The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1906-10-06
SATURDAY, OCT. 6, 1906.
AN UNWORTHY ARGUMENT


i lievcs himself capable OF re-
speeding an opponent in any
controversy, and believes himself ready
to always accord a patient and fair
hearing to that opponents argument.
But when one contends for tie abroga-
ton al the present liquor law, simply
and solely on the ground OF its fragrant
and disgusting violation, one finds it
hard to be patient. Such an argument
is decidedly Pickwckian-it would cut
boys head off to cure him from
squirting; carried to its logical and le-
gitimate conclusion, it would mean
SocietyS abandonment OF all attempt
at legal regulation OF its social condi-
tons, and chaos would be come again
The man who argues for the weak
Welding OF sound legal right, merely
because OF laXity in its enforcement is
playing into the hands oi anarchistic
doctrine. so lar as his intellectual posi-
ton is concerned Ii one believes that
prohibitory legislation is false in prin-
ciple and harmful in practice, he has a
fair vantage ground from which to
make reasonable contention. But
this failure OF enforcement" twaddlc
makes me tired. Abolish a law be
cause incapable or unsympathetic off
cials fail to enforce it. | should say
abolish the officials. When | give an
order for a certain form OF tillage. and
a negligent or stubborn employe fails
to carry that order out | don't gener-
ally withdraw the order invite the
employe to depart When a commun-
itv makes its legal desires known in a
proper and legal manner. it is a very
small potato OF a community, to alter
or yield those desires because OF the
failure OF duty on the part OF its legal
employees. The other remedy-the in
wiling OF these officials out is the more
self respecting and rational And that
is the remedy which would be adopted
not only in this matter but in a good
many others-if so many eminent citi-
zens were not as spineless as jelly-hsh.
| for one am quite ready to admit that
the liquor law is shameiully and motor
iously and well-nigh openly violated
every day in this same town of Elk
ton, Indeed, | am quite ready to ad-
NIT that it is perhaps more openly and
indecently violated here than anywhere
else in the county. But | am not
whit surprised at that, for | rather i'm
agine that there is no other spot in all
this county where you can find quite so
many men who are wanting in the
prime, requisite OF good citizenship
VIA sensitive civic conscience back
ed by. virile moral courage. 1t would
be, amusing if it were not disgusting
to; call the roll of this community, and
Just See how many Cor how few would
dare to call their souls their own, if
they thought their words would be
heard two inches from their own noses.
Such wretched travesties on manhood
have not failed to kindly warn the Edi-
tor OF this paper to avoid such and such
questions or you will injure your bust
ness" To all such small-fry advisers
the Editor would like to make one reply
for all time We do not hold our opin-
ions at the mercy OF dollar. We shall
try to- discuss every question with all
fairTess and good temper, and bow
gracefully to the decision OF that ques-
tion2 when it comes But when any
. man attempts to threaten US with a
wltthdEawal of patronage, because of
orr Positions on public questions, we
shall very promptly but politely ask
hIm5to' go to the;-place where his lit
tie dollar or two counts for more than
ittdoes in this Office. Let us clear this
SslSstion Of all such unworthy and de-
meaning considerations, and decide it
ION its merits, Is it right, is it best,
that community should prohibit the
sale OF Intoxicating liquors in its midst?
Or is it right and best that it should
permit the sale and control it, in some
measure, by license regulation. The
Editor has. seen this county decide both
ways good many times Personally,
he believes the prohibitory way is the
better and shall so vote.
re-, -.