The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-06-27
PROHIBITION VS.. HIGH TARIFF.

against prohibition in Pennsylvania
last week is an emphatic declaration
against compulsory total abstinence
enforced by the State, but it affords
no ground for the Encouragement of
the friends of temperance.
Attention has been drawn in the
discussions inaugurated by the pro-
hibition campaign to the real nature
of alcoholic drinks, their uses and
abuses. Good has been done by the
agitation if, as is most likely, the
people understand now better than
before that for most persons alcohol
ic stimulants are unnecessary that
for others their temperate use under
proper conditions may be beneficial,
and that their excessive use is under
all circumstances ruinous to the last
degree. Temperance, in the sense
of iudicious self-rc>traint, has no
doubt been greatly promoted by the
consideration the people of Penn
sylvania have been led by the cam
paign of the last thee months to
give to the liquor problem. So
much for the moral effect of the
campaign upon individual Pennsyl-
vania.
Upon the cause of prohibition
itself in the keystone State the de-
feat following as it does close upon
like defeats elsewhere, is likely to
have a discouraging effect. 1t is a
striking proof Of the extent of the
conviction now possessing the pub
lie mind that restraint and regulation
and not the suppression OF the traffic
in and use of alcoholic liquors is
after all the best State policy prom
ising practical results. High license
has been substituted for prohibition
in number Of cities where the
liquor evil was at its maximum,
and always with good effect. Phil
adelphia has system thigh license
and the unwillingness of large
portion of its best citizens TO sur
render its practical benefits for a
theory which cannot at present be
reduced to practice accounts, it is
believed, for the large majority it
gave against prohibition.
In Boston the same feeling pre-
vailed at the recent election 9 IL that bat
CT strong temperance sentiments
worked at the polls for high license
as against prohibition, taking the
ground that severe restriction, which
is feasible, IS to be preferred to Sc
verer means which experience has
shown to be impracticable.
High license proceeds upon the
principle that evils which cannot be
absolutely prevented are to be, AS
much as possible, mitigated.
From Utopia, of course, all evil
passions, tastes and traffics may be
perfectly excluded by perfect laws
enforced by perfect policemen, aided
by perfect judges and juries, but
less favored lands have to do the
best they can with Truman nature as
they find it.
If the saloons corrupt the young
the sale of liquor to minors should
continue to be absolutely prohibited.
If by reason of their number and
anxiety to sell the saIoon-keepers
are prone to lead the unwary into
habits of excessive drinking, some
thing can be done to improve the
situation by restricting license to
such persons as will pay large
price for them
1t is thus practicable to reduce
the number of saloons and improve
the average character of the men en-
gagged in the retail traffic, at the
same time adding very considerably
to the public revenue.
A person who has paid dearly for
a valuable privilege will be apt to
try to keep it by observing the law.
Being relieved in measure from
competition, he is able to conduct
his business proftably without re-
sorting to unworthy efforts to sell
his commodity. AT the same time
he is the more interested to prevent
others in the same business from
violating the law.
The net result of high license,
experience seems to show, is better
regulation of the liquor traffic and
diminution of its debasing effect up
on public and private morals. As
these are the objects practical refor-
mers have in view, high license is
constantly adding to the number OF
its supporters in all parts of the
Union.
An Important Element
a. r I