Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-09-28
High License and Local Option.

Mr. Editor: Mr.. Cole says, the law OF
God is going to be fulfilled. That is
true, but his laws will not be changed
to suit mans views as to what they
should be; or, in other words, the law
works in connection with surrounding
conditions and produces results in har-
mony Herewith. Now, with the ques-
tion of prohibition, while some may de-
sired that law, what about it's enforce
ment? If all men believed in prohibi-
ton, surrounding conditions would then
be such as to enable its enforcement.
Many men, whose experience has been
wide and varied, and warrants them in
holding their own opinions, do not be-
lieve that the use of liquors must neces-
sarily be bad, criminal, or in defiance of
NATURES or Gods law. The arbitrary
statement that the man who has either
sold, given, or drank 4 glass of liquor,
is, for that reason subject to death pen
atty by Ged, is neither more nor less
true than the argument of the witch
burners, than it was against Gods will
that witches should be allowed to live.
believe that Mr.. Cole, with all other
ght-thinking people, desires that the
abuse of liquor-drinking shall be sup
pressed, and, the pertinent question is
What is the best method of so doing?
With high license, and local option, and
severe penalties for breaking the laws
pertaining thereto, the highest estimate
placed upon the number of saloons in
such place as Bennington, is ten, the
lowest four or five. Where, under
prohibition, thirty to forty are reported
to have flourished, and it is hardly pos
sible that we will not agree that the
more saloons, the more liquor will be
sold. 1t is not only possible, but prob
able, that Greeley and some other small
towns have prstected themselves against
the sale of liquors.
But where and what is Greeley? The
name itself, illustrious, ought TO draw
inhabitants, but when coupled with alb
solute prohibition, the great desidera-
tum of the prohibitionist, we would
judge that Greeley must he a large,
flourishing city, the centre of trade, a
city of superior virtue, attracting all the
good and repelling all the bad; but what
is the actual condition of Greeley? /
have been through Greeley number of
times intending to notice the place, but
because of its limitations as to size, its
lack of fine buildings and other improve
ments, characteristic of nothing over
the rest of the small and uninteresting
nearby towns, passed through twice
without knowing it. If Mr.. Cole refers
to Greeley as prohibition town only,
we'll and good, but if he refers to it as a
town of progression, or as town desir-
able to live or do business in, he is most
unfortunate in his selection.
If wise business man wishes to en-
large his business he does not adopt
methods that have proved universally
unsuccessful; he considers what will be
the best methods to accomplish the best
results with the people he has to deal
with He does not tell the people that
it is Gods will that they should trade
with him, even if he thinks such ought
to be the case, and yet, he has as much
right to say that as the prohibitionist
has to say: That it is Gods will that no
liquor should be used. However, l am
glad that an intelligent discussion is
started on this subject, for if discussed
with honest motives nothing but good
can come from it.
In answer to the query of Judge Bond,
as to how it happens that at this time,
when prohibitionists are moving in the
matter, that high license letters are APP
pearing, etc., win say that this agita-