The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-01-25
PROHIBITION PICTURES

There are three States nominallY under
the sway of prohibition-Maine, Kansas
and Iowa. In not one of these States does
prohibition prohibit. In all of them a
condition of things exists most deplorable
Speaking of Iowa, a correspondent of the
Chicago Herald says:
To-day, while man who is not hypo-
critic must suffer many hardships, there is
no decline in the popular consumption of
liquors, but there is added cost for prescrip-
tons, soda fountains, and generally Peck
sniffism. The entire German element is
moving out. Many liberal men fear to
settle in the State. Its crops are boycotted
by great manufacturing institutions, and
the entire commercial use of alcohol is
plagued with inquisition and opposition.
The Republican party is blamed not only
for the rage of hypocrisy, but also for the
blow delivered to property interests
through the restriction of owners and in
vestors. The revolution in Iowa is great.
The honest proponent of high license has
made a good fight, and will move out.
The Republicans have held the offices,
abolished the breweries and preserved
victory of the same kind would
carry them off the political field.
This is what Senator Palmer declares the
Michigan Republicans must come to before
they can 90 back to Washington and pro-
tect the old flag from JEFF Davis. There is
little doubt that the party legatees of Zach
Chandler are as anxious to hold office as he
was, but no enemy could wish them worse
fortune than to follow the tactics of the
weak-hearted leaders in Iowa.
The statement that in Iowa "there is no
decline in the popular consumption of
liquors" tells the whole story. The saloon
is gone, but the liquor remains. But in
some cities in Iowa the saloon remains.
The law is openly defed, openly violated,
degraded. 1t cannot be enforced. In such
localities anarchy exists. The law is dead.
There is no law What must be the infu-
ence Of such a state Of affairs? A dead
law-oficials impotent-the people edu-
Gated by events to disregard law-society
reduced to mob. The Heralds corre-
spondent says the Republican party Of Iowa
was ''never honestly in favor of total absti-
hence, and the Iowa politicians sold out to
a small band of irreconcilables who other
wise would have run party of their own.
Rather than lose their hold even tempo
rarily on the Offices the Republican lead
eIs closed the saloons and opened the drug
stores And as a consequence the politi-
clans have placed the State of Iowa in a
position which thousands multiplied, of
the citizens of the State earnestly deplore.
The Washington Sentinel refers to the
fact that Senator Palmer urges the total
abolition of the liquor traffic in the Dis
trict of Columbia. tNeither the Senator
nor those who act and agree with him."
says the Sentinel, take into account the
practical effects of such a measure, as wit
messed in Maine, Kansas and other States
that have adopted the EXTREMIST laws on
the subject. They know very well that
all violent legislation, even when honestly
intended for reformatory objects, defeats
itself by reaction and harms seriously in
stead OF helping the purpose to which it is
directed. Drunkenness and dissipation
have largely increased in the so-called
prohibition States, as direct results of
attempts to coerce the habits and tastes of
the people. Men and youths OF temperate
lives, and even women, too, have been driven
to intoxicating drink by the course of the
intolerant crusaders, who would take moth
ing less than the pound Of flesh of their in
tended victims. They have broken up the
family life in thousands of homes, hitherto
happy and contented. by demanding sub
lection to the EXTREMIST fansticism. In
Kansas and in other States where these
crusaders have waged a war of prescription
against the most moderate habits of lem.
persnce people, thei reckless policy ha;
been followed by ruinous consequences
They have closed the saloon, it is true
but they have substituted forlit gen.
eral bar-room at the family 6reside, and
made drunkards of husbands, wives, faith
ers, daughters, and sons, who never before
had tasted Intoxicating drinks. Like othel
forms of oppression, this tyranny ha.
driven resistance into crime, has dethroHeC
the safeguards of society, and opened TIT
door to downfall for the rising generation.
Such statements are well calculated to ar
rest the attention of prudent citizens. L
prohibition nowhere prohibits, If, while
doing away (N with the saloon, 1t degrade
law, multiplies law-breakers and intro
duces drinking in the family, fills commu
mites with spies and inforners, dethrone
confidence and exalts suspicion, sharpen
the faDgs of bigotry and spreads the ours
of fanaticism, the conclusion will be event
ually that violent legislation lie neither
preventive nor a curative, and is not Il
be classed with any remedial agencies fol
the prevention of drunkenness or the evil
which flow from it. 1t will be well b
make note of the progress of prohibition il
States where violent legislation has sway
since it can't be long before facts will b
sufficient for common.sense citizens to rem
der an honest verdict.
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TWO NEROS.