The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-02-02
ANrI-PRoHIp1TIoN.
Won. Rapsher's Analysis of the Question
In Its Legal Status.
lFrom tho Philadelphia Record. !

Momt ANHnAMef'b A0hAyhhh VI NAt XNNaLoh
IN Its Legal Status.
fFrom the Philadelphia Record.l
Ills generally admitted that the human
rvce would be better off, that the future of
humanity would be elevated into a higher
moral and intellectual realm If drunken
ness, or even so-called moderate drinking,
we're utter " abolished. But when the strong
arm Of the law 10 invoked to force this de-
slrable result the practical questions come
up: Can intemperance be abolished by stat
uteP Will Prohibition prohibitS and, more
than all else, Is 1t safe public policy to do
SOP II the answers to these questions be
doubtful, then the moralist and statesman
should hesitate, call q halt and consider
upsn the wide field of natural rights and
personal liberty" Natures Eminent Do.
main "--before total prohibitory law is en-
acted. II 10 two-edged sword. But re-
striction and regulation of the liquor traffic
We must have, for the same reason that We
have many other laws to regulate human
conduct 1t 10 exceedingly difficult to get
even the ablest Of men, who have once be-
como infatuated with the Prohibition doc
trine, TO discuss the subject with any thing
like judicial calmness. An examination of
the recent discussion in the August num-
Der Of the North american Reuieig strik-
ingly discloses this feature of the leading
Prohibition arguments. DR.. Funk tells the
readers Of the North american Reuie,0 that
1.-THE strongest argument for Prohibition :"
Is, that with the masses that which the
Law permits ls right, and that which the
Law forblds is wrong "-ergO, II drinking is
prohibited b. Law the masses will come to
believe drinking morally wrong.
DEFYISo THE LAW.
But think moment The law prohibits
smuggling, yet people not only refuse to
consider smuggling immoral, but actually
justify false swearing because smuggling
can't be carried on without it. Scarce a
day passes that hundreds of otherwise hon.
eat and reputable men and women-many
Of than active and sincere Christians-do
not solemnly call on God to witness false
hood. and excuse the deed on the ground
Of "mers legal formality." The law for
bids the employment Of young children in
factories, and parents unhesitatingly lie
about their children's ages. So far from
Its being true that men regard as immoral
that which the law forblds, the converse is
the rule, and men unhesitatingly defy ol
svads laws which forbid actions not In
themselves immoral.
The sympathy Of civilization is with the
Irish members of Parliament imprisoned
for addressing prohibited meetings; yet in
tho eye of the law the imprisoned member;
are - criminal as any other misdemeanants
UNTENABLE STATEMENTS.
Rev. Charles F. Deems makes an untena
bic series OF statements. 1T is, 10 say tn,
least" he says, Every doubtful whether
the mon who now make a living by the
liquor traffic could get work in mines ant
arts, II they wanted TO-" There are thous
ands Of idle men, not liquor dealers, no.
LIQUOR makers, nor liquor drinkers, who are
looking for work In mines and factories
and productive arts and can't find It. Sen
ator Blair informs us that "science ha
proved alcohol 10 be poison as undisputa
bly, 40 strychnine," which, II 1t were true
would be queer argument for Prohibition
since strychnine, In moderate doses, is on
Of the safest and most commonly used o
,enics. General Dow asserts that "Prohi
hilton has failed nowhere that 1t has beel
adopted" yet admits In q succeeding par
araph that "the liquor trafiic, so far a
its interests are concerned, controls abso
lutslv the legislation OF the nation and o
she States and clties; so we find 1t difficul
everywhere. and In Maine impossible, TO
the moment, TO obtain such legislation a
ws require for the determination of tn
fraction Of the liquor traffic yet remaining
President Bsscom urges us to dry up tn
streams Of intoxicatiOn that flow into ou
eities and appetite will no more create bee
and whisky than thirst furnishes water O
than hunger supplies food" an argumen
which, to say the least, is as strong again:
the efficacy Of Prohibition as for IL. Ho1
@. p. Stewart, calmly assuming as prop
osition which, as he says, none will den
''whess mlads are not clouded by persons
participation In the evil" that the MANI
fActurs and sale Of alcoholic beverages i
any form is q moral erlme-which is shet
baEging Of the question-goes on TO argu
that 70 license or to regulate the liquS
srafiie weuld be as absurd as the licensin
Or regulation Of petit larceny"
THE DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
But President Seelye argues the questio
In spirit OF fairness, and his stronge
point consists In his endorsement Of NJ
Gladstone's dictum, that II Is the duty
Goyernment 10 make It As hard as posslb
for man 10 60 wrong, and as cas-, as po
sibls for him 10 90 right" II is, howeye
sn easy matter TO assent TO Mr.. Gladstone
proposition without agreeing with Pres
dent Seelye's conclusion. Throughout the
attractive essays there runs this untenab
Argument and reassuring assumption th
certain things must be true because Il
writers firmly believe them 10 make 4
PIghteousness, and therefore raise a poli
cal Issue which, In their opinion, all go'
citizens are In duty bound TO espouse.
deed, these articles have a strong tenden
70 make one feel that hia moral and
mental soundness IL suspected bV the fu
hsdEsd PrOhibitIOnist II be presumes to or
ieiss thess illogical positions.
MORE FALsE REAsoSINo.
The complete Prohibition doctrine Is tn
mankind should be forbidden BY Law
manufacture alcohol, 10 bus IL, to sell It.
use Il, 10 touch It, Whyf Because, brie
expressed, some people abuse their pri'
lsges and natural nghts, and because
tends 70 lead them into temptation and Sc
Of trouble. II this be a sound reason
Prohibition. 10 Be enforced bv lag, then