Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-07-25
HIGH LICENSE.

We find in two of our esteemed con.
temporaries, reference to High License
as one of the possibilities, as measure
of paternal remedial government.
The american Sentinel reviews the
subject from the extreme standpoint of
High License as "an infallible panacea
for all the evils of intemperance' and
further, on the basis of an assumption
that licenses grated by judge of the
court, the applications for which are
backed by the recommendation of a
reasonable number Of reputable and
responsible citizens
The Emmitsburg Chronicle "has not
yet been able to see in the High License
movement, the power of SURPRISING or
restraining the evil" and "has always
been in favor Of abolishing the evil en-
tirely," yet it is "ready to lend It's in
fuence to any policy that promises to
guard society from the dangers which
threaten it in the form Of all intoxica-
ting drink
We quote the Sentimels plan entire,
as follows:
"If the friends Of temperance desire
to accomplish practical measure of re-
lief from the evils of unlimited traffic
in intoxicating liquors, let them unite
in an effort to procure the passage of
law that will require all applications
tor licenses to be made to judge of the
court; to be approved and recommend.
ed by reasonable number Of reputa.
BILE and responsible citizens, to be ad-
vertised by posters or otherwise for at
least three weeks, and then thoroughly
investigated bv the court, before affirm
alive action can be taken. Such law
would probably be much more satisfac-
tory than a simple high license act
and ask whether these conditions have
not been paralleled in the penal laws
relating to Sunday selling, selling with
out license and selling to minors,
and all to no effect, viewed from a tenn
perance standpoint. Has not the inge-
nuity of man been exhausted in the
matter of framing penal laws, regulating
the liquor traffic: has not the moral
element of society exerted itself, and
been permitted to exhaust itself in fran.
ing laws whereby society might be pro.
tected against those, who, for gains
sake, would demonize our youth, pau
perlze our homes and debauch christen-
dom T.?
Ofwhat avail has been our legislation,
thus far based upon the method of re-
striction ? To what extent has the
license system contributed to the mis-
cry and degradation Of our people: re-
strictlon as we have it under "Local
Option: license as we have it, where
license is IN vogue in Maryland?
We answer that restriction as we find
Local Option restrictive is a delusion ::
it is worse : it is crime. Such COM
munity poses as one Of pronounced tenn
perance proclivities, while it exists in
the eyes of outraged truth as commu
nifty of law. breakers. The facility and
ease with which intoxicating drink
may be obtained by those who seek it,
whether by purchase or favor, brings
reproach upon people and degrades
the moral Instinct of all. Wine is a
harmless sound in the ears Of some that
go into convulsions when whiskey is
named yet the intoxication that fol-
lows the indulgence of the former diff
fers not in degree of vice and bestiality,
from that which is induced by the lat
ter.
A criminal ignorance and blind big
otry must account for such perverslon
of the truth and an advancing morality
halts no more to consider such control,
than the enlightenment Of science halts
to explain away the impossible yagarles
Of an ignorant superstition.
Local Prohibition is an absurd fail
ure. License, as we haye it in Mary
land secures license in the license dis
tricts. A man secures it, violates the
law controlling its issue, loses it, has it
renewed in another's name and the evil
exists. What does it matter whether
A. or B. holds the license at G? and
ii B. loses it, how do you calculate Cs
betterment under DIS holding of the Ii
cense? The calculation is made that
tie profits will exceed the fine, if fine