The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-10-27
High LicenSe-SO Called-A Failure.

Mr.. EDITOR:
AT this time when we are called to decide
again upon the expediency of giving legal
status and protection to the sale of alcoholic
drinks for beverage purposes in Cecil county,
it becomes duty of every citizen to inform
himself of the nature of the issue before
us as to give correct verdict, that those
whose duty 1t is, may vote Understandings
upon it.
The question of the right to use these
liquors as drink or medicine. is not now, nor
has it ever been the subject of legislation and
all the talk that we hear about ''sumptuary
laws" is but an evasion and an echo of the
argument Of those whose personal gain is
promoted by charging the consumption of
Intoxicating liquors. While we here in a
rural community have no opportunity OF see
ing the full results, we cannot shut our eyes
to the startling increase in the manufacture
and sale of liquors of all sorts in our country
at large, and to their effects upon our popa-
lation in producing crime and disorder, and
thus increasing vice and immortality of every
sort.
During the past fifteen years, as appears
10y the statistical abstract, government
document the consumption of liquors has
increased from IA total per capita of 1924 gal
Ions costing 1852 in 1873 to a per capita Of
1904 gallons costing Sl6.15 in 1898. showing
that the per capita has more than doubled in
this time, and the figures also show no dimi-
mutton in distilled liquors consumed by rea-
son Of the substitution of wine and fermented
liquors, the sO-called Temperance drinks"
The taxes paid by the makers and vendors of
these drinks, has on the well known principle
of Republican government, mo taxation
without representation" given them such Il
hold upon the machinery of government that
in many places all public positions are filed
by men of their selection or committed to
their interests.
We have seen the result of the workings of
this same power here in Cecil county, whe,c
by the free use of money and the Justification
of facts the saloons We're enabled to secure a
majority of the votes cast at the election four
years ago to give them Il legal status, under
which they are shielded from any RESPONSE
blity for the results of the drunkenness and
vice resultant from their business.
Having had an experience of 10 years of
mo license" there can be no excuse for any
one not to know or see the results due to this
cause alone
The licensed sale of liquors has not in any
Particular met the wishes or expectations of
those Christian men who were its advocates
four years ago. The law has not been sell
enforcing here in Cecil county, (nor any other
place where tr.ed.) No person or association
holding licenses for the retailing or wholesaI-
ing of liquors have ever appeared as witnesses
or prosecutors in any case in our court as
against the many vioators of our present
license law. Those holding licenses have
never been known to prosecute unlicensed
sellers.
The sale to minors and on the Sabbath, has
not been checked, and it has only been within
a few days that our District Attorney has
even pretended to use the machinery of law
at his disposal for the performance of the
sworn duties of his office, and some will no
doubt be using the fact of his neglect of duty
that he has been paid for not performing, as
an argument in support OF an unjnst and
inquitous law that purposes to reduce our
taxation by a premium on vice. G.
Sixth district, Oct. "a. "a.