The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-10-03
Anti-License Resolutions.

The following are the resolutions adopt.
ed by the anti-license convention which
met al Elkton on the 23rd ult. for the pur.
pose offorming an organization to conduct
the campaign aginst license in Cecil
county this fall
Whereas, By provision of law, once
again the issue is joined, the case called
for trial, and the jury of Cecil's citizens
will soon be called upon to render the
verdict, by their ballots, in the cause OF
Local Option VS.. Licensed Saloons.
Whereas, This is in no sense political
or party question, to be determined by
reference to partisan considerations, but
upon its merits as an issue involving the
public order, well-being and morals OF
the county.
Whereas, The history of the liquor
traffic under every system, whether of no
license, license, or high license, has uni
formly demonstrated it to be bitter,
blighting, damning curse on everything
decent, virtuous, and pure; the prolific
mother of pauperism and crime the hot
bed where outlaws germinate the cradle
where vice is rocked greedy parasite
feeding and fattening upon the body
polite the cause of increased taxation
and the enemy of legitimate business, by
robbing its victims of the means which
would otherwise have been expended in
the purchase of groceries and dry goods
and the relentless foe of law, order,
morality, good citizenship and public and
private well-being.
Whereas, The record of the traffic in
Cecil county during the past four years
shows chapter, written in the same black
characters and quite in harmony with the
rest of the history-desolate and ruined
homes suffering wives and children in
creased drunkenness and disorder in our
streets ruined characters and blighted
lives and the various demoralizing effects
that inevitably result from the traffic in
intoxicants.
Whereas, The present license law
which the liquor advocates are seeking to
fasten for four years longer upon the
people of the county, by the limitations
and restrictions it places upon the bust.
ness, is itself not only confession Of the
essential evil and iniquity of the traffic
that needs to be thus limited and restrain.
ed, and so logically involves the further
step of its entire prohibition which local
option seeks to accomplish, but further in
Its operation, it results i'll the creation oil
whiskey oligarchy or monopoly in our
midst, which our Declaration of Rights
asserts to be "odious, contrary to the
spirit of free government and the prin.
ciples of commerce, and ought not to be
suffered. Therefore be it resolved,
First-That as citizens of Cecil county
opposed to the saloon, assembled in public
meeting, we do most earnestly appeal tc
the voters Of our county to unite, regard
less of distinctions of church or party,
against this foe of law and order, oil
church and home, of character and
virtue, of business and general we'll.
being, and by their ballots, on the 4th Of
November, drive it from our midst
Second-That rejoicing in the uncom.
promising position on this question. taken
by some of our county papers, we appeal
to the entire press of the county. to lend
its powerful aid in this battle for order as
against the acknowledged nursery of in.
ebrity and disorder; for the home as
against its chief despoiler for manhood
and good public morals as against the
school of vice and immortality.
.Third-that we appeal to the Christian
citizens of our county, both Protestant
and Catholic, to WELD the influence Of
church and society towards the overthrow
of this throne of iniquity, established by
law, and we especially request the min.
listers and pastors of the various churches
to present this subject from their respec.
tive pulpits on Sunday, October I7th, and
at other times, and organize their mem.
bers in the interest of order and good
morals.
Fourth-That the better to effect the
objects of this meeting, an Executive
Committee be appointed, consisting o.
three members from each election district
of the county except the Third, which
shall have four, then with the Chairman
of this meeting, who shall be the Chair.
man of this Committee. This Committee
shall have general charge of the campaign
and shall have power to appoint Other
committees aad in general organize the
forces and conduct the war against the
saloon i'll all the districts of the county.
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