The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1882-11-24
W. C. 7. U. COLUMN.
prohibiticn-lts Purpose.
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inen Oi dofllIy aHu luteliiSeuce as W
the purpose and the results of the
agitation for the prohibition of the
liquor traffic. We say there is no
movement, political or otherwise, so
important to the interest of the na-l
tion, state and people, as this. 1t
touches and effects public interest
as well as private interests, more ex-
clusively than all other public pol
icies combined. I am confident that
no intelligent man will deny this.
Prohibition proposes to relieve
society entirely from the tremendous
evils coming inevitably from in
temperance. What are these? "Great-
er and more numerous than those
coming from war, pestilence and
famine combined, the three great
scourges of mankind" Mr.. Glad
stone, present prime minister of Eng
land, said this on the floor of the
House of Commons. The London
Times had said it several months be-
fore, and no one has attempted to
deny this 10 be true, or to show that
the evils of intemperance were, over
stated.
To relieve society from these evils,
is the purpose of prohibition, and this
remedy has been applied in great
many localities in this country and
in foreign land, and has been in ope-
ration for many years, with positive
results everywhere that 1t has been
tried. The relation of this expert
, ment to the highest interests OF So
ciety is so important that it seems to
me every intelligent man who cares
at all for the general welfare, should
e keep himself informed as to it's results.
: But it is very far from being so.
b The mass of the public men of the
country, as we'll as ofthose in private
> life, are in total ignorance of the re-
a suits of the policy of prohibition,
though they have been published to
, the world for more than a quarter
e of a century.
>, A notable case of this unpardon-
:. able ignorance in public men is that
y. Of Mr.. Thurlow Weed, one Of the
ablest, sharpest and most intelligent
politicians of the country, whose ad-
i vanced age and high personal char
!, acter raise him above all suspicion
of being in any way Influenced by
unworthy motives in his position and
opinion upon this subject. In a re-
: cent article in the New York ITib
: aae he says that call attempts at pro
hibition have been abortive. and thai
prohibition in Maine, especially, The
= place of its birth, was and is an abor
ton" I am far from imputing tt
Mr.. Weed any intention to- 1misstate
but there is not one word of tha,
true. Mr.. Weed was simply writing
upon a matter of which he was pro-
foundly ignorant, as SO many Other
able men have done, and are habit
ually doing.
Now in every one of the. States
localities. and districts where the pol
icy of prohibition has been fairly
tried it has proved a great success
in not one of them has it been fail
ure, much less an "abortion," yet Mr.
Weed and many other able men
being absolutely ignorant of the sub
tject, venture to pronounce an opinion
upon it in total opposition to all th'
J facts.
u How is it and why is it, that sucl
men oppose this movement 1t is al
enigma that l cannot solve. TIL
~ universal adoption of prohibitlo1
c would certainly result in this: Ever,
VI family in the land might have AM
o would have abund art food and raj
70 ment and comfortable shelter ant
s. enough of all the necessities and CON
y forts of life. More than FIVE hundre
II thousand homes where home happi
e. ness is now unknown would be pros
ol porous, peaceful and happy. Nor
r than half million drunken men, mi
n erable wretches to whom life is
y burden and who are curse to til
/ community, would become sobs
1t. men, good citizens, discliargng the
l. full share of public duties, bearin
'r, their full share of public burden
er useful, honorable me mbers of tt
n. community. More than a miliio
,g wretched, miserable women, ii
at wives, daughters, mothers, sisters
N. these shocking, shameful wrecks
nd men, would be the happy wive
d. mothers, daughters of men redeeme
gh from their evil ways and restored
DIS their right minds and to better wa,
n of life. Our alms-houses, prison