The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1901-02-16
TOTAL ABSTINENCE
Not Essential to Morality and a
Mistake as Regards Policy
Nigh License q Wise Re-
StrictiOn.

Baltimore, Feb. o.-An interview with
Cardinal Gibbons on Mrs. Nations crusade
in Kansas and his position on the temperance
question will appear Tomorrow in the Balti-
mors Sunday Herald. Cardinal Gibbons,
like Cardinal Manning, has always been
warmly and actively interested in practical
matters bound up with the broad question
of public morality. 1t will, therefore, sur
prise none to learn that he has been paying
close attention of late to the Developments
of Mrs. Nations anti-liquor crusade. In
an authorized interview to-day the cardinal
gave expression, with great earnestness, to
the views which he holds regarding total
abstinence in general and Mrs. Nations
| movement.
81 have never been able to convince my
SELF - said the cardinal, s'that what we call
| total abstinence is essential to morality.
The moderate and occasional use of alcoho-
lie liquors is not to be condemned. In coun-
tries like France and Italy, where the peo-
pie as a rule drink wine, no serious harm
| results from the practice. Even in Rome
even at the Vatican-wine is not prohibited,
| and, as we know, the papal doctors them
| s.lves prescribe it for his Holiness.
Then, again, long since came to un-
derstand that. putting aside the poin, of
principle, it was virtually impossible to en-
force total abstinence law in a large COM
| munty or in State. Look at Maine, as
| an instance, and YOU will see how true this
is. The attempt to enforce such law
must consequently lead to one of the worst
| things-illegality hypocrisy; possibly to
both.
-s.rurninp to Kansas and speaking as a
Catholic and an American, am free to con-
| fess the disturbances which have occurred
| tn ere since the institution of the present
| anti-liquor crusade have filled me with pain,
sorrow and establishment. Either total
| abstinence laws of Kansas are wise, just and
necessary, they are not. If they are ne
cessary and wise and just, they should be
rigidly enforced by the legislative authori-
| ties. If on the other hand, they none
of these things, they should be legally and
regularly repealed.
"Nothing, in any case, can, in my opin-
| ion and belief, warrant justify Mrs.
Nation and her followers in taking the law
into their own hands, wrecking the property
of the saloon keepers and usurping functions
which should properly be reserved for the
| State.
| ssIou ask continued the cardinal, an
swerng a remark of his interviewer,
whether, in the words used by Louis Napo-
leon to excuse his usurpation. there may not
he moments when it is permissi BILE to sSortil
| de Ia legalite pour reEtrer dams lie droit ?
Go flout legality for the sake of right J
rha, is of course, only another way of sug-
costing that the end may justify the means.
I am not prepared, nor do wish, to sub
scribe to any such theory. AT the same
time, l admit that if, as result of Mr..
Nations deplorable violence, the illegalities
and evils now existing in Kansas should be
| cured, 1 shall rejoice.
''But meanwhile there is no blinking facts,
and :he chief fact is this-is that it is shame
full and regre:table to see Kansas, by which
mean the government OF Kansas, leaving
correction of public evils, if they be evils,
to possible well-meaning but assuredly-mi
taken hands of women.
''You ask me again. said the cardinal,
meeting another objection, show if the gov
eminent neglects its eviden; duty, the evils
can be r,ghted unless by violence and pro
tests like Mrs. Nations? The point you
raise natural and proper. My answer i.
that it should not be necessary in self-re-
specting community for women to have re-
Course to such violence. The State should
act promptly and thoroughly. I am strong
ly of the opinion that the wisest action i,
could take would be the repeal of the total
abstinence laws and the substitution OF
measures more surely calculated to help
morality.
what measures?' you may say. Well,
to begin with, the cost of liquor licenses
should he made exceedingly high. In
Maryland I have suggested that the price OF
license should be $1,000. Next, rigorous
care should be exercised to insure the is
suing of such licenses only to reputable and
decent citizens. Next, should counsel the
strict Limitation of the number OF saloons in
every district and the infection of a severe
fine for the first violation by saloon keepers
| of the conditions which the licenses are
granted. On the repetition of an offense
should suggest the absolute withdrawal Of
the offending saloon keepers license.
ST milar measures have been adopted with
good results in the State of Maryland
Why should they not prove equally effective
in Kansas?
ssDo not imagine that, because I deplore
and condemn the irregularities of Mrs.
Nation and her friends, cannot sympathize
with the motives that prompt them. I can
quite understand how painful and horrible
| II he for yuiveS and mothers fO er