The Osceola times., 1881-05-28
The Whiskey Question Sphinx
Riddle.

-io'3 soiiSSpohuSub uhuSi INV
signature of "Prohibition,st" puts
certain questions, which perhaps, il
may not be out of place for me to
answer. The first Of them is: al
Capt. McVeigh did not think that
the Temperance sentiment was
strong enough in the state to make
a prohibition law effective, why did
he vote for a prohibition amend.
ment TO be submitted to the peopicr
Assuming that | said that / did not
think the temperance sentiment
strong enough IN the state to make
a prohibition law effective, and as
suming that was an advocate and
friend of the temperance cause and
wished to see it crowned with sue.
cess, what else could be done better
adapted to the end proposed, than
to submit the question in the shape
of an amendment to the constitution
to be voted on by the people in Sep
tember, 1882 =? If / did not think the
sentiment strong enough for pro-
hibitory law IN the winter of 1881
land no such issue had been made
before the people, could my vote
TO submit the question to a vote Of
the people nearly two years there.
after, with all the advantages of a
thorough canvass, be taken as evil
dence that | thought the sentiment
strong enough to back up prohi-
bitory law IN the winter of 1881? 1t
seems to me, that if did not think
the sentiment strong enough last
winter, and still wanted to forward
the cause, ProhibitIonist ought to
see my motive for submitting the
issue to the people, having faith in
their virtue and wisdom, to hear
and appreciate the overwhelming
arguments in favor of the adoption
OF the amendment when fairly pre-
sented by the friends and champi-
ons OF the temperance cause.
But IN truth l saie in that very
speech that ! believed the temper.
ance people in the majority, but
having no certain means of know
ing our strength, both sides vehe.
mently contos;ing the claim of the
other, we decided to submit the is.
sue to the people. Suppose the
Legislature had passed prohibitorv
law, and 1t had turned out that the
people were against it, what would
have become of it two years hence Z?
1t would have been the end OF the
law, and staggering blow TO the
temperance cause.
In dealing with the whisky ques
ton, no intelligent person, surely,
will contend that il stands upon The
same footing with ordinary qurs-
tons of legislative policy. All sane
minds admit that Alcoholism is Wis
IDLY the most gigantic curse OF the
country, and few l think, will deny
that the means by which it's balelu,
influence is to be annulled, whether
viewed from a moral, social, religi-
Gus, police or legislative point, pre-
scnts a problem painfully remind
ing one OF the fable of the Sphinx,
who propounded her riddle to every
one as they passed, and demanded
a solution upon pain of being de.
stroyed if they could not. The
modern Sphinx conironts the pco-
pie Of to-day with her riddle, how
mast wf to1qaer Aicohoi? and threat.
ems to destroy us if we fail to bit
upon the truth. Suppose were to
answer the Sphinx and tell her,
4" Madam, Alcohol can be conquered
by the same means With which we
conquer original sin J" who bat the
Sphinx herself can say that my an
swcr would be wrongg We are all
agreed as TO the disease but what
ialhble being can say, have the
specific which alone can effect the
healing of the nations T.? Do you,
Mr.. Editor, or docs your CORES
pondent believe that a prohibitory
statute could reform the habits of
the people, if a majority were hos
tile to such legislation? And il a
majority are IN favor Of prohibition,
has not the legislature put the means
OF thorough, absolute prohibition in
the hands 0. the people? What is
the meaning ot tha, sublime SEN
tcnce contained in two Latin words,
adopted as the motto, and engraved
upon the seal Of our state, Regaosf
Popai? Aye, sir, The People Rs4s,
and their servants in the 23rd. Gen.