The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-05
WHO RESP0NSlDLE?

~Where is the joint that supplies my
boy with liquorF' was the qnery Of an
irate father the other night as his boy
was dumped at the front steps beastly
drunk. "Here;" said the friendly pO~
liceman, who, out Of consideration for
his parents, had taken him home In
stead of locking him up in the city bas-
tile, as he drew from the young mans
pocket flask half filed with whisky.
That is just the point-an object les
son stronger, and more forcible than
we could write it. 1t is almost Ger
tain that IL liquor could have been had
by the drink without risk Of arrest,
this young man-if he had taken q
drink at alLwould have taken a single
one, and gone home In presentable
shape. But under the eyes of lot Of
1ynx-eyed spoilers, he chose to buy it
by the quart, and this Led to a drunken
spree. The advocates Of prohibition
may twist and comfort the question till
doomsday, but the execution Of their
foolish law brings just this result with
out any compromising good Liquor
will be sold by the quart under govern
ment license. or with no license, and
the man who tries to persuade himself
to the contrary, is either blind to plain
facts or too narrow in his prejudices
to inform himself. Any one can see
that this is being done every day in
Wichita It dates from the closing Of
the joints and those who supply the
stuff declare that the amount sold is
greater thap when it was done openly.
So much for prohibition. SO much for
the costs incurred in fruitlesS attempts
to do a thing which never can, nor
never will, be done. The people, as
whole, like an individual, cannot and
will not deceive themselves. 1t is
idle for the masses to say: I'VE have
certain evil tendencies which we can
not govern, therefore, we will enact
laws to restrain such tendencies,
knowing we will never succeed" 1t
Is unfortunate for the whole commun-
ity that few impracticalS persist In
leading of in such attempt at the cost
Of taxpayers, and to the utter demora-
lization Of business.
The incident related suggests another
thought, Parents raise up their boys,
perhaps, IN anience and idleness per
haps indulging their every caprice and
supplying every want, perhaps with
holding every kindly precept, and
showing IN Indifferent example. then
If they go astray. hunt up some gam
bier or liquor seller 10 take the re
sponsibility. With few exceptions
boys will follow the cyl! instincts CT
their nature. and II parents do nothing
toward restraining such inciinauonS
the result will be a blighted hfe.. and
the parents repent at leisure. The I'm
piled apology which comes OF such
shifting Of parental responsibility TO
the shoulders az evil associates Is both
weak and cowar%ily. The parent is nos
only the natural guardian Of his child,
but he Is morally responsible for HIS
training, and In a great measure Tor
his whole future conduct He bends
the twiG which IS 70 grow into tire
OF symmetrical strength and beauty,
or eumber the rocks, a Enaried and
twisted moral and physical deformity,
/, il seldom. II ever. that the liquor
dealer invadea the home OF 4 well Or
dcrcd family. Even the rinst harden
cd OF them would hardly take young
boy from good books and home IN
fuenees, Almost without exception,
there ara Incidents IN the lires Of these
. men which would proInp, them 10 warn
him Of the dangers OF a disso.utc lie.
bot same where between his own per
versity OF Will and the Indifference OF
parents Il where the boz Tails down
He i a fortunate young man "ho mss
the advantage OF proper training -
home,
Queen Victoria - q great tea crsskes.
and Is so particular about her 'ssoH,e
beverage that. when av<y from coh>. f1e