Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-05-24
NEAL DOW


With Certain Facts.
mir. Edward s. Taft, OF Philippl
West Va, forwards us the subjoined re
ply OF Rev. Neal Dow to the REGISTER
comments upon prohibition as mean
of temperance reform
PORTLAND. May 10, 1881.
DEAR SIR: / am just home iron
MARYLAND, where have been holding
some meetings for three weeks, and nn'
ON nv table your letter Of April and
COPY OF the Wheeling RBGIsrsR contain
ing my letter to you OF the 18th o
March, with editorial comments upon
it.
lam quite confident there is no othel
question of great general Importance tC
the common interest, in relation tC
which men OF ability, intelligence anc
wide general information, are 80 lacking
in information, As thousands OF suct
persons are as to the relation OF the
LIQUOR traffic 10 the public welfare. and
as to the best modes oi dealing with il
for the common good.
The editorial OF the REGIsTER on my
letter to you, though very we'll written
is open to the criticism / have made
upon the writings and sayings upon
this subject OF a great many able men,
The editorial says:
"There is only one point upon which
we have thought il worth while to ques
ton Mr.. Dow's position, and that is
upon the question OF prohibition as q
measure for depressing these evils.
We have maintained that prohibitorY
legislation has failed OF producing bet
ter results than the license system; that
in the majority OF instances where tried
it has aggravated the evils; and that
the prepondt rance of the most en-
lightehed opinion OF the day is against
il.
We are disappointed that Mr.. Dow
has not chosen 10 fOrtiiy his position
upon this question with such facts and
figures as il may have to support il. As
he deals chiefly with the theory OF pro-
hibition We desire TO point out where
his position in this respect - weak.
There is an element OF wrong in the
theory upon which prohibition pro-
ceeds, that Mr.. Dow, in common with
other temperance reformers, habiIually
oyerlooks."
Now prohibition has never, anywhere
nor at any time "iailed of producing bet
ter results than the license system
nor has the license system anywhere
produced any good results at all. II
search should be made for facts 10 sus-
tain the remark of the REGIsTER IN eth
er Of these particulars, none could be
found. As to the effects OF license it is
sufficient to say that England has the
most carefully prepared license system
in the world, and has had it for great
many years, yet the English are the
most drunken people in the world, as
thew freely and publicly acknowledge
themselves TO be. All tine drunkenness
in the world has grown up under the
license system, which has no tendency
whatever 10 reduce it in amount or to
diminish its evils. 1t would be interest.
ing il the REGISTER would kindly pro
duce its authorities for the remark that
where prohibition has been tried, 1t has
aggravated the evils OF intemperance. !
know of no such authority and have
never heard of any, but | know num-
berless authorities to prove the exact
contrary.
should be very glad, also, ii the
REGISTER would kindly produce Its
authority for the remark that the pre-
ponderanCe OF the most enlightened
opinion of the day is against prohibit
ton. | do not know CT Il single author
ity for that statement, but among all
English speaking people, great many
eminent authorities support contrary
opinion. The authorities in this direc-
ton are so numerous and influential,
that the people OF most Of our Ststes, ii
net all of them, are striving for prohibit
ton. Many Of them have already
either that or local option, and am
confident there are few questions, II
any, that are now occupying SO much
Of the public attention as this. All the
British American possessions have local
option under law passing their Parlla-
ment with no dissenting vete in either
House. The British Parliament has re.
Gently adopted a resolution in favor OF
local option, and the government Is
pledged to bring in q bill containing
Il at principle. In the province OF Can
tCrbury, in England. there are now
more than 400 parishes that have had
for years absolute prohibition. The
province OF York, also, and Scotland
have many such parishes, and in Scot
land and Ireland there is absolute pro.
hlbition upon the Sunday. In the great
manufacturing town OF Saltaire, in York.
shire, aud in the district OF Dungannon
Cpl square miles-and the great man.
ufacturiug town OF Beshrock, in Ireland,
there has been absolute prohibition for
many years, with the most excellent re-
suits in all these localities.
| might extend my notice OF such
cases OF prohibition very largely, but
what have said think will be sufficient
70 show the error OF the statement that
the most enlightened opinion OF the day
is against prohibition. In the British
Parliament many Ui the most eminent
men voted tor local option, while the
rel nosed, bleareytd, red faced, fox
hunting two-botae squires all voted
against it.
The REGISTER is disappointed that |
dill not choose to f.rtiiy my poi ion
with facts aud figures. Very well, that
can easily be done
|. The Maine Law was passed in
1851, and now stands stronger than ever
in public opinion, after all these years OF
experience OF its results.
The Republican party OF Maine
pu:s prohibition every wear, distinctly,
into its platform, anu the Democratic
party rs distinctly every year repudi-
atcs license. Now, ii it be conceded
that the people OF Maine possess the or
binary degree Of intelligence generally
corce,lcd 20 Americans, these facts are
conclusive of the whole question.
But why DO the people of Maine
stand by prohibition as the settled
policy OF the State? Only because OF
their uniform experience of its
benefits after all these years OF trial. We
used To drink our share and more OF
strong liquors. Our share now would
be about $4,000. 900, but half q mil