People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-09-25
Rev. w. A. Gambler on Prohibit
ing the Liquor Traffic.
TBY REQUEST.

man. No proof can enforce this
truth more strongly than the bare
statement of it. If it be not self
evident, moral philosophy is impoa-
sible, and we cannot tell right from
wrong.
The axiom of ethics implies an
axiom in state craft, which is like
unto it: No government has the
right to authorize one citizen to
make profit out Of the temptability
of another. To do so is iniquitous
in principle and injurious in policy.
Tested by these principles, a Ii
censed saloon is a shame in morals
and scandal in politics. The most
specious defense of its existence can
barely palliate the crime. Honest
argument overwhelms it with con-
demna!ion.
Ali this most of the people of
Georgia steadfastly believe. Hence
the existence of prohibition which
now covers nearly all of our terri
tory and blesses nearly all our PEG
pie. Special acts, local option and
the three-mile law, have made nearly
all Georgia dry. Here and there are
wet spots, found for the most part
only within the city walls.
But the wet spots do incalculable
mischief. In them are the cages
where open-eyed tigers bear the bind
cubs which wander into dry districts
seeking what they may devour aud
devouring what they seek. These
dens must be broken up before we
can enjoy the full security and peace
which prohibition is SO we'll calou-
lated to afford.
1t is manifest that the cities in
which these dens are located will
not break them up. They serve too
we'll the ends of ward politicians.
It is the statement of a simple fact
to affirm that the saloon so domi-
mates the elections in those counties
in which our cities are located that
prohibition can never be perma-
nently had therein unless DELIVER
ANCE COMES FROM BEYOND THEIR
LIMITS. This is painfully established
by the attitude of the city members
of the Legislature towards all mea-
sures of remoral reform. With a
very few honorable exceptions (who
become fewer every succeeding ses'
stony they can be relied on to oppose
every bill which looks to the sup
preston OF the liquor traffic and its
allied iniquities of gambling and pro-
stitution. "The ass knoweth his
masters crib"
Good men and helpless women
and children, in the cities, are in sub
lection, to the saloon. They cry out
to their brethren on the outside of
the city walls to rescue them, and
their cries should be needed. 1t is q
selfish and very sinful thing for us to
sit down in our quiet retreats, where
prohibitory laws shield and shelter
ue, and leave those captives to their
unhappy fate. If we indulge this
selfshness we will eventually lose
the prohibition which we ourselves
enjoy. The cities are growing. Our
children are rushing into them.
There our grand children will be born
and brought up. Foreigners are also
pouring into them. If we do not
very soon extend the benign rule of
prohibition over these cities they
will corrupt our families and dishonor
our homes. Moreover they will con-
spire to take our rural prohibition
from us. City masses being more
compact, move with greater swift
neps and power than do tae scattered
voters in the country.
1t is within reason to say that the
Prohibitionists in Georgia are now
abundantly able to secure the passage
of prohibitory law for the entire
State, and that eoery gear they delay
to do so they become less able to &C
conqpJiSh 1t. Ten yearsfr0na aoao,J
tie matter as Delayed so long, the
adoption of such law will be next
to impossible-perhaps absolutely so.
1t ought to be done, and can be done
in this year of grace, 1895.
When the Legislature reassembles
next October it will find, we'll ad-
vanced on the calender, a carefully