p. 426 | A Case in Point

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 27, 1883

A Case in Point.

WE clip the following item from a religious—a “Christian”—paper:—

“A temperance movement of considerable strength, in Chicago, looks to the raising of bar-room licenses to $500 a year. It is calculated that this would reduce the number by one-half, and improve the character of those that remain.”

We are not well enough acquainted with the business to know how it is possible to “improve the character” of a liquor saloon! By raising the license many of the “low dives” may be killed out, and those which remain will have a monopoly of the business; they can fix up their bars more gaudily; they will be considered more “respectable,” according to the very lowest standard of respectability, and therefore it will be possible for them to present greater allurements and stronger temptations to the young. But how their “character” will be “improved” we cannot imagine. It is our deliberate opinion that they will continue, as heretofore, in the disreputable business of drunkard-making. And when we consider that a drunkard cannot enter the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:21), we cannot imagine how any business can be more Satanic than that of making drunkards.

We remember a story of a son of the Emerald isle who wished to engage in the business of dispensing liquid poison to his neighbors, and applied for a license accordingly. And it was said that the rules of the country made it necessary for all applicants for a vender’s license to present proofs of “good moral character”—probably “just for form, you know.” The official reminded him of this requirement, when he honestly replied:—

“Sure, an’ I didn’t know that it required any moral character to sell whisky!”

True or not, the story is truly expressive. The truth is that the business unfailingly makes its own character, and all the laws and “high licenses” in the world cannot improve it.

In Sacramento they have well learned the anti-prohibition argument, and acted upon it. Having heard that “prohibition does not prohibit,” and fully believing that “men always have gambled and always will gamble,” they have concluded to make it add to the revenue, and now gambling is licensed in that city. It will no doubt have the effect to “improve the character” of gambling, which will make the business more popular and more generally followed, which will in turn increase the revenue. This is the way to make our country prosperous!

There is a strong probability that this argument may be turned to good account in other respects. The following from the San Francisco Post is very suggestive:—

“The Examiner owlishly remarks that polygamy cannot be eradicated by law. This is the Sacramento sentiment in regard to gambling. Let the Government license polygamy.”

Now all may inquire, “Why was not that found out before?” Why was a suggestion so valuable allowed to slumber till this late day? It is “the key-note of reform.” A good “high license” on polygamy would, beyond all doubt, prevent many poor, disreputable persons engaging in the practice. They who persisted in it—and persist they will—would be such as can pay for the luxury; the “respectable” and “high-toned” polygamists would alone remain. The revenue of the country would be very largely increased; and there is not the shadow of a doubt that by this means the character of polygamy would soon be greatly improved! All hail the discovery! Surely the millennium cannot be far away, when it is known that the character of a sin may be improved by simply licensing it. The idea itself is not new, as it has long been in practical operation all over the country. But it has been mostly limited to one evil. The value of the recent discovery consists in the knowledge of its general application.

There may be a question with some as to the possibility of improving the character of murderers, as their reputation already stands very high in society. No class of evil-doers can secure so great a measure of sympathy, can so readily become the favorites of tender-hearted ladies, and receive so many floral offerings, as murderers. If they have committed many murders, all the better; and especially if a man has killed his wife; he is the hero of the day—the pitied of all pitiful hearts. A license to murder would of course add much to the revenue, but it could scarcely raise the reputation—or “improve the character”—of the business, as it stands so very high.

But there is one desirable object which might be obtained by such a license. In almost every country there may be found a class of “fanatics” who would, if it were in their power, “prohibit” murder altogether, or deprive the murderer of his “personal liberty.” In fact they carry their fanaticism to such a length that, when the “technicalities” of the lawyers and courts are likely to secure the “rights” of the murderer, they disregard the “course of law” and lynch the guilty one. Such a proceeding is greatly to be deprecated, and we fully believe that a “high license” of murder would effectually put a stop to all such high-handed proceedings. For who would have the temerity to lynch a man for any action whatever if he could produce a license from the Government to perform the action? The fact would become apparent at once that if the Government received pay for licensing the act, it becomes responsible for the act and for its protection; in truth, it would be the act of the Government itself, and he who opposed it would be an opposer of the Government.

We are firmly convinced that a high license of murder would so improve its character that lynch-law and mobs would become unknown. For a time the passions of men who considered their lives unsafe might, from force of habit, cause them to hang a “respectable” bandit and cut-throat; but the benign influence of a license could not fail to correct this great evil.

As we take no part in “politics” we shall not follow up this suggestion by urging it upon the attention of our legislators. But we should expect that the same prudent course which has characterized their action in the past in securing “revenue” for the Government will cause them to pay early attention to the important matters here set forth.