The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1883-02-15
JUDGE TaAOHER ON PRORlsyrION.

On the first page Of this issue we print. In
full. the speech OF Judge Scion o. Thatcher,
made iu the Kansas state Senate two weeks
since. In support OF the prohibitory amend
ment and law. and in reply to the speech OF
Col A. S. Everest made in support OF bis
resolution to re-submit the question to the
people. Probably the speeches are both as
good as could be made on either side We
feel no besitarcy in saying that our readers
will find the speech Of Judge Thacher more
sound and less Eighty. more logical and less
fanutical, than an, thing ever delivered b,
ST. John t. tie people in behm' Of the meas
ure and policy which have proved such po-
Iitical upbeaval. Our readers can rest as
sured that Judge Thatcher has made the most
of his side, and. from an oratorical stand
point, utterly demolished many Of the strong
est positions Of his opponent. Judge Thach-
er 10 no crank or fanatic. but a leading law
yer Of the State, OF wide experience. who
bss mixed with the men of the world and
therefore liberia! in bic views and concu-
eions. We hope Judge Thacher's speech
may be carefully read by all those who are
seeking true solution OF the vexed ques-
ton.
We have often thought that the temperance
question is the coming question Of the age q
question which in its discussion will be COLI
fined TO no cline or nationality, but we are
inclined TO view the matter from the stand
point or platform of Chicago's great orator
and temperance advocate, Emory A. Storrs.
Very extraordinary interest is manifest, but
it must be dealt with by practical and COM
nonsense methods. Sentimental Legislation
will fail 80 long rs public opinion is not over
whelmingly for such legislation. Mere ma
jorities will not do. To tax the TRAFFIC out Of
existence would meet with ready support,
where Quixotic sentimentality or arbitrary
legal punishment would beget opposition.
The temperance reform Ii abroad, especial |
ly in England. No other part OF the world
suffers SO much from intemperance as the
British Isles. Pauperism has attained such
enormous proportions in Great Britain that
the statesmen and philanthropists are frignt
ened. They no longer sneer at the temper
.pce movement a. the wild yagary OF fanat-
ics. The statistics show that not less than 20
per cent Of the paupers and imbeciies OF tns'
kingdom, who are supported at the pu"hc
expense, owe their misfortunes to intemper
suce. The conviction that alcohol Is the es'
peciai bane Of Great Britain rests upon SLOW.
" accumulated and absolutely invuineraoie
facts. The number of unfortunafes whS
crowd the warehouses;, hospitals, and as!-
lums Of that country is over 100000, IRON
which 4, appears that not less than iso'Wo
graduates from saloons are constant bur
den to society and 10 themselves. The great
orator INDUCED in no exaggeration when ne
exclaimed: think Of business when
takes lbO, 600 men and women from comforts
Bile and decent homes, drives them Wild win
Insanity. driveling in idiocy. or helpless IN
rags Of pauperism" The British govern
ueut derives an annual revenue Of eioo.ooo'-
BOO from the liquor traffic. but even then the
Extra expenses which that trafdc entails upon
n. government IL only partially met. L.