Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-28
rHE pRoHIsIrlon MoykmkNr.

has go encouraged its friends that they are
pushing it with unprecedented energy
in all directions. The politicians, at first
staggered by the problem, have now RISEN
TO the occasion, and in most cases the Re-
publicans have boldly Endorsed the move.
ment. The suddenness with which such
Endorsements have been made, indeed, in
places where the subject has hardly been
considered before, should suggest doubts
to the minds of the prohibition advocates,
as to the reality of the conversion. In |
the food tide OF new movements, however,
such indications are very apt to be disre-
garded, and it is only when the wave
which it was supposed would forever ex-
tipguish the obnoxious practices and habits,
.admit any doubt as to the thoroughness
and permanence of the work they have
been doing. The way in which the Pro-
hibition movement has suddenly acquired
such prominence in State and national
politics, is subject deserving analysis.
OF course most people will conclude that
it signifies a great access of temperance
convictions, but in so concluding most
people are wrong. The rational presump-
ton is that little or no change in this re-
| spect has occurred. The first and most
| important factor in the rise of the Pro-
| hibition movement is the absences of other
issues. There are no great national
problems at present before the people
There are, in fact, no radical points of
difference between the two parties. And
it is at such times of politicalstagnation that
social problems always come to the surface.
There are ebbings and flowings in the
discussion of this and cognate questions.
In periods of political calm they acquire
prominence. In periods Of political acsiv.
ity they sink out of sight altogether.
When they are prominent they seem to
occupy a very much larger place in the
public life than they really do. The fact
that they at times become the subject of
legislation gives them a Fictitious conse-
quence and gravity. 1t is not sufficiently
realized that in the United States the bal
lot is the touchstone for every public issue,
and that, after all, voting upon issues
amounts, in the majority Of cases, to little
more than the hazarding of opinions upon
unstudied subjects. The idea that issues
are decided by balloting upon them is a
: delusion which belongs in the category OF
crude fallacies, of which the saying " the
"yoice of the people is the voice of God,
is one of the most conspicuous exam.
pies. In democracy the ballot is the
national form Of expression. 1t registers
, most part But the interest of each sue
cessive campaign is usually due to the in
culcation of a belief-too widely accepted
by the masses that when question has
been settled at the polls, it is res ad!judicata
This is one OF the errors which spring from
r popular vanity, and which help dema
r gogues to power, and render shallow en-
thusiasts active and influential.
!. So far as any broad tendency can b.
traced in the development of American ma
!, tional life, it is distinctly toward large
y tolerance in all things. Agreat commercial
:, people, constantly cultivating all the art
and habitudes which facilitate business, in
e variably acquires dislike for all marrow
and vexatious and restrictive ordinances
andapprovest the broadening of liberty in al
directions. The cultivation of toleranc
r. and patience which is necessitated by tn
r commercial spirit is reinforced by tn
spirit of scientific inquiry and by tn
literary tone of the age. In short al
the influences .of the time may be said b
against intolerant measures. Thes
facts would seem to initiate against tn
D. present fronfbition movement, and t
=, render it more fcult of explanation
- but they do not really have that effect
60 The explanation is that in the absence G
e. great political issues, public indifference
nc and the general tolerance enable inino1it
of fanatics and enthusiasts to make yer
~ imposing appearance. The local infiu
IL ences, such as that of agriculture in low
h. and Kansas, of course have their due shar
81 in the public action; but it is certainly
I'd mistake to conclude that any general cor
If. viction of the feasibility of Prohibitio
err underlies the movement in SO far as it ia G
On seems popular.
81 @l,A
as and even appear to be establishing itse
re, over large areas of population. While tn
use of the saloon is very general, there
N no doubt also very general sentiment thu
DIS it produces more harm than good, an
ng many can always be found who think the
70 would be willing to give up all resort Their
~. ~ But experience shows that where saloor
it are closed, private drinking increases ver
a greatly, and what may be called hom
ed drinking often results more dissstrously
" social and moral way than the old pra
tice. OF course the fatal defect of all tt
action connected with Prohibition is tt
'.e belief that men can be changed as to the
habits by law. The truth is that the d
in. mand for stimulants is as common to h,
mainly as the demand for sexual intercours
NO and that it is as impossible to legislai
u away the one as the other. 1t may
he possible to educate men out Of the love {
~ alcoholic or other intoxicating drinks
educate them, that is to say, out of a
ay disposition to the abuse of these things
1t for the rational use of them is quite anothe
&c question. But education alone can do THU
he and reasoning by analogy it must be eve
ey more physical than mental education.
N, There are temperance advocates who ar
n chronic dyspeptics. Now such men be
=. come ithe parents of drunkards. A di:
eased stomach is the open avenue to pei
verted appetites and disturbed intelligence
Of The best safeguard against dipsomani
he is complete physical health. Three genera
lie, tions of physically perfect men and wome
We might produce whisky.proof generation
=, The elimination of the American pie, how
70 ever, and the reform of the kitchen genel
I'D ally, must precede any such regeners
tion of the species. In the cities also th
or abolition of the tenement houses and tn
nd general improvement of the condition {
es the lower classes, is demanded in the nam
p, of Temperance. All dirt, destitutior
:, disease, misery, cold, hunger, over.crowt
zee ing, are agents of Intemperance. Will
is they remain with US Prohibition must be
Oh dream. In any event it can only be tn:
~ for generations to come. Laws and cor