Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1892-03-10
[CoaxuslcArEp.
ONAHA, EEn. Feby. Is, 1892.
81. kIary's BrAcov.


Dear Editor :--IR your Issue cf Feb. 18Th
saw several communications favorins
High License which / read with much
interest The fertile land Of Nebraska has
not only attracted the silieEs Of the over.
worked farms in the North ani East, bal
the foreigners have immigrated here by the
thousand, making the growth Of our pop
ulation surprise and anxiety 70 the most
sanguine Of our citizens. With this won
derful increase Of population, 90 varied in
their customs and speech, II has been very
difficult 10 manage the affairs Of State,
the most serious question being that Of the
liquor traffic. and the necessary expense
arising from its abuse, the ignorant Amer
lean and foreigner u@iling in the belief that
Democracy meant unrestrained license, the
Sabbath, instead of being cherished as
day Of devotion and rest, was made a day
Of reveisy and violence. midnight was
made hideous by the sound of firearms
and savage yells, and crimes we're of fire.
quent occurrence. In fact, il was not an
unusual expression to hear, "Tom or Dick
had killed his man, or died with his boots
on"
During the past few years truly re
maTkable change has taken place. Law
and order prevails everywhere within our
borders. Last year eighty The usand [s0,-
O00l voters registered their votes in favor
Of Prohibition, the majority being farmers,
and at least one-third Of them foreigners.
On account Of Local Option, most Of them
enjoy prohibition. Demagogues persuaded
them to attempt to force the same on large
towns and cities. This could not be ac-
conplished for two reasons. First, that
a majority of our best citizens wished
TO proceed with spirit of justice towards
those who had made costly Investments for
the purpose of engaging in business le-
galized by the Government and statutory
enactment. Secondly, the law could not
be enforced in the cities, until public opin-
ion had been gradually educated to COM
prehend the danger in the social glass, not
only 10 the individual, but 10 the State.
In Omaha, the door of the liquor dealer 10
closed on Sundays. During the week they
are promptly closed at tloeFce p. m. With
population Of one hundred and forty
thousand 100000 souls. il is seldom that
you see fight or hear fuss on the streets.
have no doubt but that the records of our
Police Court would make favorable COM
parison with small villages in other States.
The annual revenue from the liquor traffic
in this city is about one hundred and eigh-
ty thousand dollars, [s1s0.OOOl part of
which is expended in the erection of mag
nifcent school buildings, the purchase of
school books, teachers salaries, etc.
In Nebraska, the poor mans family has
an opportunity TO receive the best educa-
ton that money can procure, it being OPP
tional with him whether or not he con-
tributes a single dollar, the only means of
contributing being through the rum seller
After several years of experience, we do
not claim that High License effects an i'm
mediate control Of the appetite for alcohol
ic stimulants, but il is very evident that is
having the desired effect. The law not
only protects the minors who might other
wise become drunkards, but in q number
OF cases bankrupts the saloon and destroys
the resort Of the old topper who visits it from
force of habit. would be glad TO see
"Old Maryland" enact some such law.
The following is a synopsis Of three sec.
tons Of our law:
SEC. 6. No person shall be licensed to
sell malt, spiri;uOus or vinOus liquors, by
any county board or the authorities of any
city or village, unless he shall first give
bond in the penal sum of Five Thousand
L$5000l dollars, payable to the State of Ne
braska, with at least two good and sufiici.
ent sureties any bond taken
pursuant Of this section may be sued upon
for the use of any person or his legal rep
resentatives, who may be injured by reason
Of the selling or giving away any intoxi-
eating liquors by the person licensed, or by
his agent or servant.
SEC "a. The County Board under the
restrictions contained in Section of this
act, may grant permits 90 druggists to sell
liquors for medicinal, mechanical and
chemical purposes upon compliance with
all the provisions hereinafter contained,
and subject to all the requirements and
penalties contained in this act; except that
no license ice shall be required, except the
cost OF issuing said permit
SEC. 25. The corporate authorities of all
cities and villages shall have power TO Ii
cepse, regulate and prohibit the selling or
giving away Of any intoxicating, malt,
spirituous and vinous. mixed and ierment-
ed liquors within the limits OF such city or
village the license not TO extend beyond
the municipal year in which il shall be
granted, and to determine the amount TO
be paid for such license, not less than five
hundred L$500l dollars in villages and
cities having not more than 10000 popula
ton, nor less than one thousand $4,000
dollars in cities Of the first class and cities
having over 10000 population.
Yours Respectfully,
MARYLAND Boy.