The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1885-09-26

| humanity VIII HeS}tate 10 prescribe I0f
a langulshing army of patients those
remedies Casually in quarts) which
alone can give the desired relief.
Having now sufficiently touched on
the actual working of the laws of pro-
hibition, let us briefly examine the as
sertions and the arguments of those
opposed to them.
Wine merchants and brewers are loud
in their complaints of the injustice done
to them by Il system which, although
intended to prohibit the use of all liq-
uors, become q discriminating medium
in favor of spirits against wines and
malt liquors, which on account of their
bulk, cannot be 50 easily struggled into
State. y large brewry firm in the
| North write, at remains for well
meaning and thoughtful people to con-
slider whether it is wisdom. In view
Of the wide difference in alcoholic
strength, a difference represented at the
greatest by 60 aud 20 per cent to exclude
| the less harmful beer and ale, and to
indirectly encourage the stronger pro-
ducts of the still"
The opinion is now freely expressed
that in falling to exempt wines and
| malt liquors, prohibitionists have not
proved themselves true friends of the
| temperance cause.
AS stated by the able author of ere
forms and their diiliculties," past ex-
pcrience has shown that whore the
higher alcoholic beverages are in vogue
there is little drunkncss, but where dis
titled liquors have the preference
urunkncss prevails.
The hackneycd theory, that an enor-
nous percentage of the crimes commit
ted is due to intempcrance, falls to the
ground when closely inquired into. 1t
is a fact that criminals arc not habitu-
ally addicted to the abuse of stimutanls
that they do not keep the company of
drunkards, knowing that success in
their calling depends greatly on the
clearncss of their heads. Tho Hon,
Richard NauN of Philadelphia, for
forty years Inspector of the Eastern
State Penitcntiary, Gen. Mott, late
keeper Of the New Jersey State prison
at Trenton, DR.. Arnold of Baltimore,
and Warden John G. Salter of the
State Pcnitentiary at Chester, Illinois,
arc quoted in "Reforms and their diff
culties" us cmphaticily ofthis opinion.
Now in America strong drinks are in
demand throughout, especially in tho
South, where distilled liquors are exten.
Sively prOduccdnnu where until recent
ly, wine and beer have been made in
very small quantities only. If the GUS
| tom of drinking these latter in prefer
cnce to ardent spirits were encouraged,
it is claimed that their hygienic SUPERB
GRITTY would manifest itself in a sensible
decrease in the amount of drunkenness
The most powerful argument against
| prohibition, however, is based on its
! arbitrary nature.
1t is an understandable interference
with the liberties Of the peoplc-s!a pol
| itical movement back ward, toward the
absoiutism from which the most enlight-
ered nations have escaped" The JUS
ticc of the policy is questioned, because
it iniiicts deprivation on those who re-
tain self control. How natural that men
should rebel when others seek to control
them in what they shall eat or drink,
as they would if dictated to as to whom
they should marry! "EXccpting in the
case of poisonous substances, it is no
part of the duty ola government to say
to its people, you shall not spend your
money in this or in that.'
Since the day when our Savior him
the wedding feast at Cana of Galilec,
exercised Ills divine power and turned
water into vine, reasonable inuulg-
cncc in stimIlauts has ever tended to
iuviSoratc and to gladden. the heart of
man. How many arc there to whom a
mild stimulant is as Indispensable as
their daily bread And what can be
said in favor of u law which rushlCssly
assai!s the tastes and requirements of
the majority, on tho plea that a small
section Of the minority are unable to re-
tain from the abuSn OF intoXicauts +?
Surely persistent advocacy of such
coercivc principles is nigh akin to IA
naticism.
Heartily c0ncurring With the I.ouisi-
ana prohibitionists in dcptoring the
amount of drunkenness and In wlrssncss
that exists in the State, we beg to rc-
mind them that, to be valuable, absti-
hence must be a sign of moral improve
ment, that compulsory abstinence
would not have the desired effect. Men
would seek indcmniiications, rcsOrting
to other narcotics more injurious than
alcohol, and to vices even worse than
drinking, We respectfully urge tho
gentlemen to cease from fitting at wind.
mills, and to direct their energies
against the simple and radical source