The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-11-01
LICENSE VS.. PROHIBITION.
Synopsis of Il Sermon Preached III
the Nj. T.. Church by the Rev.
Chas. Hill, Oct. 20, 1890.

They thought to do ma mlschi ef.'
Nehemiah vi. g.
When the Jews under the leadership of
usalem, their enemies were grieved and
offended. When they heard that the
wall was completed and no breach left
therein they sent unto Nehemiah, say
ing, Come, let Us meet together in some
one of the villages in the plain of Ono"
Nehemiah, believing it was their design
to do him mischief. refused to meet with
them, saying, Il am doing great work
and can not come down. Why should
the work cease, while | leave it and come
down to you?' They sept to him four
times after the same sort, and he answele ed
them each time after the same manner.
Some ten years ago the voters of this
county, by special permission derived
| from the Legislature of the state, built
wall around their homes, to protect their
sons from the influence of the saloon, and
called it Local Option. The enemies of
temperance, when they heard it, beca me,
like the Jews of old, exceedingly grieved
and offended, and have sought its destruc.
ton. They have prevailed upon the Leg
lslature to resubmit the question Of Ii
cense or no license, to the voters OF the
county, and have presented copy OF a
high license law, which they ask the
people to accept instead of the present
local option law.
Our present law is a good one. 1t
protects the home aud the community
from the influence of the SALOON. 1t has
worked we'll for all classes except those
who would engage in the liquor traffic
and enrich themselves by bringing misery
and wretcheduess upon others. 1t may
have worked an injury to these men, be-
cause the law says, you CAN not do it.
1t has been a blessing to a multitude OF
others. do not doubt that there are
many families in this town, who, to say
nothing of the peace which has prevailed
in the household, have enjoyed many
more of the comforts of life than they
would have done if this law had not been
in existence.
Then if the law is good one, if it pro-
tects the home and brings blessings into
the family, why should it be displaced by
license law which would work only
mischief.
The liquor men object to the present
law because, they say,
II Injuries business and Keeps trade
from the to0n. 1t may injure the liquor
business; this is its design. Still We have
often heard it said that there is more
liquor sold under the local option law
than under the license system. If this
be true, it follows that this law has i'm
proved even the liquor business; and ao,
cording to the principles of consistency
the liquor men are bound to support the
,, law. Instead of injurng business, obser-
walton will convince US that it promotes
business. The following figures are taken
from the report of the Secretary OF State.
Under ten years of prohibition, Kansas
increased it's assessed valuation of prop
8 erty, over 2OO,000,O00 dollars; while
/, Nebraska under high license, in the same
: time. increased its valuation but ~, OOO,
1 600 dollars. The annual Increase in Ne
, braska under high license has been 5000
: 600 dollars; the annual increased Valua
e ton of assessed property in Kansas under
. prohibition has been 10000. 600 dollars
V Here are two states lying side by side
one has high license, the other has pro
, hibition. While the high license stat
: has increased nine millions of dollars il
IL the assessed valuation. in the last tel
a years, the prohibition state has increased
If twenty millions. Thus the prohibition
o state has more than doubled the advane
in the property valuation made in tn
h adjoining state under high license. Thi
- factshows that prosperity exists whereve
< sobriety and industry prevail. AS t
le our own county, | have been informed b
1t persons who are in position to know, tina
III the criminal court expenses have bee
10 greatly diminished under the presen
,r law. Why then should any seek t
10 change this law for one which woul
80 turn prosperous homes into brothels, rui
n yonng men, increase taxation and pour
u torrent of distilled damnation upon tn
~ community? If we would avaid such a ca
III amity. we must come to the front, and
z all that we can to keep this evil from on
le midst. Ii we are Indifferent, our enemie
% will do US mischief; they will break dow
~ this wall and expose our homes to til
in influence of the saloon. | have fe
he greatly surprised to hear of men in tn
h., community, who have boys of their owl
or and yet are advocating repeal of th