Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-09-12

THE Rev. DIR. Thayer, pastor of the
Presbyterian church of Atlantic, crea-
ted a sensation of the evening of the
LIST inst, by pronOnncing in favor of the
repeal Of the prohibitory law of Iowa.
Rev. Thayer is known in western Iowa
as an able minister, lecturer, and a man
of good conscience, SO that he can have
no other motive than the promotion of
truth. For more than thirty years he
has labored to promote the cause of
temperance, and it is no doubt regretted
by his friends that he has taken the
side of the opposition at this stage of
the reform. lie alleges as cause for re-
peal that the law is not enforced, in
fact that it is flagrantly violated, and
in support of his statement cites local.
ties which Enthusiastically defy the law,
and instances where officers violate
their oath to enforce the laws of the
state.
Admitting that these conditions exist
an the degree the doctor claims, it would
be bad policy to repeal the laws we now
have. What has been accomplished in
the way of legislation has been at great
expense to the temperance elements of
the state. 1t has been persistent bat
tie through years of opposition in the
field of politics and in legislatures. The
best impulses and convictions of the
human heart have appealed to the peo-
pie to support men and measures favor
able to this reform, until the laws nee
essary to the support of temperance
sentiment were enacted. And now to
find one who has been instrumental in
promoting the cause of temperance cry
ing out for the repeal of prohibitory
law is almost enough to stamp him as
insincere or tickle.
Repeal at this time would open the
flood gates of free whisky and result in
the triumph of the worst elements that
ever cursed human society. Saloons
would alternate with business houses
flying their gilded signs in front OF
bronzed bars, daily and hourly temp
tation to the youth, from whom it must
be admitted the invitation is now al
most wholly removed. 4 wholesale
current of whisky and beer would dow
i'm every street, and the good doctor
with his thousands of friends of tenn
peranee would cry out for the laws thai
the good doctor and the saloonist'
would now repeal A stronger senti
ment would be created 10 favor of pro
Inhibition and the history of Temperance
legislation in Iowa would be repeated
The degree of enforcement through
out the state is not satisfactory to tn
majority that made the prohibition,
amendment possible, but with all tn
violations the internal revenue receipt
for the past year are wonderfully small
and as compared with other and neigh
boring states prove that prohibitio
prohibits to agreat extent. Whateve
of violation of law yet remains may b
punished if the means provided b
state authority are used. The evil n
manning may be annihilated by detel
mined action. Enforcement has bee
retarded somewhat by the fact thu
prosecuted violators choose to stand
the attitude of the personally persecp
ed and decry the motive of those brin
sng action against them as personal an
vengcful, but this is really phase u
worthy of consideration. Whatever
undertaken in the way of enforcemel
shonld be regarded as battle against
common enemy, and whatever of pc
sonality might be included should on
be treaded with the penalty for its la,
aessneSs.
The present duty Of all lovers of tel
perance is to enforce the laws we no
have, and the venerable doctor cou
have done much more good for b
cause he has advocated for thirty yea
by impressing that duty upon his hes
ers than by giving choice morsel wi
Its contingent of comfort and encou
agement to the enemy in pseaoIncil
u favor Of repeal.