The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-23
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
some Thoughts Upon license.

80 the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal
The two sides of the Temperance question,
as presented from time to time in the
Journal show that temperance men are not
all pursuing the same line of policy, and are
by no means united as to what is best for the
State. The writer of this article must class
himself with those extremists who will be
satisfied with nothing short of prohibition
as the law directed against the liquor traffic
He cannot believe in the wisdom of a "high
license" from the facts: l. The rum traffic
is dire evil as admitted by ALL and it is
against the law of morality and reason to en-
deavor to prune that evil and trim it up into
respectability. An evil is wrong, a
sin, and should be totally suppressed.
2. 1t is the writer's earnest con-
viction that restriction will never hold
the traffic within safe compass,
wherein the State will make gain equal to
the loss entailed upon her people 8. The
benefits resulting from a higher tax, if Sc
cured at all, will be but temporary. There
are plain, clear proofs for holding to the
above statements. A knowledge of the pecu-
liar effects following the use of liquors, their
mode OF action, and result within the human
system shows that continual struggle must
be made to keep DEMONSTRATING within safe
limits, and the struggle will nearly always
end in the failure of men 10 govern the con-
sumption of liquor. Liquor-drinking can in
fact be governed by but one law--the law of
increase Carefully note the record of vii
lage rum-shop Each year will bring an in
crease in the quantity of liquor consumed,
and small beginning will grow into pros
porous traffic, scattering ruin on all
sides. Further proof OF this is seen
in the Father Mathew reform in
Ireland during the years 1888 to 1910. That
temperance wave was indeed wonderful for
q time in its results for good. In 1887 there
were in the city of Dublin over 11,000 ar
rests for crimes likely to be committed under
intoxication. Each year decreased the num-
Der until 1910, when there were but 173 ar
rests, and the consumption of spirits in Ire
land fell from 12, 100000 gallons to 5000, 900,
and the excise on brandy decreased some
f750000. But back of all this stood the le
galized temptation, the regulated traffic. The
slumbering fires of the liquor appetite broke
over the great good accom- plished; old appe-
titles grew, new ones were formed, and event
ually the former strength of the traffic was
attained. The same result followed the
Westinghouse reform, and SO must it ever
be. License in all its history was never
found TO regulate to any satisfactory degree,
AS early as 1910 Sir Mathew Hale found,
after a close observation of twenty
years, that large majority of all the crimes
and deeds of violence committed were refer
red to the use of intoxicating liquors. Two
hundred years continuance of the traffic have
only strengthened its power and the same
proportion holds good now. A higher tax
may possibly for time reduce the sale and
use of liquors, but the demands of a craving
appetite, the hardened consciences of whisky
vendors, the strength of the fiery serpent
will sooner or later override law and order,
and hold wicked sway There is but one
drift in the liquor business, and that is al
most irresistible toward free whisky. So
long as this business stands legalized, no
matter how severely restricted, it will gain
in power and strength, cropping out little
by little until men become weared in their
fruitless endeavors to hold it In subjugaton.
These may be taken by some as very absurd
views, yet the history of the license system,
past and present iustifies the writer in the
above assertions. 1t appears sheer nonsense
to call for another trial of this law, which
has proven itself Intellectual until its patched
up garments of absurdity are falling off and
disclosing the rottenness and futilty of such
law To-day the liquor traffic rules. Men
find themselves and their laws under the
rum powers thumb. While tens of thou
sands throughout the State have believed in
prohibition as the only safe, radical cure for
the sad evils of intemperance, there are 9th
ers eager for one more trial of license; posi-
bly, some untried corner may prove effectual
The Liquor League is tickling its ribs now, as
it has not for months, over fair prospect of
q Continuation of the whisky business. All
that is asked is license. Keep prohibition
away. Give some degree of freedom, and
there will be no trouble about more liberty,
as it will be only a question of time when
the desired power will be secured.
LEwIsvILLE, Ind, Feb. 81.