The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-17
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
Both Sides of the Liquor Question.

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal
There are two sides to the liquor question,
one that is clearly bad and the other still
under discussion. The evil of drunkenness
is conceded by the drunkard himself, but
whether this fact is sufficient to warrant a
peremptory destruction of the manufacture
and sale of intoxicants is quite another ques-
ton. The warfare against the traffic must
proceed upon legal, as we'll as moral grounds,
or it should not proceed at all. The fanati
cism that ignores the principle OF vested
rights in this matter is unfit to occupy the
leadership in this reform. Men who, in good
faith, and under the forms and sanction of
the law. have put their fortunes into the
business of converting grain into spirits, and
when families and dependents obtain their
support from this source, cannot
be robbed of their property. WINS
ky is as much entitled to the
benefit of the protection of the law under
which It is made and sold as any other arti-
Gle of commerce., and the capital invested in
it cannot be taken, even indirectly, by law
without just compensation. Hence, the
fanatic who is putting on the war paint for
the immediate destruction of the liquor
trade must also put money into his pocket
to pay for the property thus destroyed. But
it seems that the philosophy of this question
is being applied wrong end foremost. Shut
ting off the supply does not eradicate the
demand. 1t never did. But, on the other
hand, destroying the demand does eliminate
the supply. Is the head of the rum evil
with the drinkers or makers? If spirits
had no legitimate place in medicine science
m nn1Nn
unmixed evil, common consent
would place the ban OF prohibition upon it
and the measure would be enforced. But
the article has acquired a legal footing in
commerce OH account of the various legiti-
mate purposes for which it is used. On the
contrary, the abuse is an Unreasonable evil.
Cannot the bad be suppressed without de-
stroying the good? 1t can, but not speedily
nor injustly. The best judgment of the
times looks upon the problem as one to be
wrought out by education and patience in
training the rising generation. If the COM
ing man does not drink or crave drink there
will be no liquors for that purpose upon the
market and the question is settled The ex-
perience of the past, as well as the sound
logic of the present. both point to the re-
versal of the philosophy as applied now to
this question, and that all the palms. plans
and means be turned into the channel
that leads to the education of the rising gen
eraUlOn. a printed article IN the cOnStltu-
ton will not suffice in the absence of strong
crystalliZed public sentiment to back it, This
has been tried in several States end the re-
suit has been failure wherever popular
feeling failed to be and remain in active &C.
cord with such provision. The decalogue
prohibits stealing. But men continue to
steal. Shall the boys be educated against the
evil or shall all property capable of being
stolen be destroyed? There is but one an
swer to this and all similar questions. For
the present. at least, the liquor traffic should
be put under proper legal restraint, and be
compelled to bear its proper share
of the public burdens of civil gov
eminent, and this condition, supplemented
by united earnest, unceasing effort
to educate, train and discipline the rising
generation against the abominaton, and meet
out adequate punishment upon all offenders
of tine law, in due time the desired end
may be reached. But it will not be reached
by unjust or violent means. The trite COM
parison of the traffic to slavery is not we'll
taken. The slave was not in bondage from
choice. The opportunity to be free was not
constantly present. He was held against his
will, and freedom kept out of his reach.
Liquor drinking is voluntary matter, and,
if the drinker is a man of sense he is chief
ly to blame for all the harm that follows.
Hence the reason recurs again for the tenn
perance work to be directed to the drinker
and those liable to become so, instead of
against the liquor itself. Liquor would be
one of the best things in the world if men
would let it alone. B.
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 16.