The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-10-13
PRACTICAL PROHIBITION.

In view of the agitation Of the
liquor question in Virginia the Farm
vile Herald proposes that as all othe.
remedies have failed personal prohi-
bition'' be tried. THAT is,'' our con
temporary explains. t.let all the people
who favor temperance legislation stop
buying and stop drinking intoxicants
Of every kind"
Z hat reminds us that several wears
ago In one of the Virginia cities when
the question Of local prohibition was
being agitated and a petition was being
circulated for a local option election
the editor of one Of the daily papers.
who was a temperance man. but np-
posed to prohibition, suggested that all
who signed the petition for local OPP
t,ion election should also sign another
paper pledging themselves that in the
event of prohibition for thar city they
would not send away from home and
buy liquor, and that they would them
selves drink no liquor 50 long as the
law was in operation. The editor pro-
posed to head the list Of those signing
such a pledge, and The leader Of the
prohibition movement accepted the
challenge. he boosted that practically
every man who would sign his petition
for a local option election would sign
the pledge suggested. But when he
went out on his canvass he was aston
lshed to lind THAT he was wofully mis-
taken in his calculations. There were
ON Of
to sign the call for d local option elec-
ton. but rhere We're very few who
We're willing to pledge themselves not
to buy or drink liquor while the law
was in operation. The result was that
the prohibilonists themselves Were
disguised, and the agitation soon ceased
to agitate.
This incident is useful as serving tc
show, first Of ALL that prohibition does
not prohibit There can be no such
thing in this country as complete pro-
hibrion Of the liquor traffic, and if
liquor is TO be sold at all it should be
sold under the regulations and restric.
lions OF the law and under police pro.
lection. In considering this question
the fact must not be overlooked that
the license system is regulative and
restrictive, not to say 10 a certain de-
gree prohibittve. There ifs nc traffic
chat is SO hedGed about by restrictions
and regulations as the liquor traffic.
The incident also shows that the sup.
preston Of the liquor traffic is entirely
IN the hands Of the people without any
law whatever. Men are not compelled
to buy liquor because liquor is offered
for sale, and il men did not buy liquor
there would certainly be no liouol
shops in the community. Moral re
forms are to be accomplished by indi.
/ yidual effort, by individual action, and
not by law. The only remedy for the
liquor evil is to create a healthy senti-
meut against improper Indulgence in
intoxicating drinks There are unnlis
taxable signs on every hand that the
temperance sentiment is growing. This
does not necessarily mean that there
are more total abstainers than ever
before. but 1t does mean that there are
fewer mem who drink liquor to excess.
Drunkenness is not tolerated, either in
business circles or in social circles, MS
was once the case Indeed, it is scarce,
III tolerated at all. The man who lis
d in the habit OF getting drunk, even ne.
riodically will find It very hard To oh.
49, 1cfatiye emeaoyment and the