Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-29
DIR. Bacon and Prohibition.

The Rev. Dr. Leonard W. Bacon, who
has been invited by the Independent
Presby terrain church of mis- city to occupy
its pulpit dlri he month o! November,
and who may become permanently con-
nected with that church, has an article
IN the Forum for November on "Prohibi-
ton. So-called." 1t is an interesting
article, and it furnishes food for thought
for both Prohibitionists and anti-Prohi.
bltiousts.
DIR. Bacon does not favor a prohibtorv
liquor law. He thinks that it IS prOduc-
tive OF more harm than good. He gives
some facts respecting its operation in
Maine, which leave the impression that
there has been more drunkenness in that
State since the law was enacted than be-
lore. The reason for this, so the doctors
article shows, is that the law has not
been and probably cannot be enforced.
Tne drinking is done at club rooms and
oyster saloons, and whisky is sold IN many
o her places on the sly.
The doctor refers to the agitation in favor
of prohibition that is now so widespread,
and says that zone OF the first steps to be
L
party is to expose the fallacy Involved in
the claptrap title OF their prohibitory
law obviously" he says, "as soon as
the illusive use of the word prohibitory
and the phrase, total extinction of the
traffic. get to be understood py the pub
lie, The Pharisaic pretensions OF the pro-
hibitory law to sole aud exclusive NOR.
atty fall to the ound''
DR.. Bacon says that he hopes that IN
the approaching discussion of the liquor
question sober-minded men will be con-
WINGED that the "pretensions set up by
the Prob btiOnlsts are without support in
reason or fact; that the name prohibition,
assumed for their law, Is a misnomer;
that their alleged object. the total eradi-
cation OF the liquor traffic,' is a false pre-
tense: that the claim of absolute aud ex-
elusive righi eousness for their form OF
law is fraudulent; and that their reports
OF the practical efficiency of their
law for good are so CARRIED
by suppression and fiction as to
be worse than worthless; that, In
short, their law, instead of being an
ideally excellent law, which would be
practically successful put for the fault OF
society, is an intrinsically vicious and
mischevous law, founded on false moral
conceptions, advocated with false pre-
lenses aud under false names, with sys-
tematic misstatement OF facts and princi-
pies. 1t will be well worth the cost OF gem
eral re-agitati0n OF the SUBJECT through
out the country to get this arrant legisla-
tive quackery cleared away, and the field
free for serious study and practically
useful and able legislation on one of the
most important subjects which can occu-
Ply the mind OF the citizen"
DR.. Bacon does not believe in temper.
ance laws which punish the accessory,
the liquor seller, and let the princl-
pal, the drunkard, go free. His way of
dealing with the liquor evil is apparently
TO restrict the sale Of Intoxicating liquor
by wise high license system and enact
stringent laws for the punishment of
drunkards.
AS the prohibition question is live one
in Georgia, and as it preselts some tea
lures here that it does not possess at the
North, he may find it interesting and IN
structlve to continue his study of it il he
arranges to make his home in this CITY.