New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-07
DOES PROHIBITION PROHIBIT


inH rHoGLESS OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT IN FAVOR OF
AhoAL REPRESSION OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
me dttor OF The Trtbune
DIX: observe with profound regret in vour
80 " VIC lo1h referring to the recent vote in North
e.. vi 'ne prohibition law the statement that in
states which have had far more experieuee than North
oouha WIN legislation against the iduor traffic thoro
Is no marked sentiment now in favor of atep,tnc oh
soiuo PrChbiGon. Public opinion moves instead in ta
urccuoh or more thorough measures TO curb and
e .ade III intoxicating drinks. The trouble with pro-
hpiuon Is two-fod 1t does prohibit for louor so,
M goes on III spite of 1t, and it is regarded by large
portion OF the community as an invasion Of vcstod
iisns II thls were found in the columns of some oh
seo' OK circulation and influence equally crcum
sope' III might Pass unnoticed journal 80 uni
FefS1'y read and justly potential az THE TRIBrJNE
some effort ought to be rnadc IN .,o,y
'uaO SUCH statement has its source I'm an
"io 'nlScohcepuon OF the condition Of public senti-
o una atnentable gHorance OF the actual effects OF
prohlbltory legislation against liquor selling
fIiSt or All, except to the remark that in statos
winch have, etc. II there is State in the North and
more than two or three in the South which there does
not now exlsV well organized, aggressive and growing
movement IN favor Of prohibition, have been njsn-
formed by the public journals tho day Such a law
NJ" cAIsS IN Maine and Kansas. This is perhaps some
proof that such sentine 1t exists in two statea In
io"a constitutional amendment such as we adopted i,
NO" u'iorc the people and the Brewers Congress at s
s. session proclaimed that the immediate extinction OF
ther business In that state staring them In the face
IN NepfasAa, Missouri Illinois, Michigan Texas Penn
syIVania, Indiana, Delaware and [ think one
vi TWO other states, most determined er
iort was made tins year In tho same d.
iectoh WIN results in every instance showing growth
IN tue prohibition sentiment Measures calculated to
curb and limit the trade have been passed IN several
states during the past winter This, however in
Stcso OF showing tendency OF temperance
sentiment toward such legislation only serves
10 Snow that these States have the first but not
mo second stage OF temperance reform. It must be
Dorhe IN mind That the temperance reform began with
moral suasion for the victims of drink and appeals to
the cen to Danish whiskcy from the nursery the side
poard ana the harvest field In twenty five years drink
ana drinking usages were made disreputabe through
large portion of tho country. No reSorm ever accom-
Pitched more in less timo. But this sentiment grew
ana temperance advocates observed that the man who
most desired to reform was least able while the
gfaty appetite wore within bis reach, the proprety OF
restrictive laws forced itself upon those who had not
originally contemplated an appeal to the law Hence
Win Tune and agitation came the laws against selling 10
minors and habual drunkards and election day sab
oath etc, winch are now general The American il
given 10 requiring why for most things, and having
witnessed the workings OF laws tending to curb evil he
has put the question: Arc evils to be extcr
minated rather than limited Or he puts it thus:
IL whiskcy ought not 10 bo sold TO a minor who is
not IN the habit OF getting intoxicated adult
is why should not society extend like protection all
Ia the end that all
urlhH may not and those who have learned may
learn Why not class this offence against society with
OF legal reform upon the temperance question aud
the temperance people without exception occupy
But you quote the threadbaro answer OF our oppo.
Selling oes ON in spite SGf not q" 2SSr
III New YORK docs not prohibit It, because murder still
ports brslaries ro6beries rape adultery arson and
aoor,ion' Taica arc committed IN your state Am
must Jump to The conclusion that your laws fail
prohibition expect IL to aceompiish oniv Wbot
other prohibitory laws do, while our opponents
direction shan F cStsrSae TIE tSnr nhSea
m6 as to the M p2o Gs ea S se
We claim, In short that prohibition accompanies sub
II 4 community can be produced in which there be
found no gambling, theft or lewinecs, we will under
the traffic absolutely But while otherlaws retained
We insist bat The same rule shall be applied to law
aga'nst LIQUOR selling If you mean that much liquor
Jacta,," and demand the proof.
Upon this question we are eutted to claim that wit
ntases who nave Interested themselves from
uycs In bringing about these laws at least cred
are engaged IN the systemac cys,on or defiance Of
them. The liquor men everywhere say prohibition -
iansuase They ight the enact mont Of such laws 70 the
6 stsr end ana neS spend mSHs o ny 70 break them
true Name passed prohibtory law years ago, and
her citizens arc probably situated - as TO Judge OF its
suits They have had score OF opportunities to repeal
IT, and have improved them bv maSng 1t stronger. The
Judges OF that state that the law Ia VIII GER
talny outweigh that of the whis kcyDakcrs and sellers
or the country who unfortunately for the OF their
testimony arc compelled TO view the subject from for
esn coa6t. In this state have had the law three
four months In nineteen twcutcths of the State IL IL
just AZ we'll enforced and scrupulOusy observed the
laws ag2inst other offences. The saloon, place Of
public resort for the manufacture OF drunkards, has
ceased To exist in Kansas except Ia four i've OF the
largest towns. II no other good were accomplished,
are amply repaid for all eforts. We have in this
town 5000 people. We have not n licensed saloon for
three years It cost money aud effort teach some of
our citizens that this law good other and
must be obcyed but they have learned the lesson.
There Is no sale OF liquor In our county to-day, and
the czen who three voted against us because
we could not prohibit, gladly admits his mistake
and Will vote for the law every time H. c. MECuEM.
Ma AuR