The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-02-02
HIGH LICENSE VS.. PROHIBI-
TON.

ed States Senator, there Is probably
no question that will come before the
Legislature which will
excite rs much debate, more variety
Of opinions or more general dissatis-
faction in Its results than the ques.
tion of prohibitory amendment 10
our constitution.
With the sweeping denunciation Of
the Pond law In Ohio. the defeat of
the prohibition candidate In Kansas
by a Democrat who recommends leg.
islative action looking to the rescind.
ing Of the amendment in that State.
and the declaration of the Supreme
Court on the Iowa prOhibitOry law
recently passed, rendering 1t null and
void, the situation would not seem to
guarantee any considerable encour-
agement to the temperance people Of
Minnesota particularly rs regards
the proposed constitutional amend.
ment asking the absolute abolition of
the liquor traffic both in manufacture
and sale.
TO look at the question of regulat.
ing or abolishing the liquor traffic In
Minnesota in an unbiased manner
would ut this time seem the better
part of valor, and to survey the ques.
ton in it's different phases and bear
ings for the present good of the peO-
pie Is certainly much more to be de.
sired than to run against obstacles
that will tend to disintegration and
the final destruction of the good that
has been accomplished through agi-
tation or that may he brought about
by cool and dispationste action.
The State of Minnesota is young.
and like all new OF comparatively
new States has large floating or I'M
stable population and AN unusually
large proportion Of foreigners Of vari.
Gus neutrality-suspicious. Ger.
man and scandinavian. No one
will quest ion hut what these people
are an Industrious and thrifty class,
loyal to a fault and honorable
in all their business relations.
But like u great many Americans,
these people do not, as II class he.
lieve in being deprived of the privil.
eye Of taking glass of beer when
they want 1t. and to convince them
that absolute prohibition Is preferable
to existing laws. is going to be 10
easy task, and certainly one that
cannot he accomplished in a rush. In
order to successfully cope with the
liquor traffic. public sentiment must
take the advance, else the cause of
temperance will inevitably provoke a
reaction that will make matters worse
and farther from solution.
The great question simply resolves
itself into show to suppress the evils
OF intemperance. and what is the
surest way of its accomplishment g.
Mr.. John G. Whittier, in 4 recent ar
ticle to the Christian Union, briefly
reviews the subject, and declares
that recent events have convinced
him that q great work Of moral sus
sion and personal example must bt
done before law can be made avail
able. On the general question HI
says: 1.-THE popular mind must b,
educated up to a higher level, TIT
precepts OF Christian morality mus
find a more general acceptance il
practice, and a nobler manhood ant
womanhood developed which shall
hold sensual appetite under the sterl
control Of reason, conscience. ant
duty. In this manner only can the wa.
be prepared for efficient legislation.
~ despair OF seeing any direct as
sistance from political parties to tn
cause Of temperance, but the grea
majority of the individuals cOmpos
ing these parties have moral sens
which may be awakened into actor
10y the prccept and example Of tn
self-sacrificing men and women VIII
have so nobly devoted themselves t
the work. Knowing how much ha
been accomplished already, l canno
doubt of ultimate complete success
Sixty years ago no voice was raise'
against the sale and free use Of in
toxicating liquors. All classes dranl
without apparent scruple. A larg
per cent. OF New England farms wer
mortgaged to rum selling groceries
Now. as a rule, our farmers are strict
ly temperate. and there is a publi
sentiment everywhere which make
Iiquor-selling and drinking disrepu
table. There il then no cause OF dis
fragment on the contrary, tn
friends of temperance have abundan
reason to thank God and take cour
age"
There ale plainly and indisputably
hundreds Of so.called temperance
people in this State who are against
absolute prohibition, and it woult
certainly be to the advantage Of tn,
cause il the friends Of temperance
should find a common ground of sym
pathy and effort. II, as seems too
apparent, they cannot agree on pr0hi
bitiOn, it would be far wiser 10 join
hands in favor Of restriction--higl
license being one of the principal fac
tors to that end. II, us Dr.. Porter
of Grace church, New York, says, in
speaking upon this question "meI
with different methods. but com
mon purpose, will consent TO believe
in the honesty and earnestness Of
each others motives, we shall have
made u gain. the influence of which
upon the future Of the temperance
cause cannot be calculated"
1t is more probable that the presen,
legislature will pass u high license
law than that 1t will submit the pro
posed amendment. and with the very
patent probability that the latter
would be defeated at the polls. tenn
neranca neonle will certainly have