The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-07-26
PROHIBITION NOT A PRINCIPLE BUT
METHOD.

Between prohibition as a sentiment
and prohibition as an organized political
force, avowing its purpose to destroy
the Republican party, and thereby con-
stituting itself an ally of the Democracy,
we have always been at some pains to
discriminate. The difficulty was many
men who have been led into the third
party movement is that they regard
prohibition as the end, instead of a
means. On reflection, they must see
that the end to be sought is the relief of
society from the curse and burden of the
liquor traffic. This being conceded, the
question then occurs, what are the best
means for accomplishing this end This
is question which demands calm and
sincere consideration, and must be set
tied in the light of experience. One man
thinks that prohibition is the best means,
another thinks that high license will ac-
complish better results, third empha
sizes local option. All three desire the
same thing, but they differ as to methods.
Which Is the more rational course for
them, to fight among themselves, or by
the best means which may be at the
moment available to make a united
fight against the common enemy? 1t is
not clear that nothing could serve the
interests of the saloons more effectively
than to have their natural antagonists
divided and mutually hostile?
The Third Party platforms declare
all forms of restriction and regulation
of the liquor traffic to be wicked. There
Ia restrictive law. in Pennsylvania
which has closed nearly five-sixths of
the saloons in Philadelphia. People have
said that such law could not be en-
forced one Philadelphia saloon keeper
who thought so, and tried the expert.
ment of violating it the other day, ran
against sentence of $1,000 fine and
fifteen months imprisonment. That is
the kind of law the Brooks high license
law is. Do the Third Party prohibition
lists suppose that they can make genuine
temperance people believe that a law
which closes five saloons out of every
six and sends violators of its provisions
70 Jail for fifteen monts is wicked
law 2
We believe that tie local option
system, which materializes the necessary
public sentiment before no-license takes
effect, coupled with high license for the
communities where the traffic il tolerat
Gu, IL DttltT, duu wen ClOse ulOTe bhlOOIlb
and keep them closed longer than a
general prohIbitOry enactment. We do
not claim monopoly OF all the wisdom
on this point. Perhaps we are mista ken
in our opinion, but If so it is an honest
mistake, and does not justify chasing
those who hold this view among the
foes of temperance. Our appeal is to
sensible temperance men everywhere,
whether they have ever acted with the
Third Party or not, to give over wrangl.
ing about methods and unite heartily in
supporting the Republican party in it's
legislation against the evils of the liquor
traffic. The principle involved, the end
in view, is not prohibition, but anti,
saloonIsm. High license, local option,
prohibition, ETC., are means to this end,
and there must be liberty of action in
selecting the means which, under differ.
ent circumstances and in different
States, are adapted to secure this end.