The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-02-16

o'clock until sundown. as has always
been the custom in European countries
where the PERCENTAGE OF drunkenness is
much smaller than IL is here. believe,
too. that the travelling public at a hotel
should be served with anything they need
in the line of liquod refreshments
TOO MUCH LAW.
Now as 10 the proposed legislation'
Has IL ever occurred TO you that there
has been TOO much legislation, not only
on the liquor question, but on all ques--
tlons? Don't you know that prohibition
does not prohibit, and that legislation
tending 20 curtail personal liberty is re-
sented by the people Il most affects?
"When would legislation tending TO
prohibit the sale OF liquor most anecty
Not the LIQUOR dealers. surely. because
there are but about 500 of them in this
city OF nearly 100000 inhabitants.
think that this will concede that you
would be interfering with the other lss.-
500. Human nature is very preverse, and
we insist on having that which we are
/ forbidden TO have whether IL be good for
US or not. II you tell the people that
they cannot have liquor. and emphasize
I IL by enacting a prohibitory law, they VIII
proceed 10 procure IL in spite OF you.
| on the contrary, IL you appeal 10 man s
| better nature. and show him the injury
he Is doing himself and family by over
Indulgence, ne is apt 20 give some heed
/ to what you say.
RHODE ISLAND LAWS SUPERIOR.
II believe the liquor laws Of this state
| superior TO those OF several others with
/ which I am familiar. There may be
\ pull and graft and police officials and
politicians who are taking care of their
/ frlends-and l have heard OF all these
. <things-but I believe conditions are
i hundred per cent worse in other towns /
could name.
II am opposed to the limitation of
licenses for two reasons: because II is
an Interference with personal liberty and
because II all conditions are complied
/ with YOU have no more moral right 10
stop liquor dealer than YOU would a
man who proposed TO start a grocery store
on the same spot II you will enforce the
laws you have conditions viii right them
selves. Drunkenness Will not Increase.
because enforcement OF the law will dis
courage II not prohibit IL. IL there are
dealers who conduct a disreputable busi-
ness and are prospering II is up 10 you
10 stop II. and the present laws are en-
tirely adequate. And / believe every hon
est dealer will support you in an endeavor
10 drive the disreputable ones out Of
business.
PERIL OF DIVES.
II I0eTe ~ oUt pace IlNlf Aial hh-
other where immortality thrives 1t is in
the neighborhood OF the no. -linecse dive.
1t is to such places. made possible be-
cause OF no license. or limited high license.
that married women and mothers go In
the absence OF their husbands. II is in
these places that many a young girl has
taken her first step I'm the downward
path. DO not do the average liquor dealer
the Injustice or thinking that he wants
or will cater to that trade.
"In regard 20 prohibiting the sale Of
LIQUOR on legal holidays / would readily
acuuiesce II the liquor dealer alone were
concerned in this amendment; but IL Is
the people who are most concerned The
public insists that refreshments shall be
sold them at all reasonable times. be-
Iieve that with a holiday law the condi-
tions OF which you complain would he
greatly aggravated. II. as Is claimed.
for value received certain men are per-
mitted 10 violate the law on Sunday, Is II
, hard TO imagine they would be permitted
to do the same thing on a legal holiday
And that would mean that the men with
out conscience would have a monopoly
; OF 90 per cent. of the business.
, IN CONCLUSION.
Every step you take which tends tc
make II more difficult for an honorable
man to continue in the liquor business
is surely and effectually defeating your
own ends DO you prefer that the liquor
, business shall be conducted by honorable
, mon, or by the social and moral outcast
DO You think you would benefit the caus,
of temperance by intermittent returns e
, the conditions existing here in 1886 anC
, 1890? I think not. II there Is any con
siderable no-lcense sentiment I'm a com
, munity Il is not difficult TO obtain IN,
, necessary signatures "a by law now pro
,, vided. The annual vote for license force
the LIQUOR dealer into politics with th
result. as seen IN Massachusetts cities
that the successful Official IL compele,
. to turn out respectable license holder
and see that licenses are granted TO mel
! who worked for and supported him.
! THE EVENING SESSION.
Bishop Mcvicksr. president of IN
: league. presided at the evening session
! Chairman Luther Of the police commits
: sion was noted among those on the plat
form Music was rendered by the Cru
: saders' Chorus" Frank r. Wilder, leader
; Bishop Mcvickar delivered tho first ad
: dress 81 the evening Under the subjec
THE Place of the Church In the En
: forcement of the Law" he said IN part:
, BISHOP MvICKAR
"It 4. curious how n Is that everyon,
knows what the parsons business is ex
= cept the parson himself. II Is the duty
OF the pulpit 90 speak for righteousness
| Nm living and 70 stand opposed 10 wronp
- wherever IL is found. The preacher has
. his duty 20 perform as a citizen par'
r from his duties "a clergyman. What
2 ever his duties appear TO him 20 be a'
$ a c tizen he can he no politician I'm the
pulpit, only the man OF righteousness
. speaking from God IL Is the citizen ant
A / not The minister who goes from his knees
< 10 the polls 20 do the battle for the right
V The church must do her DUTY as the rep
n resentatve ~ righteousness, truth. jus
o tice and love for man. and all for hi
= welfare.
x "The Christian citizen Is the man Il