St. Landry democrat., 1890-11-15
Does Prohibition Prohibit /? and if Not,
Why?

10 relation to such habits as rela1
solely to the exercise of individual vol
: ton the qualification of passions etc
involving no infringement of the righ,
G Ut others--we answer no, emphaticalI
, nn.
AS au illustration of what we NEAR
We direct attention to the law agains
carrying weapons concealed on, o]
to"ut ones person. No language ca
hc more pointed. 1t admits of no am
beuity. Its penalty is severe. TIL,
officers are sworn most solemnIy to en-
force IT, whenever infractions are show,
JndIcIally. We see it violated ever,
day IN the most unhlnsiling manner
Men openly bid d. tiauce to it. Bodie.
OF inquest sometimes point out a few OF
It's vlolators, but the masses of them are
never called upon to answer for THEN
crlminality. The law prohibits by IFS
letter, but is shown to be utterly power
less to prohibit in point of fact.
Again. The good people OF some of
the states passed laws prohibiting the
sale OF Intoxicating liquors and were
silly enough to think they would have
the desired effect. The attempt failed
40 far as the prohibition of drinking was
lntended to be accomplished.
Local option laws were next a0onted
and without going far from home to
tlnd an instance, We dare mention the
parish of Rapides 1t WAS adopted there
aud its efficacy was tested. The drink
ing went on without abatement among
the upper classes. The drug stores did
all the business which had been carried
"n in at the drinking saloons, except
The patronage of the colored element.
Apprehensiye that, by some betrayal
OF confidence, these emporiums of un-
compound prescriptions III ght be shut
down upon, officials and respectable
men in private life, avaiIed themselves
of the facilities they offered, and drank
Inelegant sufiiciencics of the prohibited
article.
We really believe that from the fact
that. the drinking had to he done clan
'lrStinely, it doue at all from home, the
confidential bihlers drank more than
they would had there been no law pro-
hlbltIng licensed salonns from retailing
IT. We seriously doubt if there be
single man, WHO will say he was prp-
vented from drinking whisky by tb.
law.
When the Louisiana State Lottery
was chartered, others were prohibited |
from selling tickets in Louisiana. Per
>ons, specidt detectives, were kept en-
p'"yed to arIest and bring to trial any |
and all persons violating the laws, and |
yet, at no time has it ever been strictly |
Dbeyed. Tickets of other lotteries can |
he bought in New Orleans without
trouble in plain disregard of the pro-
hibition law. Have prol,ibitive laws
-ver yet prevented gambling houses
rom carrying on their customary games
Now and then, We hear Of raid upon
hem by the Police, but q little oil
poured upon the troubled surface of the
waters pacltcs matters, and silence
eigns until more oil is called for.
Gambling goes on, and will 90 on,
avs to the contrary notwithstanding.
This defiance of law does not make
he vices virtues, it is true, but it dem
'Dstrates the idea we wish to convey.
which is that, laws of prohibition are
worse than useless, over the peopte
whenever they, are not in accord with
he spirit of the people.
Now We object to being understood
IS condemniDg laws denouncing vices
nd crimes. Those we have mentioned
and we might cite othera) are good
avs. We have no fault to find with
hem, but as the people do not and wiH
ot enforce them, we say they are use
ess. The remedy ia not to be found in
heir abolition, hut 10 creating, and cul-
ivatiug moral sentiment among the
eople for whom they are intended
Thich will exert itself in ritali.ing and
nJ0rcing them. Let us not complain
t the laws, for they never provoke a
ian to do wrong, or to commit
rime, bnt let us, by education, prepnre
he public officers, juries, witnesses and
he masses to give them a voice,
over, to punish and suppress the evils
ley are designed to suppress. The
ointment of the people must back up
he authority of the laws, OF they stand
aralyzed while crimes run riot over
s, in spite of them.