The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1885-12-11
Temperance.
The Prohibition Movement.


The movement to outlaw the trade
in alcoholic liquors as a common bevel-
age, shows one Of those spontaneous
developments, which mark the history
of all the great political and moral ques.
tons which have come down through
the centuries. There are frequent luis
in the agitation which accompanies
them, when superficial minds proclaim
that they have died out, they were on
ly the disordered dreams of fanatics
But again they break out and surprise
the Projectors Of their demise with
degree of strength quite unexpected.
The fact is that self-evioent truthes,
when the public mind becomes famil-
lar with them, grow silently and ap-
parently without cultivation or coaxing.
Any advanced principle in government,
or morals, which tends to the better
ment Of the human family, when once
fairly understood by the mass of the
people, and they have begun to admit
it as truth, grows with an irresistible
force.
The principle of prohibition of the
traffic in spirituous liquors, is proving
to be one of those great truths ofpolit-
ical economy and morals, which grow,
in the conviction of men, from it's very
necessity to their personal prosperity
and comfort. The sober truth has pen
etrated the minds of the most common
thinkers, that the traffic in spurious
liquors as beverage is great tax on,
and hinderance to, every other branch
of useful industry ; and that the use
of alcoholic liquors is fraught with the
greatest injury to public health. To
cure or check these evils resulting from
strong drink, has occupied the thoughts
of the better class of citizens for more
than generation, and step by step the
public mind has been brought to the
conclusion, that alcoholic liquor drinking
and selling must be classed among COM
mon crimes, and it's vendors made lab e
to criminal punishment, as offenders
against the state. The spread of this
conviction has been very rapid within
the past few years, and the most effect
i've means to stop the evil has been
found to begin the work at the citizens
own door. Hence what is termed SEQ
cal option" has become the most pop
ular class of prohibitory laws. This
species of prohibitory enactments is
spreading over the country in all d.
rections with encouraging rapidly
Two thirds of the counties and towns of
Georgia are now under prohibitory law;
and the cause is spreading over
South Carolina and other
states South of US. In the
West and North.W est the principle is
moving forward, with resistless power.
Abolition of the whiskey traffic at home
soon prepares people for step toward
state and National prohibition.
In the face of these facts our legisla-
tors will not dare to attempt repeal of
the Local Option laws of the chunties,
and adopt in their stead the delusion
of "high license whose dark shadow
lies across every home in the state
No. Let our people bestir themselves
at once land prepare amendments to
our present Local Option law
and place them before the
legislature early in its session.
There is no time to lose. Let the min
listers in the protracted meetings, from
their pulpits call the people to arms,
against this deadliest of all foes to their