Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-10-27
.oThe Failure Of ProhibItiOn.o


When this phrase, so current among
unrefiecting ObjectOrs, is closely ana
lyZed, in connection with the facts to
which it is applied, it will be found to
signify much more than is intended,
namely, the failure Of human nature
to inqOrOUe itseJ. Neither the advo-
cacy of temperance nor prohibition
have made a perfectly sober cOmmu-
nifty; perhaps have not prevented the
world at large from growing more
| prOtiigate and intemperate, in some
directions and respects. Certainly
more people drink than once drank,
and more, much more, money is
squandered on drink than ever before
But what does this signify and in
vOlve? Why, only this: that for
some reason or other, human nature is
not sufficiently dmendbIe to the claims
| OF reason, Of morals, and Of IdlU.
What is the inference from that fact :?
Is it that reason is not reason? or that
morality is not right? or that just law
| is wrong? Is Christianity n "failuren
because man has failed to accept it,
Are laws 10 be abolished and police
disbanded because prisons are full Is
the Gospel of purity and love to be
/
impurIty and discord? ? In what sense,
We ask, has Temperance failed other
than in the same sense in which truth,
and righteousneSs, and law in general
have failed? And what is the further
practical inference? Is it that we
should cease to teach, or preach, or
legislate on any point? Is it that we
must accept the gospel of despair, and
sit down in utter hOpelessness of the
improvement of mankind? IfpeOple
who speak of failure" DO not mean
this, let them explain 5Oh0t they mean.
Let them show how their objections
against the law of prohibition, or
against temperance societies, are
stronger than against any Other law,
human or divine, or against any other
society, moral, Masonic, political, or
Christian. In the attempt to do this,
we venture to affirm that the cry is
mere cant-the utterance of a pref
udice without any rational signifi-
cance. Does the ObjectOr mean that
prohibition is Il comparative failure?
In comparison with what, we ask? Is
it license? ? That is a question of fact;
but we know of no example where
license of the causes of mischief has
proved satisfactory, as compared with
prohibition. The causes of the evil
are apparent enough. First, the ten
dcacy of the drink. License can not
alter or control that; it can only lin
it the quantity sold and every limi-
tatiOn is but a step toward prohibition.
Second, the temptation of the traffic,
which resides in its Openness and
publicity. The more accessible, the
more open, and prominent, and in
viting, the greater is the temptation.
In fact, that is the temptation. Now, !
to increase temptation is to increase
failure and "vice," " other things be-
ing the same. But every limitation
of the number of licenses, or of the
time the traffic is permitted to work,
or of the persons on whom it operates,
is also an item of prohibition. The
virtue Is in the negatiOn, not the
license. And, third, there is the in
te1'eSt of the trafficker in selling drink.
This is essential, and it is perpetual in
its operation. No laws can make that
interest harmonic with the intention
of the law to limit the sale, in person,
time, or place. 1t is the direct antag-
Onist of the law; and the interest will
always seek to eyade or ignore the OBJ
ject of the legislature.
History affords only one example of
an attempt to overcome this difficulty, I
and so regulate the traffic in strong /
drink; and that example, partial !
step in prOhibitiOn-is so far success. |
The government of GOthenburg-a Z
city in Sweden-have for many years I
decreed, ~ that the keeper of a tav- !
ln L., l. -
only as a part of a meal-in other .
words, that il shall be hotel and not /
a grog-shop; e. that he shall hare no
profit from the sale Of alcoholic liquors 1
but derive his income only from the .
sale of food, coffee, etc, and the sup
ply of lodgings. a percentage of one
and One-half is allowed indeed; but it
IS regarded only as the equivalent for
the trouble and loss in dispensing the
drink, the licenses being granted to a
of benevolent men, who
hand over the profits to the town.
The innkeepers are prohibited from
selling liquor on credit but they are
left to please themselves as regards
The sale of food. Mr.. S. a. Hedland,
the editor of the Journal Of Commerce
jf that city, reports in July that "the
new system, introduced in the year
1868, has had q considerable influence
)n the morality Of the iHhabitants." |
What will the sapient politicians say
% this fact-they who repeat and reit-
srate the stale and stupid cry that leg
slatiOn can do nothing for morals -
THE company has reduced the num-
Der Of taverns from sixty to foTty."-
Other legal measures have also been
adopted for the arresting of distillatiOn.
Great is the gain in the higher NOR
Ility of the people; being a change so
yrcdt that you can not now, in many
larts of the land, have a drop of strong
liquor atany price. The consumption
If brandy now in Sweden is far be-
leath any other land of Europe"
If law is so potent for good i'm Swe-
len, what prevents it being so in ,
America? The lCW OF the people ?
That remains to be seen. We appeal
o the nation; and we shall not be- {
ieve in the failure of the people to re- {
pond to these claims with which their
highest and dearest interests are mex ,
ricably involved, until we have done /,
'ir duty, by hOisting the banner OF ;
N Independent party, around which
,ur nOblest sons and daughters may :
,ather for the redemption of the land :
rom its greatest curse. Temperance 1
nay fail-we are no prOphets-but we {
hall all the same do our duty by en- /
to deserve success.-TeHl- {
,CFdHcc AdUOcdte.