The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-08-09
TEMPERANCE AND PROHIBITION

1t is we'll enough TO remind the
o~verzcalous element of the prohibi-
tlonists that there is a vast difference
between temperance and prohibition
and a still wider separation between
temperance and constitutional prohi-
bltion. The mere fact that a goodly
number of church people endorse pro-
hibition, and constitutional prohibi-
bition also, in nowise lessons the
truth of this. All good people the
world over, without the churches as
we'll as within, endorse and uphold
temperance; it is morality and found
ed on the teachings of the bible. But
all good people, all church people, do
not believe in the modern proli bl-
ton and strange as it may seem to
some in this little community, only
on inconsiderable few believe in con
stitutional prohibition. This was
thoroughly exemplitied in the recent
elections on this question in Massa-
chusetts, Rhode Island, and Pennsyl-
%vania, where the defeat of the
desired constitutional amend
ment by such overwhelming
majorities was due more than any
thing else to the efforts of celebrated
| pulpit orators and eminent college pro.
fessors who stumped those states III
opposition to a measure so hostile 10
civil liberty and so repugnant to the
fundamental principles of our govern
ment. 1t was not uue in all cases
that these men of which we make
mentien were in favor of high H.
cense. On the contrary many OF
them were prohibitionists but not
constitutional prohibltionlsts. The
same was true OF rural towns and com
munities where the constitutions
amendment was expected to receive
its warmest support. Towns and vii.
lagos in whIcha saloon had not ex
listed for yearsand in which the people
were overwhelmingly opposed to thu
sale of Intoxicating liquors IS a bey
erage rolled up big majoritles againsr
Incorporating i'll the constitution
sump,uray legislation, The result o
these elections III those states has leo
Neil Dow, the noted prohibition ad
vocate to make the statement that tht
defeat Of the amendment was due t,
the churches.
Temperance is a moral question:
prohibition-especially constitutional
prohibitlon-is and must be a civl
question, and Notwithstanding its in
volvment in and suggestion by socia
conditions which display immoral as
poets it stands as a civil measure o,
the same level as the tariff law al,
as such is as much out of place in til
pulpit and in church work as any
thing well could be.
Recently there have been he'll,
in klmball what are called prohib
ton camp meetings, two of whic
took place on Sunday, and by man
people the day was pretty we'll d,
voted to the meetings. we woul
like to ask our prohibition friend
what they would think if sever;
speakers, travelling through til
country in the interests of anti cor
, stitutional prohibition should come t
lArmball, erect a tent, and devote til
} Sabbath to winning supporters
their cause? Or, suppose that SON
single tax advocates or tariff rctorl
speakers should come among us an,
use the Lords day in expoundin
their peculiar doctrines? Wouldn.
, our prohibition friends be inclined
believe that the devil had gotten pc
session of the whole country an
was swinging it around by the tail
just how 1t it is right in one case an
wrong in the other does not appe;
to ordinary folk and can only be e
planned on the hypothesis that the pr
h~ihitionists have gotten temperate
prohibition, religion, constitution
prohibition and politics sadly mike
We know what the average pr
: h%ibitlonist would answer to this
that the Sunday meetings were in ii
interests Of morality, the hon
against the saioon-which no n d
= fends-for Good, home and natl,
land' and all the rest, and as SUE
= was fit work for the Sabbath da
IS If so then the prohib:tionists are sa
ing under false c%olors; they are dod
e ing the issue, for the question Of IL
l. hour aud the only question before Il
people is: shall prohibitionb
incorporated in the constitution
: When they loose sight of this thu
are appealing to the sympathies al
passions of the people rather than
their sober aud better judgme
re They make take whichever horn
the dialema they choose.
NJ a~-------s4.--~s
H.