The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-27
Tho Methodists and Prohibition.

The Methodists and Prohibition.
1t was TO be expected that the Methodist
| General Conference, now in session in New
York, would clearly define the position on
! the temperance question of the great re-
| ligiouS denomination which it represents.
| The resolution which was adopted by the
! conference, and which was published in our
| dispatches yesterday, places the Northern
Methodist church on the side of govern
mental prohibition. The resolution declares
that "a complete legal prohibition of the
rattle in intoxicating drinks is the duty of
civil governments"
The prohibition issue is steadily growing
in Importance. There is no doubt that there
are more Prohibitionists in every State
in the Union now than there were year
ago, and it is safe to predict that there
will be more year hence than now. The
strength of the prohibition sentiment is not
shown by the prohibition vote cast in po-
iitical elections, because comparatively few
Prohibitionists desert their respective parties
to vote the prohibition ticket. As the pro-
hibition sentiment becomes stronger, how
ever, as it surely will, and the pressure
which can be exercised through this senti-
ment is brought to bear in behalf of prohi-
bition candidates, the Prohibition party
will show strength that will BE- surprising
AS long as the church took stand on the
temperance issue, it is a question whether
it should not have given the issue a more
careful consideration. No doubt its .pur-
pose was to throw the influence of the
church in favor of prohibiting the sale Of
intoxicants, but would it not have been
wise to have inquired whether more good
could not be accomplished by means of
! local option than by general prohibitory
law!
The temperance question is too important
a one to have been disposed of by hastily
adopted resolution. The Methodist church
is a great power, and whatever its general
conference does has an immense influence
with its adherents. If it had favored local
option, that method of securing prohibition
would have been greatly strengthened 1t
decided in favor of general prohibitory laws,
however, and it may be expected that the
Prohibition party, in localities where the
Northern Methodist church is influential,
| will be greatly encouraged.
The MORNING NEWS has always con-
tended, and still contends, that general pro-
hibitory laws are mistake, because they
cannot be generally enforced What bene-
fit are laws which are openly and continu-
| ally violated9 The Prohibitlonists contend.
of course, that prohibitory laws can be en-
forced. Why, then, do they not explain
why they are not enforced in Maine! The
| MORNING NEWS, few days ago, published
the result of the investigation which the
editor of the Wheeling wv. Va) In
made Of the workings of the
prohibition laws of Maine. They went to that
State ardent Prohibitionists. A prohibition
amendment to the constitution of West
Virginia is pending, and they have been
favoring it, They hoped to get facts in
Maine which would aid them in pres enting
their side of the question. They were
greatly disappointed. La one town they
found forty saloons where whisky was sold
| they saw nine saloons on one street and
| thirty places where intoxicants were sold
| by special license. In other towns they
discovered the same condition of affairs
They are not now as anxious for general
prohibitory law in their State as they were
What has been the effect of local option
in this State! Why, more than two-thirds
of the counties have voted out whisky, and
there genuine prohibition is seen. The rea-
son is that prohibition under the local OPP
ton method is supported by public senti-
ment, and laws which are in harmony with
public sentiment are, as a rule, enforced.
The General Conference would have rem
| dered the temperance cause immense assist
ance if it had advised the adoption of the
local option method to check the sale of in
toxicants.