Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-12-31
shnlIIt he Prnh,hIt,on2
FORT WORTH, TEN, d,

FORT WORTH, TEN, Dec. y, 1885,
To the Editor OF the Gazette
1t seems to me that the only question
now before the people in reference to the
liquor traffic is, shall an amendment to
the constitution be submitted oy the leg
islature to be voted on by the people to
thus determine whether or not the legis-
lature shall have the power to pass laws
prohibiting the sale of liquor2 Yet there
is disposition, even now, 10 discuss the
merits OF the question and THE GAZETTE
has taken stand 10 favor Of high license,
thus tacitly admitting that there is
strong probability Of the question being
submitted Without taking any partisan
view OF the subject as yet, will ask some
ques ions and make some suggestions
that may be OF interest to your readers.
There IL no question but that the excess
sive use OF intoXicants Is a great moral
evil, wherein the absolute right to drink
what one pleases should be, at least. so
far surrendered by law as to protect the
rights of others against the baneful infu-
ence of drunkenness. Law Is operative
morality, ethics and religion theoretical
morality. The one enforces by civil
power the moral creed of the people, as
embodied in law; the other pleads for it's
tenets, and thus drunkenness has been
pleaded with. Shall it be prohibited by
law, so far as can be by the prohibition Of
the sale Of liquor? Your great objection
to prohibition seems to be that it does
not prohibit, and that it's sale goes on IN
secret just the same. by moonshining and
smuggling, and that thus the state looses
vast revenue. In support of this posi-
ton, you cite other states who have tried
by ~ m nj q &c
aud have, as you say, practically failed.
Well, let us admit that these states
have failed in the perfect operation OF
their prohibition laws, and let us, also,
admit that public opinion must favor
such laws before they can be successfully
enforced. Admitting these two propost.
tions, have we still an argument In favor
of prohibition III Texas sufficiently strong
to authorize the people to vote for IL?
AS to the last question, OF public opinion,
that would be settled by vote of the
| people, or we will premise that q large
majority OF the people would be in favor
Of prohibition II it would prohibit, aud
thus the question is narrowed
down to this viii it prohibit?
And is the failure of prohibition in other
states any evidence that it will fail here?
/ am inclined to believe that the reason
of the failure OF prohibition in other
states, II 1t has failed, lies in the fact that
the friends OF the cause, to great extent,
ceased their efforts when they had con-
ferred upon the legislatures the constitu-
tional power to regulate ths sale OF
liquor, and that the legislatures in fur
therance OF that power, have, perhaps, in
| tentlonally framed leaky statute,
| thus practically defeating the will
OF the people. Do you not believe that
II the amendment can be carried and the
friends OF temperance will push the mat
ter In the selection OF legislators, that
law can De passed sufficiently strong to
he absolutely successful in its operation?
OF course Ii the amendment should be
carried and the legislature be made up OF
| opponents to the measure, they would
fad some way to defeat 1t. | simply
state this as probable reason for the
failure OF prohibition In other states.
But II we are to have "high licensen
| why not couple with 1t q statute making
it q misdemeanor for any man to give
away intoxicating drinks or to ask anoth.
er TO drink with him by word, nod or
sign, in public or in private, so that then
the saloons would De under heavy
license, subject to heavy penalties, and
those who drank would do so deliberately
and upon their Individual response.
oillty, the excitement and conviviality at
tendant upon treating would be done
away with? This, with a strict law pro-
tecting minors, might be better as trial
than absolute prohibitory laws, though
am inclined to doubt / and as any
custom that interieres with the moral and
social order OF the commonwealth is a AZ
subject for amendment to the original
constitution and agreement | am In
favor OF submitting the matter to the
people. GRAps1