Year: 1874

ELL H lONs y AN = n kt t1s 1874


THE LIQUOR-LlCENsE MOVEMENT.


A number of our best citizens responded
to the Call for meeting in the public Hall
on Tuesday last, to further consider the
Bill for amending the present license laws
of the State, which was published in The


Wig of Saturday. A harmonious ex-
change of views took place between men,
bers of the meeting, and the Bill with one
slight amendment was adopted and for
warded by a committee to the Legislature.
Rev. Mr.. Skinner open the meeting with a
very clear statement of the object of the
Call and the causes which had conspired to
produce such mingling Of heretofore ad-
verse elements, followed by several other
speakers who briefly addressed the meet
ing. Some who are welded to Local Op-
tion did not give in their adhesion to this
effort to restrain the flood of iutemperance
which is sweeping over Maryland, without
a heroic struggle; as they seemed to feel
that they were to some extent, sacrificing
great principle. Mr.. Geo. Balderston,
Secretary of the Temperance Alliance in
this county, uttered his emphatic protest
against the implied sanction of licensing
the traffic in Intoxicating drink, which he
considered the Bill under consideration
contained, before giving it his passive sup


port. For our part we are unable to see
wherein there is difference of principle
between the Bill which was under consid-
Grafton by the meeting and "Local Op


tion," pure and simple. They both pre-
sunse a necessity for the traffic. Local
option places the responsibility on more
distinct popular assent, by requiring a
majority to determine by ballot whether
licenoed-liquor selling shall be permitted
in certain well defined localities, and herein
sanctions the necessity, justice and right of
the traffic, if fifty-one men out of ore hun
dred so determine. This process seems to
harmonize with the genius of our institu-
tions, but, nevertheless it is admitting the
principle right, if a majority think so.
Now the most radical advocates of Local
Option maintain that liquor licensing by
the State is morally, politically and socially
wrong-that the practice is evil and only
evil; and we entirely agree that this theory
is correct. The first medical talent in the
world now assert that alcohol is injurious
under all circumstances when taken into
the stomach, and shortener of life. We
all know that morally it is brutalizer.
If a practice is inherently wrong and
vicious, the vote of a majority cannot just
The point we wish to make is this: con-
scientious total prohibitionist cannot con-
sistently advocate Local Option as rem
edy, except on the ground of erpedasncy,
for the reason that he considers total pro-
hibition impossible. This being the case
he can, with the same propriety, assist any
other measure that has for its object the
It ra ming and placing bonds on the traf-
fic. The Bill which the meeting assem-
bled to consider, was one of that charac-
ter. 1t proposes to hedge the business of
dram selling round with strong law; so
ordered that it can readily be enforced.
Under its provisions vendor must 60
before the Circuit Court, with the very
strongest recommendations, and heavy
bonds, and establish his assumption against
all protests, that there is an actual neces-
sity for the business in the locality where
he proposes to do business. This will be
found a more formidable ordeal to 90
through than Local Option. A majority
of voters may be corrupted by the wiles
known to politicians; and wheu very
strong minority oppose the will of the ma
jority, that majority will find it impossible
to change the vicious custom which license
has created, and enforce their will. The
law we propose to enact, and the law at
present in operation in Delaware, places the
entire business of Liquor Licensing in the
hands of the open court. The judges grant
the privilege and enforce the penalties for
violations. This does not work any change
in our established custom of licensing, while
Local Option proposes radical change
When Local Option can be successfully
enforced, then we will have no further use
for such law. Prohibition will take it's
place. There is no Local Option for licens-
ing lottery offices or gambling houses.
Public sentiment pronounced them wrong
and prohibition followed. But the appe-
tite for spirtuous liquors is stronger in the
masses than the passion for gambling, ard
the evil is harder to subdue. The liquor
traffic has fashion, that habit which has
made genteel the drinking and treating all
present in public saloons; custom the evil
which has grown up, of licensing by law
the sale of spirituous liquors at every house
provided for the accommodation of travel
ers, and by every vender of merchandise
who applies; and appetite which the two
former evils have created among the mass
es for intoxicating drink, on its side, and
no power ye5 on earth has been able, per-
manently to bind this triple monster.


Abolition Of the Free Pass System.