Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-11
PROHIBITION In MASSACHUSETTS
The Result of the Late Contest and the
Lesson Il Teaches.
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette. |

lCincinnati Commercial Gazette
Prohibition is a species of fanaticism. 1t
had its origin in New England Thence
the seeds were sown broadcast 1t had its
beginning in good motives. Nobody can
question the evils of intemperance. The
abuse of the use of intoxicating liquors
leads to troubles that can hardly be emu
merated 1t is not the sum of all evils,
but it contributes largely to the troubles
that afiiict society. But taking common
sense view of affairs, the methods chosen
to suppress intemperance- is to say,
the abuse of intoxicating liquors-are
open to criticism.
Prohibition, as we have said, originated
in New England. 1t had fair trial there
II proved failure 1t is a failure in Maine.
1t does not prohibit; but it does create
hypocrites. There is more drunkenness in
the leading cities of Maine than there is
in Paris In the former there is so-called
prohibition. In the latter there is strict
regulation. In Maine nobody is supposed
to sell liquors, but they do, and drunkards
are not punished. In Paris the sale of
liquors is regulated, and drunkenness is a
crime which is punished. This is the diff
ference in dealing with the question; and
behold the result.
In New England where pretty much
everything has been tried, and where pro-
hibition would succeed if anywhere, the
reaction against fanaticism, against the
idea that mems appetites can be regulated
by law, and in favor of common sense, not
in favor of intemperance, has set in, and it
is bound to sweep the country. Just at
81. a.. ,1Nl.t.n,l l. T.,
supposed themselves almost strong enough
to elect President, the reaction has set
in. New Hampshire spoke on the side OF
common sense, and on Monday Massachu-
sets, which has regulation and high
license, decided against prohibition by a
majority Of over 10000 This was an ex-
traordinary vote, and it will have wide
spread influence It's virtually the voice
of New England speaking from the full
blaze of the light of experience. 1t says
to the whole country prohibition is a fall
ure and the true solution of the question
lies in regulation and moral suasion.
One OF the significant features of the
Massachusetts, contest was in the failure to
unite the Church, or, in other words, the
religious people on the side of prohibition.
Many of the most eminent ministers took
the side of regulation as against prohib;-
ton This shows that church people are
coming to their senses. We do not mean
that they are coming to the side of intem-
perance, but to the side that is best calcu-
lated to promote temperance. No intelli-
gent observer, who is on the side of relig-
ion, and not carried away by wave of fa-
naticism, can have failed to discover that
the Church has lost influence tremend-
ously by departing from its gospel base
and plunging into political prohibition
agitation. The hour the minister puts
the gospel on the shelf and leaves his pull
pit for the political platform, and abandons
moral suasion for legal force, he curtails
the scope of his influence and virtually
bars cut Of the Church the mass Of the peo-
Pile who most need to be reached. This
accounts largely for comparatively empty
churches where there should be and ought
to he fall pews. Men can not be drawn in