LOCAL OPTION IN AMERICA.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2321, 25 August 1880, Page 3

LOCAL OPTION IN AMERICA.

Sir Wilfrid Lawson (remarks the “Pall Mall Gazette ”) was mistaken in supposing that the term “ local option ” in respect to the liquor traffic, was the invention of Mr Gladstone. It is an Americanism ; and “ local option,” specifically named, prevails in more than one State of the American Union. Theoretically, the system works beautifully, and affords the highest satisfaction to all advocates of temperance,who live at a distance from the States in •which “local option’' obtains. Practically, the most conspicious results of local option arc—first, the infliction of chronic discomfort upon travellers passing through the Slate, who arc unable to procure any wine, beer, or spirits, at the hotels or (lie railway bullets, and who are unaware that they can get as much whiskey, gin, or brandy as ever they like at the fruiterers’ and druggists’ shops ; and next the honeycombing of every country hillside with illicit whiskey stills, the “running ” of which involves the creation of a class of desperadoes known as “ moonshiners ” who are half smugglers and half brigands, and frequently kill or are killed by the revenue officers. There is no rose without a thorn ; and fraud, hypocrisy, secret tippling, smuggling, and bloodshed are a few of the drawbacks to the boon of local option in America.