Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-01-14
Prohibition.

This Is a subject which claims the
thought Of statesmen and philosophers,
and IL should not he disposed OF hastily.
Temperance is virtue which should
be observed by all good citizens. IL
makes them better, elevatcs the morals,
and. like religion, itshould be thecom-
mon property Of all. No political
party can appropriate this virtue to IT,
self, and when II attempts to do so the
beginning Of IFS downfall Is an
bounced The thoughtful and earn
est temperance worker, the man
who recognizes the fact that
IL takes time TO work out great
reforms and that power and coercion
have n disastrous effect, Is tho true
temperance reformer. He who teaches
by example, aud persuades by argu-
ment, can effect much more than all
the combined forces Of the state and
the police of the lard in bringing
about successful temperance reform.
The principles of individual liberty
have taken deep root In the minds Of
the people, and All effort to eradicate
them only makes them cling to 1t
more tenaciously. An effort to curtail
that liberty, either politically, so
cially, morally, physically or finan-
cially, meets with an opposition
which il demoralizing in its effects
and disastrous to the peace and equa-
nimity OF the community in which 1t
exists An attempt by any authority
To dictate 10 them the course they shall
pursue in their daily walks Of life in
ours discomfort aud strife, malice and
anger, disobedience and turmOils, war
and destruction. The moral effect of
prohibition, as shown by the statistics,
is UNNECESSARILY worse than drunken
ness and debauchery turned loose and
running riot Prohibition has been a
failure wherever II has been in force.
II diverts immigration and dcadens
enterprise. 1t strangles energy
and encourages idlcness. II breeds
obstinacy and grows disobedience. 1t
fans the flames Of vengeance and
kindles the fires Of disturbance. IL
kills trade and eneryates labor. 1t
stamps out ambition and paralyzes
competition. Ii reduces thriving,
prosperous and energetic country to a
lileless, creeping and stupid desert.
Where the sale of liquor il prohibited
publicly it Is struggled in by clubs and
dispensed freely without price and
without money. 1t induces moderate
| drinkers 10 become periodical drunk
ards. IL causes IL To be taken in excess
I've quantities and consequently brings
about that state of reoklcssness which
goes band In hand with theft, robbery
! and murder. 1t does all these and
many other things which are II direct
obstacle 10 the success of genuine tenn
pennce reform, and IL nothing hui
the ingenious device Of people who's,
only ambition is to magnify their owI
| Importance instead Of taking Tia,
proper and manly course for the sup
preston OF intemperance.
Prohibition produces other danger
Gus results. 1t causes disrepect fol
all legal obligations. II degrades the
magnitude Of all tribunals and de
thrones justice. People have no re
| sroet for n law which deprives then
of their individual and personal llbcr
! ties. II Is thrust ut freedom aud ,
shot at repuhlleanism. Ii smacks o
! despotism and smiles at imperialism
Temperance reform is needed. Ii /,
wanted by all countries and all gooc
| people, hut IL can not be obtained
Mt the expense of the liberty
justice and freedom given to every
man under the declaration of indie
pendeuce Let no man be deluded
with the idea that reform In temper
ance can be brought about by force and
coercion. Let all who really desire
reform, put their shoulders to the great
wheel and by intelligent argument
and practicable teachings bring II
about without the evils which must
necessarily follow prohibition. Loca
option has been found to work well
and none of the attendant unsatlstac'
tory results of prohibition ever
accompany Il, An example OF the
banetnl and disastrous results OF pro.
hibitlon Is seen in Kansas. A few
yearH ago immigration flowed into IL
boundaries from all quarters of tn,
globe. Prosperity and enterprise WA.
the result, and cities sprang up In d
night They ilourished and grew un
der the Influx of trade. and acquired
wealth and solldity under the tide Of
immigration, Now that unhappy
state begs for the help OF nh VIII,
pass through It's boundaries, aud
looks with sorrow upon the loaded
trains ef people who are daily leaving
It. Read the following paragraph in
Governor GIlcK's message TO the leg
islature to ascertain the cause:
The policy OF prohibition may be prartle,,
Die ana honchcial IN some localities wherein
the conditions conducting 10 sucreSs are I.v.
erRhle and sustained lay large prepon.
uerauce OF popular scntiment hui Ia
others, wherein the public sentiment h tnin.
ilas 10 The policy and q strong public sentl
hent anu intervst opposes u, nolwlshSiand.
~ adoption as part of the constitutions thc
laws creating the policy and those enacted To
eniprre Y NIL IN disrepnte and contempt. Ia