Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1901-06-28
The Liquor Question.
Rockville. Md lime 81 1901

Rockville, Md, June 81, 1901
Prof. Frank Andrews, Principal of the An
drew Small Academy, Jamestown, Md.
My Dear Sir: Your favor of the 18th in.
slant came duly to hand, but as It Is a mat
ter OF very grave Importance, have taken
time for consideration before replying there
to. II should receive a similar communi-
cation from each voter In the county, the
labor OF replying to them would become very
onerous, but as yours Is the first and only
one have thus far received, and your posi-
ton at the head of one OF the leading edu
cational institutions of our county entities
you to great consideration, shall endeavor
to set forth my views upon the liquor ques-
ton as fully as can in one communication,
reservng the right to publish the same, II l
shall think proper, after waiting short time
for any reply you may desire to make.
have never made any attempt TO conceal
my opinion upon this question, nor do |
wish to do so, and shall always be ready
and willing TO talk to anyone upon the sub
iect and reply to any reasonable communal
cations, and hope that those who may hold
different views will be equally frank in deal.
ing with the subject as it is one of the de.
iects of our system of government that 80
much can be accomplished through fraud
and deceit of the people, and candidate who
publishes his opinions on the various Ques
tons which arise in campaign is at great
disadvantage, as he offends some people on
one question, and others on another and
thoroughly pleases very few.
So far as | am personally concerned, II
would make little difference to me, except,
perhaps, in the event of illness, il no intox
icating liquors were ever made. Neverthe
less, l can see no sufficient reason why their
use should be absolutely prohibited to those
who use them with discretion, God made
| everything good for the use of man. AT the
same time He placed limit upon the use of
nearly every good thing, beyond which 1t
becomes abuse, which is accompanied with
severe penalties. lntemperance 10 eating
often causes as much trouble as intemper.
ance in drinking, yet no one can say man
should be prohibited from eating. And each
man must be the judge of what is use and
what is abuse for himself, as what may be
good for one may not be good for another
depending upon his physical constitution,
his duties in life, and even upon his finan
cial condition. No iron clad rule can be
laid down for all men. Neither can men bt
made good and strong by keeping them
away from evil Sin was put into the world
TO test and try mems souls. He who meets
ii and overcomes it is stronger than he whc
has never known temptation. 1t IS for THU
reason, take II, that there is more joy IN
Heaven over one sinner that repenteth than
over ninety and nine who have had NJ
cause therefor. But happy Is the man who
has had little cause for repentance, as the
effects Of evil doing follow man through al
his days, and are indeed visited upon tn,
children in their weak. delicate and diseas
ed constitutions. And the earlier younl
people learn the evil of lntemperance il
all things, the better il is for them. This
however, can often only he ACCOMPLISHED b,
experience, as it is a wise man indeed who
can profit by the experience of Others
Therefore, think the proper solution of tn,
liquor question ia To allow il to be sold b,
responsible people under proper regulation.
In all places where IL does not interfere with
the rights and comfort of those living in The
immediate vicinity However. | do not con.
slider nv opinion Infallih,e and in thinps no
litical take the voice of the people TO be th,
voice of God. And unless | am convinced
there is general desire for resubmssion OF
the local option law all over the county, sufil
Gent to indicate majority of the intelligent
people to wish 1t, | should not vote for such
resu6mislon. But II am convinced, by peti
tons or otherwise, that the majority OF white
voters In any district or township want a
license system in that locality, should vote
10 give them such system as seemed best
suited to their conditions. After an expert.
ence OF nearly twenty years with the local
option law, 1t has been found practically i'm.
possible to enforce It in some localities. In
these places think 1t would be better tc
take the traffic under the regulation OF the
law than TO allow its violation with impuni
ty and create condition which encourages
men TO commit perjury. However, a re.
submission Of the law to the whole county