed from Ekton to Newark.
Would you bring back the saloon business
to Elkton and Cecil for the money that is
in il and the benefit it would be to the pub
lie at large? None but the saloon owner or
keeper answers yes.
In place of restoring the curse of former
years let all unite to drive the saloon out OF
Newark, out of Pennsylvania, out of New
Jersey, out of Mary land, out of Virginia,
out of the whole country, and Cecil coun-
tians would not waste their money in wills
key at Newark, but there would rot be one
dollar added 10 the hotel business of Elkton
That has left it for the causes above stated.
Restoring the saloon to Elkton would put
$1,000 more or less in the pockets OF the
propretors of the Howard and Fe.ton
Houses, make the men who run the bars
wax fat and kick; and the money to work
this change so mourned for by the Democrat
would largely come out of the funds which
are earned to supply the food, clothing and
fuel for the comfort of children and their
struggling mothers. Would this constitute
prosperity? In place of inviting back,
rather seek 10 drive the robber of hungry,
scantily clad and shivering mothers and
children further away. When will the press
cease to use argument and sophisry in place
of reason in meeting this drink problem?
| They all decry its manifold evils and at the
same time cudgel their brains to frame ex-
cuses for its continuance. 1t stands at the
door Of every church. Of every school, of
every place Of business, of every home as
meddler and hinderer. 1t deGes law, badgers
the Judge on the bench, perurers witnesses,
hampers with jures, and with devilish ar
rogance persuades weak minds that it can't
he subdued. 1t coins plausible falsehoods,
invents sophistries and puts them in the
mouths Of its enemies to circulate. 1t
brow-beats the minister, corrupts church
members, outrages the scriptures and with
brazen efirontery claims to be of Divine
origin 1t holds political parties in its grip,
dictates their policy toward itself, nominatcs
candidates and controls their election.
The author of its high license policy for
this county having been elected t. the SEN
ate by an oyer whelmning majority by the
voles of its enemies, it gives public notice
through the Senator's home organ, that it
will ask again to be heard in behalf of the
saloon and the many advantages to The pub
lie which would flow from its opening again
in their midst. When a legislature packed
with its friends has opened the ballot box
again to it in Cecil, the combined money
power of its National Associations will lie
brought up to aid by fraud, by perjury by
bribery, the re-estab!ishment again in our
midst the saloon with its pandora box of
evils. When will the friends Of temperance
learn that the liquor traffic is an enemy that
asks no quarter, that gives none, that never
surrenderS, and on whose black flag is in,
kingdom or a nation for a tomb!'