Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-02-01
The LOGIC OF PROHIBITION.


came across one of the best statements
of the motives that actuate the heart
of the Humanitarian to prohibition,
that we have ever seen. The author
of the statement is Rudyard Kipling,
the wellknown Englishman, and one
of the most celebrated writers of his
generation. While in one of the north.
eastern states, he one day saw two
young men get two young girls drunk
and lead them reeling down a dark
street. Previous to that time, Mr..
Kipling had not been total abstainer,
and we do not know that he is yet ;
but he is now Prohibitionist. Writing
of the scene referred to, he says:
"Then, recanting previous opinions, /
became Prohibitionist. Better it is
that man should 60 without his beer in
public places and content himself with
swearing at the narrow-mindedness OF the
majority; better it is to poison the inside
with very vile temperance drinks ana VI
buy lager furtively at back doors. than To
bring temptation to the lips OF young
fools such as the four had seen. un-
derstand now why the preachers rage
against drink. have said, There is nc
harm in it, taken moderately ; and yet
INV own demand for beer helped directly
to send these two girls ree.ing down the
dark street to-God alone knows what
end. If liquor is worth drinking, it is
worth taking a little trouble to come at
such trouble as a man will undergo 70
compass his own desires. 1t is not good
that we should let it lie before the eyes
of children, and have been a fool IN
writing to the contrary"
Here then is an explanation of the
"narrow minded bigotry" Of the
preachers of this country, and of 9TH
ers whose hearts are filled with love
for their fellowmen. The true Prohi'
bitionist is not going to waste his time
or his thoughts in interfering with
what might be claimed to be the per-
sonal rights of any individual who
sees fit to fill himself with intoxicating
liquors. The true Prohibitionist knows
full we'll that to absolutely prevent the
illegal sale of intoxicating liquors is
practically impossible. He knows
also, however, that even those who
claim as personal right, the privilege
of drinking their fill, are seldom so far
deprived of their judgment and bet
ter feelings as to be willing to see the
temptation placed in the way of their
children. He knows also that this
most terrible of all scourges-the
drink evil-needs but little encourage
ment to become more or less respecta-
BILE. He knows that, like the gamb'
ling evil, the drink evil can be restric-
ted best under the ban of the law.
There are some advantages" from the
free and unrestricted sale of liquor.
For one thing, it tends to rob the more
easily tempted of their judgment and
discretion, and although their earning
capacity is lessened, they spend more
freely and recklessly and are the more
ready victims of those who only look
upon their fellow men as geese whose
feathers may be had for the plucking.
But the Prohibitionist has little respect
for these advantages" He does not
want to be a party to a condition that
makes them possible, and this is one
reason why he is more or less intoler'
ant of those who would legalize the
sale of liquor.