Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1892-02-18
Published By Fer
HIGH Ii ENSE.


the st. Mars nterpriss-
All efforts at reorm meet with
opposition. Few nlen are 80 broad
minded as not to allow their perso-
nal interests or praiudices to infiu-
ence their judgments Hence when
the taxpayers conxention UNDER
took to retrench onr county expen-
ses, with reduction of taxation,
twas to be expeci sshs1lat shosa Who
were 70 suffer By Such q policy,
would see nothing but wrong and
oppression in the movement
Each one thinks the pruning knife
should be applied to some other
member of the body polite, than
that which he represents. The ju-
ror thinks the clerks fees should
be greatly reduced, but cannot be
brought to the belief that the jury
per diem is at all too large. And,
SO it goes, the general sentiment
being unmistakably for reform, but
each demanding that his own par
ticular interest should not be inter-
fered with. Thus far, however, the
opposition on the part of the office
holders has been courteous and Dig
nitied. Not SO on the part of those
opposed to the high license move
ment. They, or a few of them,
have INDUCED in personalities.
They can see nothing in the move
ment but wrong and oppression to
''the poor man." .sIndignation
meetings" are called, and gentlemen
who have always been recognized as
respectable, useful and public spir-
tied citizens, are publicly informed
that they have ''outlived their use
fulness and should leave their coun-
try for their country's good" This,
of course. can do these gentlemen
no harm. Though sharpened by
malice and dipped in gall the shaft
falls harmless at their feet. But it
must not be inferred that all or in
deed. many Of the opponents Of
high license, are SO e. IcaI in their
views as is indicated b this remark.
Many of the very best people of
the county are engaged in the IL
quor traffic, and they reduce the
evil of its sale to a minimum, by
keeping decent and orderly houses.
Many of these do not oppose high
license, and those who do oppose it,
are willing to concede to their op-
ponents, the same honesty and sim
cerity of purpose they claim for
themselves. But there are a few
who are crying Justify about the
"poor mans rights" This species
of demagogism is an insult to the
intelligence of the poor people of
the county. The men who take
the last quarter the sspoor man" has
for a pint of whiskey, and send
him home to his wife and children,
not only with an empty pocket, but
empty-handed as well, and may be,
in condition to bring personal
abuse and violence upon his defence
less family, have no right to set
themselves up rs the special friends
and champions of the ''poor man" /"
Such a course not only makes poor
men, but it keeps them poor and
entails untold sufferings and de-
privations upon their families. The
''poor people" of this county are
too intelligent not to see through
this mythical pretense of friend
ship and selfish interest in their
welfare.
But, Messrs Editors, they would
have us believe that high license is
something new and unheard Of
some new invention of the enemy
for the oppression of the ''poor peo-
pie" of the county! They know
full well that it exists in some por-
tions of almost every State in the
Union, if not in some entire States.
They know it exists in some por-
tions of this State. They know
the license in Baltimore city is two
hundred and fifty dollars, (s250),
and we hear no complaint about it,
though it met with much oppose
tion from the liquor dealers at FIRST.
In deciding such questions, esthe
greatest good to the greatest num-
Der" should be the governing prin-
ciple. The proposed increase of Ii
cense win not impoverish anybody's
family" but it may keep many
families from being impoverished.
Those who are engaged in the liquor
traffic who cannot afford to pay the
increased license without simpover-