The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-02-28
Aid and Encouragement for the
Whlskey Power.

A correspondent of the Cecil Democrat
writing from Port Deposit in recent letter
says:
"A strong petition was sent TO Annapolis
from Port Deposit this week for restric-
tive license law for Cecil county and to
have ;he question resubmlted, headed by
J. J. Bnck, J. II. Rowland, E. Noyes, j.
h. Bond, f. S. Everist, j. E. Reynolds and
a number Of other prominent names. We
Understand that counter petition is being
circulated by prominent Prohbitionist OF
Fort Deposit in opposition, but at the pres
ent writing has not received much encour-
agement, as Tie gentlemen who signed for
resubmitting the question refuse to recon-
sider."
This is a sorrowful announcement to those
who are putting forth every effort tobeat back
the liquor wave that threatens to engulf
everything Of good report in the land. To
have liquor petition signed by such names
as those is one of the most lamentable things
that could happen. After having banished
a legalized liquor traffic from our county,
and with the good results which have been
resped from prohibition, to find a number
Of our citizens whose example exerts an in
duence for good or EVIL, that they probably
have but faint comprehension of, signing
a request to the legislature to legalize and
give an honorable standing again in the
county to that which is the curse of the
human race, an evil which overtops all
other evils as Mount Blanc towers over ali
other Alps, is a matter for surprise as well
as deep regret. How in heavens name men
of their standing in society and unbemished
character could place their names to
whiskey petition is mystery past finding
out or understanding. We doubt if they
could give anything like passable reason
for the act. The whiskey power o-day costs
the American people more. than all their
taxes. 1t furnishes three fourth of the pop.
ulation that fills our prisons, our aims
houses and our insane asylums. 1t spreads
disease and crime all over tie land. These
men whose names were on the petition can
look back and name some Of the brightest
and most Intellectual men which ever grac-
ed this county, dragged down into drums
ards graves, or whose lives were so blighted
and deformed by the alcoholic disease as to
be shorn Of half their usefulness, while the
heart-break and anguish which darkened
their homes, though concealed, vas bitter
and constant pam. The liquor evil is not
social only, but il is debauching our public
men in politics 10 degree that all other
evils combined cannot begin to reach in
magnitude. The bribery and corruption
which is maxi the ballot farce could not
be practiced if it were not for the saloon.
1t was the liquor power which produced
that political anomaly of apporlioning out
out the State of New York between Hill
and Harrison. All the money in the ma.
ton could not have accomplished such
job without the liquor power TO carry i,
out. 1t is the most compact and strongly
organized institution in this nation. And
the whole trade is so utterly useless and
wholly bad, that if it wasn't upheld by law
it would fall to pieces of ils own inherent
rottenness. II brazeny commits perjury in
the courts. 1t brides and intimidates the
officers of the law. 1t threatens every man
in politics from the President of the United
States down to the lowest constable. 1T
holds cub over the head of the republican
party which coerced the Vice. President TO
permit saloon to be established in his
apartment house at the capital of the nation.
in the broad view Of all the world. with
that har!ot impudence which characterized
the arrogant STAKEHOLDER when lie prided
in his shame of selling slaves on the auction
block at the nations capital.
And this beast and devil sends its peti.
ton to these men to whom society looks IN
to as a guide and pattern, and they sign il
1t has the effrortery to ask the most respec-
table people in the county to request Tho
legislature TO give it permission to come out
of the dark holes and dirty hiding places
where it has consorted with thieves aud
bnralers and robbers and incendiaries and
criminals of every grade, for the last four
years, and take its old place alongside of
respectable business, and hold up its sham
less head and bloody hands, and in the light
OF the beautiful sunshine, 90 to work to
making drunkards and fitting the hriobtas,