The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-02-25
How We See It.

4 OI WHICH, attSI ISC1tluS LuaL ID
writer has read recent articles i
these columns on "T>he Saloon,
concludes by asking US to definite
ly explain THE TRIBuNE's position
on the liquor traffic question. w
have not heretofore thought that
was of any particular consequence
to anybody what our position
might be, nor had we though
there was any ambiguity about it
But, as it seems to be that somt
who would like to know have beer
unable to determine. we cheerfuIIy
undertake to make the matter quite
clear.
To our mind. the liquor traffic
question is very large one, involv.
ing vast property interests, exten.
sive industrial affairs, public finance
and individual liberty. For thous-
auds of years the manufacture and
sale of Intoxicating beverages have
been regarded as legitimate pur-
suits, and for centuries the traffic
has been encouraged by civilized
nations. Under those conditions it
has thrived until it has attained
prodigious and, we might say, re-.
spectacle proportions. Therefore,
we ought not to approach consider
alton of it as something outlawed
by statute or condemned by the
collective conscience of civilized So
ciety. However, the tendency to
immoderate indulgence in intoxi-
cauts is well recognized and the
evil effects thereof universally de-
plored. These considerations have
given rise to various plans and
movements to discourage the use
of intoxicating liquors and thus
restrict the traffic. Formerly tenn
perance people depended almost en-
tlrely on moral suasion to combat
the intemperance evil, but of late,
they have come to depend more
and more on legislation having in
view either regulation or abb
Isolute prohibition. At present, the
temperance question seems to have
assumed this form, Shall the manu-
tacture and sale of intoxicating
beverages be abolished by statute?
That is the practical question now
to be considered, ana which in
wolves vast interests and complex
problems.
The property belonging to those
engaged in the liquor traffic has
been legally and, we may say, hon
estly acqulred-legally, under per-
mlsslve statutes, honestly, under
social sanction. AnnihiIation of
the traffic amounts to exactly the
same thing as destruction of the
vast properties connected with it.
The question is as to the moral
right of society to destroy its own
legitimate offspring without COM
pensation, and if compensation is
to be made, how? We frankly con-
Tess our inability to answer this
question. nor have we found any,
body who can?
Annihilation of the liquor traffic
by which we always mean pro.
h1oltlon of the manufacture and
sale OF intoxicants as a beverage
would inevitably cause industrial
disturbances and necessitate read
ustmeuts involving hundreds of
thousands of people, putting them,
At least, to great temporary loss and
inconvenience. We confess our in
ability to calculate the damage, but
"e all perceive that, directly and
indirectly. it would be very serious.
Annihilation of the liquor traffic
would certainly have a marked ef:
|ect on public revenues. The i'm
ned'ate effect would probably be
|aVorable to State, county and mu-
P'c'pal governments, as it seems to
Pc established that the revenue de.
F'Ved from the sale of licenses is
POI sufficient to pay the cost of car
ne Tor the crime and poverty caus .
s. by the traffic. The effect on ,
auonal Government revenues I