Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-01-24
Morrill, on Prohibition.

Seldom has the position Of Kansas
brainiest and most intelligent men OF
the question d prohibition been bet
ter stated than in the message o.
Governor Morrill,. II is the essence
Of the logic Of all laws boiled dowr
into pungent paragraphs. The en-
iorcement Of law is always dependen,
on humanity. As the statutes are
are the creation Of humanity-so is hui
manity charged with the carrying ouI
Of their provisions. A leading pastor
Of Abilene whose essentially Christian
sermon on temperance few evenings
ago attracted so much favorable com.
ment said TO the writer yesterday, 81
hope that every citizen will read what
Governor Morrill, has said in his mes
sage on the subject Of intemperance.
Every paper in the state ought togive
it n prominent place in large print.
As some Of our readers may not have
read it carefully we herewith reprint
the section in full
The blghtIng influence Of intemperance 10
still seen In our state There Is scarcely COM
munity that does not suffer from this cause,
end happy Is the family that Is not directly az
iscted By IT, Its approach Is 80 insidious that
IT. danger Ia scarcely realized until II Is too
Late W stay It's evil effects. How to cure or
even lessen the evil has commanded The
earnest thought Of every lover Of his race,
b. b. statesman or moralist Its demoralizng
effects are universally conceded, and can hard
" DO exaggerated. Much Of the poverty and
crime, the suffering and the sorrowing existing
to-day can be clearly traced 10 IL, evil innu-
ence Whatever tends 10 refine and elevate o
people--to give them purer and nobler aspira-
tions will surely tend 10 lessen this evil The
great work Of removing lntempsrance from our
land must be done through the churches
schools and other elevating helps Law Is
only help An assistant-and never should be
placed before moral influences II In fact can
only be enacted when moral forces have ere
ated u healthy public sentiment against lnIem-
perance, II Is valuable o. an aid TO help cre-
ute md maintain healthful pubic sentiment
but ought never to be substituted for It, The
great work Of advancing the cause Of temper
ance can only be done by thorough orgsniza-
ton ind active effort along tho lines OF cduca-
ton md moral suaslon, aided by laws fully
abreast OF the public sentiment.
IcAnno refrain from expressing my unquall-
fed commentator OF the action Of the Chi
olgo & Alton Ralroad Co. In requiring that
their cmploges shall abstain from the use Of
all intoxicating liquors. The public have .
rsh, TO demand thut the men under whose care
they place themselves when travelling shall be
sober men; and II is to be hoped that the rail-
ROM companies Of this state will soon follow
the WORTHY example set them by the Chicago 4
Alton mpany
In 1870 m amendment to the constitution was
adopted, prohibiting the manufacture and sale
Of Intoxicating liquors, except for medical,
scientific md mechanical purposes. In 1881,
lS5i and 1851 laws were passed providing for
The enforcement Of this provision OF the const-
tuition. Three legislatures have since been
elected, and no attempt has been made 10 re-
peal or essentially modify these laws. 1t 10,
therefore fair to assume that the people desire
this to be the settled policy Of the state upon
this subject, The only fair Interpretation 10
be placed upon their action Is, that the open
suoon shall not return to cur state, and that
they believe that the effect Of the prohibltory
law has been 10 lessen the evils Of lntemper-
ance.
That the law is but lmperfectly enforced, Is
conceded ny all Law Is but reflection Of
public sentiment. and the enforcement Of law
will depend upoa the action Of the people Ex-
perIencc mas fully demonstrated that the en-
Of any law, In opposition TO the pro-
nouncod sentiment OF the community cannot
be long successfully accomplished. Whenever
the people In any community demand the en-
Of law their voice will be heard.
Without the support OF public sentiment the
effort Of the officers TO enforce the law will not
be crowned with success. All laws ought
10 DO enforced for the open violation
Of any law Is demorali2lng to the
public conscience. II breeds q disregard for
law, which Is dangerous to amy community
In this country the law is supreme 1t Is the
governing power ind disregard OF the law is
u disregard If the government ltSolf, A con-
lnuuton OF the open violation VI any law can
only result In evil to the state The duty OF