Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-01-14
High License.

AS We udVe III o"Ny oVoVe" -" '>
columns, The CLARION is an advocate
of the repeal of the Local Option law
and the substitution Of High License
law in its stead.
We shall in this article 10 no more
than generalize the subject for discus.
sion: that is, state how we shall ap-
proach it under the two divisions that
we will make. We shall first consider
"No License under the Local Option
law, leaving High License" for an ar
ticle to itself.
There are two standpoints from which
this subject may be viewed and as we
are able to see 1t, but two.
First: the moral, which considers
mo License under the Election Dis
trict Local Option law, as q Temper
ance measure
Second: the worldly or practical
business view, Which, considers it as a
menace and hurt to the business inter.
ests of the district, that may be, AS this
and others are, bordered by II territory
where licenses are issued.
Before discussing mo License I'm,
der Local Option, we wish to place orr
selves squarely on record in the matter,
for we believe that we have u just ap,
precation of the fact that many would
honestly anu in good faith. designate the
two stand points differently from us and
say:
First the moral
Second the immoral,
and that in veHturlng upon this discus
SION, we may lay ourselves oren to the
criticism Of those who would use the
latter designation.
Frankly then. We expect 1t, ont Just
as frankly do we confess that our con
ceptlon Of duty, sense of right and
abiding faith in the fairness Of on, PEG
pie. possesses and strengthens us to
that degree, that We shall hesitate not
at all on account Of the criticisms Of
the biased and illlberal on the one
hand, or the improbable Professional
temperance advocate, on he other. In
4 word, we believe we are able to dis.
cuss the subject on its merits and with
out feeling, and we shall do it, requir
ing, first, that honesty Of purpose be &C.
corded to Us and second, that our argu
ment b. taken at It's face value and not
contorted to mean aught other than an
attempt to prove that ~ better condi'
ton of affairs morally. socially and fl.
nancialy, may be brought about by a
change in the existing License Law.
Further, from the nature of the case,
we will be driven to make reference to
facts that may take upon itself the APP
parent form of personality: this We dis.
claim IN advance. We have neither
cause nor desire to refer to individuals;
any statement that may thus appear
,nnst be construed in the light Of this
disclaimer.
Local Option as Temperance mea-
sure Will first be weighed and measured
for the good it has done, setting forth
the great difference noticeable in certain
respects we will endeavor to show that
it has been an aid to Temperance, how
and to What extent. We shall in this
connection endeayor to show that the
opportunity to work the good that we
have seen, Is iessening every day, until
scarcely nothing more remains to be
claimed for it, Another position to be
taken is the hnrn1 tor which il is wholly
and directly responsible. La this branch
Of the subject, we shall probably by
plain speaking be able 70 provide view,
by correcting some Of the broken and
refracted light in which many have
been content to see it, that we rely up.
on to strengthen Us with those who
must, from their calling and professions,
take opposite grounds.
We shall also risk the odum OK the
charge that we are willing to bring bus
mess into consideration, when SO great
an evil as intemperance Is the issue.
That IS, we shall state what IN our
judgment, has been the effect OF No
License" Oh business and Justify our
selves for SO doing by claiming that le-
eitimat, business pursuits are entitled
to protection and that aught that men
aces them should, from il purely bust
ness standpoint, lie provided against.