The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-08-27
How 1t Worked In 1892.
EDITOR CECIL WHO:


as many places of business. within the reach
OF my eyes. Three doors led to clothing
stores, two led to millinery establishments,
one to barber shop, one to bank, four to
dry goods and grocery stores two to drug
stores, and the other eight led to where rum
was sold. Three places where the outer man
could be clothed; two places where the wife
ana daughter could be made look respect
able; one place where the man could be
shaved, so as to look respectable and neat in
his new clothes; one place where the savings
OF labor could be deposited when the wants
OF homes We're supplied; four places where
men and women could be fed without danger
OF loss of body or soul; and two places where
the unfortunate sick could receive medical
aid-it took thirteen places Of business to do
all OF this for the outer man. The other
eight doors led to where the inner man was
supplied with that which deprived him of his
clothing, his children Of their clothing and
shoes. In any one of the eight rum dens he
found that which reduced him to such DEPTHS
OF degradation that he didn't care whether
he shaved or not-no money to deposit in
the banks. Thirteen doors to open on those
who clothe themselves and families, the eight
other doors in the same block where memory,
sell respect honor, gratitude and everything
a mau can esteem, are washed away into the
sewer fed by crime and ending in oblivion.
As | stood there contemplating the Cecil
Ieeazed rum debauchery, a young man
crossed the street from one of the eight
saloons, and on recognizing me- extended
his trembling hand in greeting. 1t was a
cold January day in %, and the cold north
winds swept down Main street and pierced
the shvering form, who had no overcoat, no
| overshoes no collar or cuffs, save those
which bad habits and worse appetite had
administered to him. The subject OF this
sketch is a Cecil county man whom the rum
| sellers OF Elkton came near running, and by
his request give the sad story to the people
| of the county. | know the circumstances and
know it to be true, that by hard and careful
savings OF two years. he accumulated one
hundred and seventy dollars to make the
| first payment on Il home for himself and
| family. He came to Elkton, for that pur-
pose, but the eight legalized rum deus got the
home. There was no let up until the last
|
the mug Of lee cold beer rushed down the
burning and craving throat.
The doors OF that home were closed
against an innocent wife. The purchase
money was now laying within the till Of the
legalized Elkton rum squatters. Home gone,
money gone, honor. manhood and happiness
| gone while the rum seller stood behind the
gay and gittering bar saying that he was
good customer: who will be the next. paid
into the treasury $3.50 and there hangs my
motto that allows me to do it. Wife and
children, you may twist and squirm, but
squirm and bear it. You dare not retaliate
We are in the business for the money, not
Cecils honor or its manhood-thus talked the
rum sellers.
After this man had spent all his money
within these eight places, SO great had his
appetite become for more liquor that he DIP
pealed to several to give him a half-pint No,
no. came the response from the entire crew
OF legalized home destroyers. This man is
praying for the continuance of prohibition.
DO not throw the rum temptation in his and
hundreds OF others mouths.
This is only one case Of number that have
been told me during the last few weeks.
Through respect for this man and his
wronged family l must withhold his name
from the public.
This is a telling point to bring home to the
head and heart of the man who says he
wants the return Of the Cecil rum license.
Who can rejoice at such a sad affair as this
To our friends OF the other side, if you
vote for it, when you a man drunk on the
street be consistent say that's good; l like
| to see it; that's what | voted for. When you
read of woman starved aud beaten by a
drunken husband, say | like that its Just
| what / want; | voted for that. When YOU
hear of children growing up criminals, while
their father spends his time in one long
drunk, shout haIlelujah, that's the sort Of
thing l approve of in Cecil When a hard
working man spends his home in eight of
Elkton's rum dens, scream that's good; /
voted to keep it up month ago.
One hundred and forty OF Cecl's proud
boys went to battle against our foreign foe.
Let them, if it need be, fall before the enemy
in the battlefield; or, if they must become
victims to the dread disease yellow fever.
For this their mothers, wives, sisters and
sweethearts gave them up. but for Gods sake
do not bring them homo to be thrown in the
temptations of the legalized rum dives. Do
not make them drunkards to he curse to
| their loved ones and to the country which
they so willingly offered their lives to save.
Let such Il protest 60 up from the people
OF Cecil that the voters will be compelled to
turn away their ears from the honeyed words
OF the rum defenders long enough to hear
and heed the voice of wisdom, and the return
OF those dear boys will find old Cecil still
within the prohibition ranks.
Keep the rum license away from Cecil.
Every vote cast against them is stone in
the temple of Cecil county's manhood.
S. G. PARKER.
ELKToN, Aug. H. 1898.