The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-28
Theories and Facts.

The following is a paragraph from
an editorial in the Montgomery Ad-
VertiSer:
you can't cure drunkenness by
statute" SAYS the Savannah
News, and it speaks the truth.
Many years ago we heard Judge
John 7. Hefiin say; You can
legislate the taste of liquor out OF
mems mouths" and that was an
other solid truth. Failure or re-
fusal to admit the truth of both
of these propositions is at the bot
tom of all the difficulties that lie
in the path of the earnest and
sincere temperance -reformerS
They believe that the enactment
of laws against drunkenness, and
especially against the sale of Ii
quor will put an end to II. II
the law fails to accomplish what
it's advocates hope and expect
they charge the failure to its lack
of enforcement. They say that
if those who are charged with
the enforcement of the laws
would do their duty there would
be no more liquors sold and no
more inebriety.
This seems to us faulty logic. If
the law can have no effect on the
liquor traffic why have laws regulat-
ing the sale of it where it is sold?
Why close saloons on election days or
Sundays? Murder is committed in
spite of law Why have laws
against murder? you can't cure
drunkenness by statute; you can't
legislate the taste of liquor out of
mems mouths" These are only half
truths. You can't make men honest
by legislation. Then why have laws
against dishonesty? Law may not re-
form a drunkard, but it can largely
prevent the manufacture of drunkards.
1t does do it. The matter has been
tested in nearly every State in the
South. 1t has been demonstrated in
Tennessee. Where there were many
saloons there is now none. AS result
the number of liquor drinkers has
largely decreased; 50 have the drunk
ards; SO have fights and brawls, and
murders; SO has the business of the
Criminal Courts so has misery and
unhappineSS in many homes. There
is more peace. more prosperity than
there was before. Where is the COM
munity that having done without sa-
looms for as long as two years would
have them back again?
The adjustment of saloons is not
an adjustment of any mans right
to drink liquor. The individual can
legally purchase liquor if he is deter
mined to have it, and some who are
opposed to saloons do so. But the
number is far smaller than it was. In
some communities liquor can be il
legally purchased. But the liquor le-
gally purchased and the liquor illegal
ly vended is far less in quantity than
the amount formerly sold in saloons
in those communities. In some COM
munitieS there are cases of drunken
ness, but they are much fewer than
when there were saloons. So also
murders occur in some communities,
but there would be many more muir
derS if there were no law against muir
der. Demonstrated facts are worth
more as an argument than theories
and unsupported statements.
What becomes of the appetite for
liquor of men who are employed by
railroads, banks, insurance companies
and great business concerns that for
bid the use of liquor by their en-
ployes? Such requirement is more
stringent than any statute, for no
statute forbids men to drink.
The law against liquor selling can
be enforced as well as the law against
theft. Neither law is an absolute pre-
ventive. But what a wholesome, re-
effect they have. The Ameri-
can is neither a crank nor an eXtrem-
fst on the temperance question; it
does not expect to see the impossible
accomplished and does not favor an
attempt of the impractical; but the
quotation at the head of this article
does not harmonic with demonstrate
ed facts.
The man who boasts of never mine
tn PhOnninU