The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-04-26
CAN PROHIBITION BE MADE
GENERAL?

OcN CQk2A: q
IF So, There Is No Reason for Further
Delay In Enacting Prohibitory Laws =.
Can successful prohibition be enacted G
and enforced at all? If yes then there :
would seem no good reason why, in
time. it should not be made general;
and right here it may be said that un-
less made general there is very little use
of enacting legislation in that direction
at all. Prohibition, as prohibition,
means a great deal. 1t means first OF all
moral restraint upon the will OF
large class of our citizens who think
that the use of ardent spirits is not
altogether wrong and argue that when
used in moderation it is really beneficial
To this class prohibition seems to be an
infringement on their personal liberty,
and thew feel themselves called upon to
resist the aggression OF their rights IN
any manner which will best tend to the
overthrow of such law and although
they may not be in entire accord or
sympathy with the liquor dealers, yet
YOU will find them combining with
them for the purpose of defeating any
such proposed legislation, or, afterWard,
in rendering it either obnoxious or en-
tirelv null and void. Among this class
will be found very many respectable
people: and, strange as it may appear,
many protesting Christians and even
y goodly number of ministers OF the gos-
J, pel. Here is the first and really the
! greatest stumbling block in the path
of successful prohibition; and how can
. il be hoped that it can be made even
locally, let alone generally, successful
" until there has been decided and radl-
=, cal change OF ideas on this point
: They will even quote you scripture to
- uphold their views, their chief author
= ity being taken from the proverbs OF
- Solomon the Wise when he says: "Glve
strong drink to him that is ready &c
;. perish, and wine unto those that be OF
- - heavy heart" "Let him drink and forget
- his poverty, and remember his mlser!
of no more"
~ =, They argue from this, that it would Lit
10 orally be flying in the face OF PROVIDENCE
- to prohibit man by law from forget
~ ting his poverty and misery by loading
&C. himself with poor whiskey; forgettln
- at the same time that there is stron
III probability that strong drink ma
-, heen the ultimate and chief cause Q
~ the poverty and misery which he Ell
dures. and for which the proverb az
~ yises the pouring down of more Whlsk
~ in order to make him temporarily 10
~. get. And yet, on close investlgatlo
YOU will find these very people the hr
49, to kick about high taxes, and more
tno pecially that portion of the taxes whl(
,ts goes to support those who have attalne
,uo poverty and misery by the use OF stro1
-; drink. Oh, Consistency! Verify tho
of art jewel not to be found among Tn
,ro class of anti-prohibitionists.
.c,, But the question is, can prohlbltl'
low be made general? That is, can the la
.nd enacting power of the different natlo
.a enact laws that shall prohibit the Sc
mo, or even the manufacture OF lquo
md The reply to this, l fancy, is "1e
and Decidedly So" 1t surely comes witt
aay, the province of the law makers o
llou n',,. nation to enact such laws as shall
ppi- most beneficial to the majority OF tn
and people, and, if prohibitory law Il
I'll is shall do away with great if not
Ior' Iore greatest curse known to and lnfllc
NV: on the human race is not one thai
lent. beneficial to the great majority OF
'Wed people of the world, then there IS,
,atoj u iauo course. no use of such law. But,
lame the law makers, you must first SHOW
mon the necessity of such law, and furt
While that there is general demand FOL
=. ~ ~ enactment. Well, let us do it, let III
ough out into the highways and byways OF
vness and bring witnesses by the thousa
GER aye, by the hundreds OF thousands
= tI bos os whom we will fairly put the quest
idual Is prohibitory law needed to pro
own you and your friends and neigh
aoll- from the ravages of the rum trs
'oo. The answer will be YES, and God 81