The Irish standard., 1907-12-28
A DESPERATE REMEDY.
Prohibition So Considered by the St..
Louis Western Watehman.

Prohibition So Considered by the St.
Louis Western Waterman.
The last issue of Rev. Father Phe-
lan's paper. the Western Watchman
contains the following:
We are not in favor of prohibition.
1t is the remedy of the quack reformer
Temperance and moderation for the
multitude: total abstinence for the
heroic few. The Church does not op-
pose marriage; but she encourages vir-
sinity. She does not command total
abstinence; but she blesses those
who, like the Baptist, eschew abso-
lutely whatever inebriates. The true
teacher of social purity is the man
and woman who have vowed their
virginity to God. A married woman
may be as holy as Ruell, and as chaste
as Rebecca: but if she would reform
her sinful sisters she must be more
than either: she must be a virgin In
mind and heart, as we'll as chaste in
body, and give an example not only
of perfect chastity, but of absolute
virginity. Not the prudent matron,
but the modest Sister of Charity, the
meek and lowly Little Sister of the
Poor finds open hearts and ready ears
III the slums of vice and the houses OF
sin. The men of the world have a.
code that gives free rein to all the
lusts Of the flesh; and the thin mantle
of decency they are forced to assume
is booming so gausy as to scarcely
disguise the brazen iniquity of their
lives. Who can preach to them; who
can make them tren1ble by holding up
to them the wrath of an offended
Diety? Is it the moral married men
of society? They never yet led D. sue
cessful reform among their fellows.
The men who would teach others to
curb their passions must have com
pletely stified his own. And who are
the men who can lead a successful
campaign against drunkenness? Is it
the moderate drinker? 1t is the man
who can dispose Of his quart of mort
at a sitting and get UP as sober as
judge? Such a man may be envied by
the drunkard; he will never be ac-
cepted as his guide to personal reform.
The man who does not drink at all can
speak with kind but firm countenance
to the slave of drink. The priest; the
Sister: the Total Abstainer-these are
the three great social reformers: and
all three give up entirely what they
counsel others to use in moderation
The Church encourages total absti-
nence societies; and gives her choicest
blessings OH those who give up entirely
the use of intoxicants; but she will
never go to the extreme Of prohibition
Catholics are not found in that camp.
Prohibition from it's very beginning
has proved no remedy for the evils
which it attempts to abolish. The
regulation of the liquor traffic is prac-
ticable; its. elimination impossible.
Thousands. yes tens of thousands, who
are good Christians, excellent citizens,
men Of conservative views and tenn
perate habits. will always line up in
opposition to prohibition. It is the
votes of this class of citizens that
can always be relied on to defeat haz-
ardous and experimental prohibition
legislation.
Admitting that the business of tho
retailer of liquor is not always con.
Quoted in a manner above reproach
and that certain abuses, which must
be eradicated, are the, inevitable and
logical consequence. yet why should
the innocent be made to suffer with
the guilty; and why should the great
brewery and distillery interests Of the
country be legislated out Of existence? :?
The brewers have announced, through
the public press. their firm intention
to cooperate with the authorities for
the purpose of enforcing the dramshop
laws Of the state and of purifying, ele-
waiting and reforming the saloon. Why
then not give them the opportunity to
conduct their business on a lawful and
orderly basis? Give them four years
more to accustom themselves to the
new conditions and to prove to the
country that the hypocrisy Of prohibi-
tion need not be resorted to in order
to improve the conditions surrounding
the liquor trade. We hope that neither
party will inscribe prohibition on
their banner at the next state cleo
tion and that the issue between the
people and the liquor interests may
have one more opportunity of an amic-
able and satisfactory settlement.
A. lawyer had a. horse that always
balked when he attempted to cross a
certain bridge leading out Of the VIII