Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-04-04
[ROHIBITlON OR
LOCAL OPTION?
oIsHOP'S AND TWO LEADING
Newspapers OPINIONS.
Rev. A. c. A. Hall. Bishop OF the Vermont
Episcopal Diocese, Speaks OF the "Foily and
Mischief" of Prohibition Repiy OF Burlington
Free Press -Rejoinder OF st. Adams Messenger.
"A Notable Symposium.
,,.,y. Of the Bishop of Vermont
harrington Free Press.l


,,...s Of the Bishop of Vermont.
harrington Free Press.l
rditor of the Free Press:
.ro GOOD enough to ask my opin-
M present prohibitory law
particular that ] would specify
y li5aratlons which led me In my
to Vr Clement TO speak Of its
snd mischief" Briefly my
8ds are these
iI Trnsrience has shown me that
i.w does not prohibit. | myself
bo9 10 deal with repeated cases
,rtenuess. some Of them habitual,
Isra8 and 10 a certain extent |
y orovoked or aggravated by the
~ law Election day in Bur
IN when. II ever, the initiated
aypect the law to be enforced)
hrs ocular demonstration OF the
fy OF the law.
Prohibition drives underground
4 ulsebief which il seeks TO cure,
Inc h more difficult to deal with
ayf and impossible TO regulate
ra5a as for instance in the quality
De liquor sold.
The present law leads. ! believe,
ANY cases to heavier drinking, in
and az home, liquor being pur-
se5 In larger quantities than would
NJ case If fl were possible 70 pur-
Il ~ "a restaurant a glass of wine
81 ear
Especially perhaps among the
prohibition prOyokes resistance.
a1 drinks. not only waters, seem
& f1ssess an added sweetness.
course il all use of what may be
yIeants. save for medicinal pur.
we're in itself wrong. these two
81 alterations g and a would be OF
b weight
81 Few persons. suppose. with
Il knowledge Of its actual working
a deny that the law as 1t exists is
81 nerted with a vast amount OF
5 oTsy on the part Of buyers. sell
s. and officials.
iay not this hypocrisy. being a
n per and a more widespreading evil
s. greater mischief than the intern
r anCa which IL is sought TO check
Prohibition by many of its earn
advocates Is connected with the
ion that an use (saye for medicinal
#ipOses Of drink. that in excess may
j intoxicating. Is wrong. The use OF
b drink Is in itself no more wrong
the use OF tobacco In either
B il is the misuse which we have
b guard against Doubtless with many
<rons total abstinence (from wine or
n tobacco may be safest and best
4 attempt to enforce this on all per
4 Is TO manufacture an artificial sin
me risk of leading many persons
mink lightly OF what is absolutely
Eng for instance. drunkenness), be
e they have come TO recognize that
ie is no real sin in what they had
taught to regard as equally
ked.
This suggests what seems to me
OF the most serious objections 10
prohibition law II tends 10 break
. The sense Of obligation in the
OF all law. human or divine,
ne some one says. rs a law which
aot enforced, to which no moral
SAuon belongs (beyond the fact
y IS a law). which is commonly
s4rded' why should not other
pc disregarded likewise (the 9th
|ncel 2?
once more; our existing prohi.
Oiy law ! consider foolish and mis-.
-sAousi because it is largely an at.
Apt on the part OF one set of people
! country folk to legislate for an
~ SCI OF people Tin our larger vii.
NJ ana eities) They enact law
All' whether wise or unwise i'm
. ay districts. cannot be enforced
yne larger places.
" VIII understand, Sir. | feel sure.
-.eler you agree with me or not,
u Is IN the interests of temper
Is Of righteousness in general
4 /. urge these considerations in re-
70 ~ your challenge. | recognize to
.lli the evils of intemperance. and
lslt and duty of the community
s'aIu SO TAR as may be its citizens
" what is a menace TO the com
~ as well as to the individual.
N gladly welcome any well-consid-
scheme for avoiding the evils at
ls the practically unrestricted
Of LIQUOR which may be seen in
/. neighboring states. But | can
q MINK that the practical experience
',eIllaont, New Hampshire. or Maine
~. n lave, teyor Of a state prohibition law
-talully yours.
ARTHUR G. A. HALL.
pr-r- Bishop of Vermont.
'''ug'on, March IS. 1901.