Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-09-23
PROHIBITION.

Ii the recent howlings OF Republicans
in Maine and Chicago mean anything,
they mean that the Republican party
will make Prohibition the leading issue
in the coming canvass for President, and
to that end they will devote all the means
at their command, and plume themselves
on their super-extra quality of godliness
and sanctity. As has always been the
case, that party will appeal to false sem
timent of holiness rather than consult
the interests OF the people at large, and
for the applause and support expected
from the goodv-goody portion OF the
cial interests of the whole people, or they
think they will, which to them is the fact
accomplished. The DEMOCRAT believes,
in common with hundreds OF journals of
both political parties, that prohibition, as
it is intended to work by the Republican
political bosses, is or would be uncon-
stitutional, and thousands Of the ablest
legal minds in the country have so de-
cided. 1t is upon this one grand objection
to its enactment that Democrats gener-
ally oppose it, and even the high-priest
of the Republican party sees that while
it may be made question of the SOW
ereignty of law within Il State, it cannot
be enacted us federal law and
be sustained by the United States
courts. Believing that eventually these
things will all occur and be overruled
by law, the DEMOCRAT is content
to let the matter so upon its merits before
the whole people, but as there are several
localities at this day, where the law is
enforced just as much as it ever could
be under United States authority, it is
well for tbs business men of the country,
regardless OF political afiiliation, to con-
slider the question from u purely business
point, as presented in these places, and
leave the sentiment for the political
mountebanks who deal with the impulses
OF the people only to rob them of their
dearest rights, and having gained power,
leave those who placed them there to
gnaw the bone of discomfort at their
will The story OF Prohibition in Maine
is old and stinks in the public
nostrils, but in Atlanta, Georgia,
the center of commerce and enlightment
of the regenerated South, the people have
voted for prohibition, and the following
from one of the leading citizens and bus
mess men tells the story OF its effect
truthfully and graphically. The writer
of the following was advising his son who
is in Texas and the matter appears in the
Galveston NelCS:
"The newspapers are correct when they
say that Atlanta has been greatly damaged
by prohibition. Except on two or three
streets, which are the dry goods streets and
wholesale streets, the business, should say,
is off 40 per cent, and property worth less
in about the same ratio. Our population
has diminished, some say 10000, will say
at least 5000. These are mechanics and Ia
borers mostly. OF course merchants whose
business has been stopped have also gone |
elsewhere. Hundreds of thousands of CAP |
ital has been transferred to other places and |
vast deal of property made vacant. | |
should say that rent is off 20 to 40 per cent. |
There seems to be no energy in the city, and |
all the efforts of the Prohibitionists to raise
They tried to recapture the State
fair; the Georgia Midland Railroad
terminus; they have tried to build a rail
road from Atlanta to the Savannah river,
and one from Atlanta to Hawkinsville. !
They swear Atlanta is not hurt, and try to
bulldoze the anti-Pros. to swear it, too.
They have now organized u very extensive
manufacturers association, with everything
in running order except the money. In fact,
in every instance where an effort has been
u o,,1 fha n;t
there has been complete failure"
"Want of confidence is one reason. Old
friends are estranged from each other, as l
assure you that Republicans and Democrats
were never SO wide apart as the fanatics and
conservatives are. You may never have
thought of it, but it is the truth, neverthe-
less-a man orazed on the subject of religion
is the craZiest man on earth. To-day we
have all the evils of intemperance, with no
notifications since prohibition went into
effect. We have as usual drunkenness, de-
bauchery assault of all degrees, murders
occasionally, and any and all evils that in
fest a large and ropulous city. Prohibition
has not changed Atlanta one iota in any OF
these particulars
"Prohibitionists deny these things and
thousand men of Atlanta, l suppose, would
go on the stand and there make denial; bat
have written the truth, all the same."
This is but repetition of the story in
Maine and is coming to be the story OF
Rhode Island. All previous experience
proves that such law cannot be lived
up to without running the business OF any
city where it is enforced, and that its en-
forcement creates ten hpyocrites and
breakers of the law where it causes one
man to stop the use of liquor. Ofcourse
it is good thing for the Democratic
party of the nation, that their opponents
have taken such stand on Prohibition,
as it will assuredly lead to their ultimate
defeat, but it is nevertheless pertinent
to the interests OF the people that the
facts in the case should be duly made
known. The success OF Prohibition
would be the success of Capitalization of
power on the part OF certain classes OF the
people against the masses OF the people,
and being foreign to Republican form
OF government, would lead to war of
said masses against the encroachments
of the classes, the end whereof is startling
to think Of.
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