Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-08
pRoH1B1r1oN1srs RAMPANT.


 pans of the movement that the outlook is favorable for their hobby. It is declared by them that the fight will be continued and that the country will yet realize that only by the entire prohibition of the man. ufacture and sale of liquors can drinking be stopped and temperance be established With people who are so blinded by fanati- cism, and who refuse to accept the con- tinued lessons os experience. it is almost useless to argue. The resultsin New Hampshire, Massachus- etts, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island were quite in line with what we'll informed men expected, though few we believe hoped to see the judgment so emphatic. It would be natural to suppose that a political party which had met such Q series of disasters would be routed as a political force, but there arc indications that active measures are already on foot for pushing the cam paign in Connecticut next October. No body can believe, however strenuously the prohibitionists.' may labor, that the yer dict of the hard headed men of this old commonwealth will be other than that which has been pronounced on the ques- ton in the states that have already de- clared themselves. Yet the prohibition ists are exceptionally we'll situated for a vigorous campaign in our state. They have a we'll established organ and there are not wanting signs that DOT ton of the daily press will work for the amendment Then there is a portion of both the great parties that in campaign where nothing else is at stake will feel in- clined to join hands with the prohibition ists There are clergymen, too, of various denominations and women who look only at the sentimental part of the question who will array themselves on the side of prohibition, and these will make strong addition to those who have been enlisted for years in the cause. All these various and variegated forces, if we'll handled and carefully marshalled, cannot fail to make a campaign that will be interesting at least if not exciting. It is hardly probable that the great array of minds, among them some of the leading spirits of the ministry and press and the liberal professions, that are opposed to prohibition as impracti- cable will be seriously disturbed by any thought that the enthusiasts who urge it are destined to aught but ignominious failure, yet they are likely to find enough to engage their attention and effort before the verdict is registered at the polls. Men o{n,, after such experiences as those of the pres ent year are certainly to be reckoned with in any campaign where arguments and votes count.
 1 Experience has shown that prohibition cannot be made to prohibit, at least in the present temper of the American people. So long as men will drink just so long will they find the means for satisfying their appetites If it were possible to prevent entirely the manufacture of intoxicating beverages in this country and in addition to prevent entirely the import of them from other countries where they are and will be made, it might be possible to pre- vent entirely their consumption among our people. But we submit that such absolute prohibition of manufacture and importation is entirely and absolutely impossible. So long as we have nature's yield of fruits that contain within thenl the germs of intoxicating spirits, so long as grapes and apples and corn and grain flourish on American soil, so long will liquor be manufactured and so long will liquor be drunk. It is not by preventing the manufacture and sale of liquor that uni
 versal temperance can be established and promoted among our people. It is by education as to the evils of drink, by in- abstinence, by the example of personal abstemiousness and the medication o1 habits of personal restraint that temper ancs can best be promoted. Nc other method has been successful since the beginning of the world, and we have no suspicion that the prohibitionists o1 |. our day or those to como immediately after , us will inaugurate a new and successful
 system. Nor do we believe that men who
 oppose prohibition as an economic prin - i SAPAo SoAA Oo Sho1SCO WILL DcluK lcSS lQ( friends of temperance for their opposition As between prohibition and anti -prohibi tion the most successful medium lies be , tween, and the clergymen, editors ant other educated men who range themselve , against prohibition have found it. Thei moderation in discussion and temperanc in language are, too, unless we greatl,
 mistake the character of the America, l people, more effective to the propagatio, , of sound ideas on tho subject than tn
 violence of statement and intolerance O , judgment that characterize the advocate of extreme sumptuary laws.
 eI As we look forward to the prohibition
 campaign in Connecticut we can see onl , defeat for the advocates of temperance b constitutional enactment. Even if th