If the rich man has his club, let the poor man have his saloon."
"How much better, though," said Mrs. D'Alloi, "to stop the sale of wine
everywhere."
"That is neither possible nor right. You can't strengthen humanity by
tying its hands. It must be left free to become strong. I have thought
much about the problem, and I see only one fair and practical means of
bettering our present condition. But boss as the papers say I am, I am
not strong enough to force it."
"What is that, Peter?" asked Dorothy.
"So long as a man drinks in such a way as not to interfere with another
person's liberty we have no right to check him. But the moment he does,
the public has a right to protect itself and his family, by restraining
him, as it does thieves, or murderers, or wife-beaters. My idea is, that
a license, something perhaps like our dog-license, shall be given to
every one who applies for it. That before a man can have a drink, this
license must be shown. Then if a man is before the police court a second
time, for drunkenness, or if his family petition for it, his license
shall be cancelled, and a heavy fine incurred by any one who gives or
sells that man a drink thereafter.
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