The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-02-07
Free Discussion.
LCOilimlInlcALeLN

We are pleased that the old REPUBLICAN
holds its columns open to the people for
the exchange ul OptulJns upon all SUI jeuiB
OF interest to them. The question OF who
10 To lie L. y. Senator Is onD that has ex.
hausLed the putlerce OF the public, and
therefore has ceased to be interesting.
1he now all-aosoruing question is-whAt
Is the prohibition movement going TO
amount LU2 Well, as this is America AMI l
mn American. wo Will prccosd to express
our opinion on those principles. This is
sunlsct that has been hefur5 the pubiic
from my earliest memories, aud hnov that
II has been accorded every privilege that
IL demanded.
Every means has been used tor it's de-
velopment that could be davsed but with
the Same results. Its growth nIs been
dwarieu by the exercise OF these Ameri.
Can privileges of winch wa are 80 proud,
thu, oI thinklng for ourselves. Dwarfed
IRON ths fHct that public opinion had long
since set its seal OF condemnation upoa
the dictates OF the lew TO arbitrarily
govern the many. And the insiIilUus
persistency In which the temperance ad-
Yucato demand the riEut to Greats law
al they lictate IL the roJk upon which
their arrogance will be wrecked.
lntemperunce and debauchery has never
had an intelligent advocate. ami it Is tho
sincere wish aud hope OF the writer that it
nevUr viii. But while we are bver ready
to grant every privilege aud wish them
all SUCCESS To redeem anyone whose weak
mesa hus allowed him to fall hy tho way
side, we condemn the course they have
taken In demanding the attention of tue
Legislature at this time. representing MS
they do such minority In the voting pop.
ulaliOn OF The state
565 out OF total OF 3724s does not de.
mand the attention they are ushi Z for
yet we are willing that the privilege
should be accorded to them Of allowing
tho public to vote upon the question. and
II II Should oe granted, va arc satisfied
that II would not be nearor q solution, no
matter at what expense to tho state. There
is yet another fact connected with TINS
subject that all fair minded people should
consider, that IL tho uncharitable feeling
expressed by the ten mperancs advocates
against The liquor dealer. lhis Is a bust.
ness for which he pays dearly lor his
privilege. Au excessiN o license fee OF S395,
bringing annuulIy.to our state treasury OF
over SlOO.OUo ID but one item OF his ex.
penses. Daiy lie Is importuned for dona
ton to the church, the charities and
many others oil which lie dares not refuse.
surrounded as he is with danger OF losing
his license and just why the churches
make such dumauds or why they accept
any part of his ill.gotten gains do not
understand. yet 1t Is the fact.
Now, 1t the license should DO placed at
euch figure that there would De not
more than one.tenth left OF tue present
number, would that prevent the drinking,
would II make one lees bum. make the
would not; 1t would create n monopoly
that per hnps would he aDle to Issue some
good paying bonds, but who would make
up the uhiirit III the treasury aocounf
Would the temperance people do IL? Ger.
tRinly not. 1heD II will be by direct tax
alton. Inc man that pays the rent. poor
though lie might be, thut Is his fault but
he would have the greater part Of that
dsilclt to make up. That is the History OF
the past In such cuses, end we ure satisfied
the, IeAIllt Will D0 the the fulurg.
We do not wish to be unders, God IA an
obs ructiUDlst: In your Efforts to improve
the moral etRtus OF the peo pie we con-
deinn the course you pursue. Tuere is
not the CHRISTIAN forbeurance that should
characterize your Efforts while trying to
convince the public that you are working
forthlP neral i'm provement. Vengeance la
not for you. And the expression of Wis.
clousuess In the way you wish him dealt
with, does not: command the respect OF
people who prefer to Judge for them.
selves I'D to what they shall cut or drink,
OF where 1t shall be done.
Ths WINE cellar is all right to those who
have the means TO support one. and tney
can he run without taking out that 325
privilege, and IL does not expose many
who tarIy at the wine that the vulgar
world looks up to as moral exam pies.
Ariitrnry. cosrcive measures have never
accomplished any iastlng reforms In any.
thing; the prohibition question stands In
evidence OF this. And now while we com.
mend the efforts OF any organization or
OF individuals to redeem the fallen or TO
extend tie hand OF Christian fellowship
TO an e.ring brother. would ask our law
makers as q simple matter of Justice to
those whom you huve given the privilege
as your laws prescribe, and who are so
great a source OF revenue to our state,
the protection they deserve, regardless Of
society prejudioes
Nor A SALOON KKEpKn.