Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1892-03-10
(CoMMUNIcATED.


As one deeply interested in the welfare
Of my county, I would feel that had been
derelict In one of the plainest duties of cit
izenship If did not raise my voice in sup
port Of the present attempt to curtail the IL
quor curse now resting upon ST. Mary's
The difference of opinion as 70 whether To-
Sas vpss0sa sAsvASu 10 talC law VI OUT COM
munity, can In q measure be understood,
but how men can give their consent TO re-
sist an effort 10 close the many small grog-
cries located in every district of our coun-
~, Is matter beyond the comprehension
OF thinking men. am sure il Is traceable
10 want Of reflection upon the subject
The only argument have ever heard liz
support Of the present law is, that the pro-
posed law Is inimical 20 the small dealer
il the small dealer desirable quantity in
any community when il is acknowledged
that the busiress he follows cannot survive
the loss Of the liquor trader In other
words. the prime element, the vitalizing
principle Of his vocation, is one thar debases
rather than elevates his feliow.man. Su-
gar, coffee, meat, in fine, all the necessaries
of life, are merely incidentals in his occupa-
ton. The life-giving element to his roca-
ton is rhiskey. Oh "the inhumanity Of
man TO man." 1t is bad enough 10 sell that
which panders only 10 the crosses: tastes
Of man at all as a beverage, but when il be-
comes the one business Of man, how
lost this man must be to the reaiiza-
ton of the law Of the brotherhood OF
man and the sonship OF Godi 81.
Mary's, the garden spot of Maryland natu.
rally, what inducemen; has she 70 offer to
progressive, industrious people in her bor-
ders when she opens the food gates of Ii
cense to any and all who choose TO engage
in q business whose sole eLd is disbase-
ment? Not even an attempt 10 regulate
nr control the eyil-or If any at all, merely
nominal one. How frequently of late
have we heard of those seeking homes, the
unit of any country's prosperity, passing
through our county, and shaking the dust
Of il from their feet, with the parting saIu-
tation, that cannot cast my lot among
people who seem TO be joined 10 their whis-
key idol. No enterprise win plaut itselfin
rural section and prosper when it Is pos
sible Tor the labor 10 be lured into habits
which viii make them negligent of their
duties, especially when that labor is of a
class whose mental and moral advancement
makes them an easy prey to inducements
Of this nature. With matters as they stand,
our churches are not safe, our schools are
In jeopardy, our children in peril and our
very homes are lettering. / appeal to eve-
~ thinking man, woman and child in ST.
Mary's 20 answer me in their hearts the
question--Is 10 right that our laws should
be such that the sacred shadow of q church,
home or school should fall upon O whis-
key shopf Can you recall an instance
I'm which they dot I do not think tina,
there 10 one who has not personal knowl-
edge Of such case. For my own section
! blush 10 say that In a stones throw ofmy
church II one. MY home has one on either
side Of it and the school for my children is
surrounded by them. Ny only hope is
my prayer for their safety-my daily adj
monition Of their duty to themselves, their
parents. their fellow-man. and first Of all
their God and lastly that their vision may
be 90 offended, by speciacles which shey
mnst frequently be a witness IT. as 4. save
them from that which Is s'orss than death.
Fsthers, mothers, sisters ] appeal to you 10