The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-10-09

chloric acid since he voiced that senti-
ment, for his backbone" is all gone
now. Fire, floods, cyclones. drouth and
grasshoppers are blessings compared with
the mildew blight of prohibition, as seen
and felt in Kansas. II would have blot
ted out of existence almost any other
state in half the time il has been gnawing
al her vitals. Whenever a majority OF
the people are favorable to the law, IL
will then be enforced as other laws are.
and not till then. A Spartan lawgsver
said: NO law Is a whit stronger than
the public sentiment behind it," our
criminal and civil laws are enforced be-
cause of the almost unanimous support
and sanction of the people. II they were
opposed by the same ratio that oppose the
prohibitory law. they would be no better
enforced than 81 is. The strength and ef-
ficiency of any law are grounded in the
earnest, loyal support OF the people. Then
let US act sensible. and deal with matters
as we find them. and not as we would
have them, and after while, maybe, we
shall get things as we want them. But
prohibition Will never accomplish the de-
sideratum. Prohibition and temperance
are as unlike as two things can be. Tenn
peranee consists in the proper use OF
everything God has given us TO promote
our mutual happiness and usefulness.
abusing moth. OF all the states and ter
ritories comprising this great and glorious
country. Kansas and Maine are the only
two numskulls who seem not to know
when they have had enough. Other
states lost their mental balance for awhile
and tried prohibition. but soon discovered
it to be an impraeticabie vagary, IN
worthy a free people, and abandoned r..
The sooner Kansas does likewise. the
better for all concerned. Prohibition is
usurpation. tyranny and intolerance. II
is directed by the same spirit that In
augurated the Salem witchcraft' In 1645.
and caused money OF he best women in
Massachusetts TO be hung as witches
victims OF that fanaucal and most hellish
superstition that ever biackened the
pages of human history. And this perse-
cution and hanging OF women for being
merely 'suspectef of 'vftchcraft." was
Endorsed and championed by the then dis
tinguished doctors Of divinity. the Revs.
Cotton and Increase Mather. We have
the counterpart to this night here in Wich-
tia. The Cotton and Increase Mathers
here would not hang anyone for witch
craft, but they would find guilty" every
joint-keeper upon mere suspicion" and
denounce as perJurers all who do not
testify and render a verdict according 20
the prohibition standard II comes with
poor grace for men 10 accuse others OF
perjury who are themselves the bowling
champions OF the one and only law that
has caused the downfall and ruin. by per
jury ard drunkenness. OF more men than
all other evil influences combined.
I grant you the open saloon can be
closed. but that does not check drinking.
nor diminish drunkenness. 1t increases
both II simply plugs the spigo;. and
opens the bunghole. Close one saloon
governed by law and a Gozan irreSpOnsi-
bic joints take its place but hide away 81
cellars, garrets and outhouses. selling %
whoever VIII buy. Boys and giris-chii-
6ren-who could not get a drop 81 the
open saloon here get beastiy drunk
Give Us high license and local option.
and drunkenness and DISORDER VIII be re-
duced TO a minimum.
Prohibition has always been faiiure
ard always viii be. because lts base
principles are zntago1lstic 20 he spirit
and genius Of republican government