Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-18
THE TEMPERANCE AMENDMENT
AND THE ISSUES INVOLVED.

friends OF temperance reform ana It's
enemies.
When the advocates OF the amend
ment undertake to stignatize those
who oppose il as the enemies OF temper
ance reform, they are simply alternating
from their councils some of the best in
telliyence and moral strength OF the Leg
islature and the community, which is
too Independent to surrender its views
and opinions to what appears to be IL
logical and imperious dictation.
The issue presented is really one be-
tween the friends OF license and the
friends of prohibition, as methods oil
reforming the evils OF the liquor traffic
LISA common mistake 10 suppose
that license is liberty, or the entire
absence OF legal restrictions from the
liquor traffic.
The friends OF license are commonly
placed with the enemies OF temperance
reform.
License is interpreted to be an unre-
stricted liberty for the manufacture,
sale and consumption OF spirituous
drinks.
The fact is, however, that license is as
truly measure in the interest OF tenn
perance reform as is prohibition.
They are both legal measures designed
to prevent the evils Of intemperance,
and differ only in the degree in which
the law shall interfere.
License, in fact, is the middle ground
between unrestricted liberty in the liquor
traffic and absolute prohibition.
License regulates and restricts the
manufacture and sale within certain
limits and under certain conditions de.
vised to prevent intemperance and miti-
gate the evils which society would
suffer from an unrestricted traffic.
Prohibition goes one step further, and
proposes to make all the traffic in in
toxicating drinks unlawful. 1t is not
expected that even prohibition will alb
solutely prohibit the traffic, because all
history, ancient and modern, has proved
that it is beyond the possibility of hui
man law to absolutely suppress the sale
and consumption OF intoxicating drinks.
Ii never has been done; it probably
never will be done as long as the ele-
ments exist out OF which Intoxicating
drinks can be made, and as long as it is
the nature OF man to crave such stimu-
lants.
We saw it is not the expectation OF
the friends of prohibition to absolutely
prohibit. The most sanguine do not
venture to claim as much for the pro-
posed amendment. So that il may be
said with entire reason and accuracy
that both Prohibition and License are
measures Of degree, in temperance re-
form. Prohibition aims at one degree
above license. but the real difference OF
opinion is right here; turning upon the
question as to whether prohibitory leg
islation does really mitigate the evil TO
the extent that a well regulated license
law does.
This is a problem about which the
very best minds in this country differ
1t is pr sblem about which the people
living directly in the States and locality
where both measures have been tried,
differ. Absolute prohibition is a meas
ure Of such doubtful propriety in the
minds of some of the most ardent work
ers in temperance reform, that some OF
them-men OF high station and inhu-
ence, such men as Rev. DIR. CROSBY, &C.
cupying the position OF Chancellor OF
the University of New York, and ].
FREEMAN CLARK, a distinguished divine
who is known throughout the country
have lately abandoned the idea of pro-
hibition and openly advocated the use
OF malt liquors as means OF promoting
temperance in intoxicating drinks.
We cite these facts TO show, simply,
the very great variety OF opinion which
exists among temperance reformers as to
prohibitory laws, as a means. Ii dis
tinguished men throughout the country,
including the most distinguished states.
men OF the present generation, have
differences OF opinion upon this ques.
ton OF prohibition, it is not strange that
such differences exist in the West Nir-
ginia Legislature, and among ali classes
OF people throughout the State.
Men have come to accept, very gen.
orally, the belief that absolute prohibi.
ton is an absolute impossibility. From
the United States Senator down to the
L. s. Savage, the taste for stimulsnts is
equally manifest. There is no race OF
beings upon the face OF the earth to-day
which has not in common use a CON-
mon stimulant or intoxicant Of some
kind. There never has been and prob
ably never will be. Neither prohibit
ton, license nor any other law, or regu.
lation, has been able to abolish intoxi.
cants or the traffic in them.
These facts alone, we say, present fair
ground for difference Of opinion as to
the expediency of inaugurating policy
of absolute prohibition when it is quite
certain that there is no general convic
ton or sentiment among the people
which can guarantee the execution OF it
so as to protect such a law from con-
tempt. But there is no fair ground at
all, for vituperation and abuse OF men
who claim the liberty OF judgment and
dissent from tie extremists on these
points. They lie in the sphere OF that
humane and Christian expediency
which intelligently and conscientiously
seeks to do the the very best practicable
/ a l. l. a l.