Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-08-07

, public conscience, while license proposes
only to restrict the right to offer these
temptations to an authorized class.
PROGRESS OF PROHIBITION.
|. The rapid progress of the prohibit
tory policy during the little more than
thirty years since it was first embodied
in legislation, in the face of the fierce OPP
position of selfish interests, affords much
proof that its practical workings must
on the whole have been beneficial.
1t must be borne in mind that forty
years ago license prevailed everywhere.
1t had been tried for 200 years, and
its results were known to all. Com
mencing 81 years ago in Maine, although
it is only 80 years since the principle was
made effective by search and seizure pro-
visions, prohibition has steadily made its
way with fewer reverses than was ever
before known in the case of any cause
where such interested opposition was ar
rayed against it. The prohlbitory policy
was overthrow in Maine four years af-
ter its embodiment in the law Of 1851;
but the license law which was substl-
tuted, after trial Of two years fell un-
der the weight of an overwhelming popu-
lar condemnation, and prohibition came
in again to stay.
Massachusetts,, Connecticut and Mich
igan also tried full State prohibition, and
under the influence of an immense for
eign vote went back to license. But in
Massachusetts, prohibition by vote OF mu-
inequalities has been steadily gaining
ground, until to-day in nearly half of
the State the dram shop is again prohib-
tied by law New Hampshire and Yer
mont have shown no signs of receding in
their support of prohibition, while two
States of the far West-kansas and
Iowa-have joined the prohibitory col
umn by overwhelming popular votes, al
though in the latter State the full fruit
of the victory has been deferred by legal
technicalities.
But prohibition is making its most
rapid stride by commencing with NUM-
cipal or county prohibition Of the dram
shop either by direct enactment Of legis-
latures, or BY municipal or county vote
under authority Of local option laws In
this way considerable progress has been
made in prohibiting dram shops in Indi-
anna, Connecticut and Nebraska, as well
as 10 Massachusetts, and Iowa-the ulti-
goal being prohibition in all Of these
States. 1t is in the South, however,
that prohibition has been making pecul-
iarly rapid progress during the past ten
years. This has been due to two causes
first, the fact that this sect ion of the
country has not felt the chilling influence
on temperance Of foreign immigration,
and secondly to the special danger to
Southern society involved in the free sup
ply Of liquor to the freedmen. Under
these influences, more than half the coun-
ties Of Georgia and West Virgin MIA, a
large part of South Carolina, North Car
DINA, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas,
and several counties of Maryland and
Texas have adopted county prohibition.
Within the past few months Florida and
Missouri have adopted laws which will
enable majority Of the tax payers of
the several municipalities to prohibit the
dram shop.
To sum up, twenty Of the thirty-eight
States now recognize the principle of
prohibition-6ve (including Iowa which
has so voted by general prohibitory laws
applicable to the whole State, six by gen.
eral local option laws authorizing any
county or municipality to prohibit, and
nine by laws applicable to special coun-
ties. And in all the States in which 10.
cal prohibition has been tried, the pub
lie sentiment is daily increasing for general
prohibition; while in all the other eigh-
teen States there are active movements
for local or State prohibition.
Such unexampled progress Of a new prin.
ciple, encountering 30 bitter opposition
from gigantic selfish interests, affords ev.
idence that it Is based on truth.
EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCE OF PRoHIBI-
TON.
2. Wherever prohibition has been
tried long enough to bear fruits, it has
been found potent educational influence
against drinking habits. Whatever bust
ness the law frowns upon it makes disre.
putable, and whatever it licenses and
protects it adds respectability to. This
direct influence on the business itself in
directly affects the practices which the
business furthers.
T 1t has been objected that any apparent
educational advantage Of prohibition over
license as an educational influence, is off
set by an alleged tendency of the former