The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1885-03-18
''Tramp Printer and Prohibition. .

tramp fflnlef ana EfOnlDluOns'
Under the above caption there is in the
News of week before last a rejoinder to
my recent article on prohibition in Iowa
and Nearer Home" It was, and is, very
far from my purpose to enter into any pro-
tracted discussion Of the matters involved
The general tone Of my friends response
is so highly commendable that regret to
be compelled to call adverse attention to
| even one of its statements.
He mistakes when he says that this is a
question simply as to his veracity or even
his sympathies. It largely involves his
judgment and possibly that NAV be safely
questioned. unhesitatingly admit that he
may honestly desire to see every distillery
and building "where they make the poison"
converted into Touring mills" Itisquite
probable that he may see or hear of many
violations of the prohibitory law, and read
much newsp per clamor for its repeal, but
all that falls long way short of proving
the law a failure. Indeed, it is incident
ally admitted that those accursed schools of
vice-the dram shops-whose graduates
cost the State such enormous sums, are
practically abolished, even at this early day
in the battle. He says: "What does the
closing of the saloons amount to if thepeo-
1 pie drink the same or n greater quantity of
the poison" He inuocenuy accepts the
statement of a prominent business man Of
Marshalltown that because drinkers pro-
cure the contrabaud article in quantities.
they drink it oftener," and jumps to the
conclusion that ''people"-that is, of course
all Iowa drink just as much as before
the law was enacted" Is that intended as
a sample Of convincing argument? Here
is another Our friend says that a young
man travelling in Iowa for six weeks on bust
ness has better Opportunities~to study this
question IN its C0ri0Us aspects than Rev.
Mr. Simmons with his thirty years in the
State as a minister" This is a rather re-
markable claim. Must we believe it to be
characteristic It's refreshing fraukness
makes one almost ready to say it is. Evil
IDENTIFY our young friend has not been favor
I ed with any very considerable insight into
the standpoint of a wide awake Presiding
Elder in the Methodist Episcopal Church
in Iowa. His slur on the intelligence Of
the ministry plainly shows that he knows
/. little of them-or worse And yet for these
reasons" % he asks the world to believe
that Prohibition is a failure in Iowa and
that he is warranted to toss the nimbla ''lie'
at any one who dares to question his say
So"
: Undoubtedly the cause of temperance is
? just now in an important crisis. It's friends
, should stand together and strengthen rather
, than weaken one another. The inheren
, rightness Of the principle assures its sue
cess. am very far from desiring to mi,
. the question with party politics But thD
d issue is already in politics, and is likely Il
e remain there for some time yet No ON
4 can diagnose the case without referring T.
its political affiliations. It should be un
d derstood very plainly that in Iowa, as il
, other States, the liquor minority of the Re
e publican party has been maliciously set o.
r heaping odium not only on political Proht
biuoniss but also on all who favor Proh
g bition. The defeat Of the Republican part
It last fall has been greedily seized on by thes
e gentlemen as a hopeful opportunity to wip
u out the cause that aims to blot out th
10 dram shops This minority, being largel
}, in possession Of the press, the officers, an
y the party machinery, have for sever
e months been making a prodigious noise
sr quite out Of proportion to either their nun
ID bers or their value as members Of societ
,y In the solemn inquest on, "who killed Co,
In Robin ?" which has so largely occupied Ii
De- press Of the country for four months, Il
lg sweetest solace known to the soul of Il
w liquor wing of the Republican party b
r- been to sing over and over again the /
,n frain II, said Prohibition, with my al
te muuition, 1 killed Cock Robin :" Imm
re diately we have some more stage thuudC
or with curses loud aud deep. This farce W
be deceive but few, especially when It is j
rn membered that the horrible tragedy Of Z