The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1907-09-20


i have been q temperance worker
for more than HfJy years: was long
a jealous Ir9hibi,l0nist. ana have
tested nearly al methods IF rromo.-
ing he tem--r+nc- cause. bat / am
now convinced that legislation in
tended 10 promote morality by c,tl-
pelling the abandonment of any mn
personal habi: % indulgence tha1 -
not Inherently immoral is wrong in
principal. and must ultimately do more
harm than good. Moral reform is an
individual matter. II begins and ends
with individuals. and the most effect
i've forces for il promotion are in
ternal-not compulsicn, but education
and persuasion.
This conviction took possession 81
M much against nay wishes. preiu-
dices and interests-but irrefutable
facts and sound logic gre irresistible
] am painfully aware that my pres
ent views are al variance with those
Of my friends but l have studied both
sides Of this problem and with un-
usual thoroughness and / ask candid
hearing.
The Reel Object
If asked: What j. the real object
Of prohibition? The most Of its ad-
vOcates would reply: The suppress
sion of the sale Il intoxicants.' Yet
reflection makes il clear that its real
object must be TO compel people 10
stop drinking-fo- the only possible
ethical object To be attained by sup
pressing the liquor traffic is the sup
preston 81 liquor drinking; and ev
cry reason given for prOhibitOry laws.
but. nevertheless. every one knows he
is the person they are really aimed
at: and. although this may. at first
be disputed by the unthinkirg. il *
pettifocging Cor worseD TO persist. N
such denial The sale prohibiting
method il Indirect. but il can have
10 other real purpose.
The Importance of this seif-evident
fact. which has so long been ignored
is so great that its recognition must
be insisted on. without its accept
ance. the nature. and 90 many IF US.
unexpected but necessary effects Of
prohibition cannot be understood. II
will be useless 10 waste tirle on men
that are 50 blind they cannot be made
TO see so potent fact. or so morally
perverted that they Will not then ad-
nit 50 self-evident a truth.
such people may be deceived, but
the drinker is not. He knows that
the real purpose Of prohibition is u
compel him 70 stop drinking: that the
assault is on his personal right 10 reg
ulate his own oppetite in accordance
with his own ideas and wishes: and
he resents il a. naturally and rs
fiercelv - r. would If made directly.
or indirectly. over anoJher's shoulder.
under the assumption that he * a
helpless victim. instead Of the free
agent. fully able u care for himself.
which he believes himself 70 be-and
in nine cases out Of ten. really i.
NO amount 4 sophistry can change
these facts. The root right involved
is not the right To sell but the right
10 self-g0verning men II drink when.
~ad where. ana what they wish 70.
ProhihitioniSrs cannot strengthen their
cause by intentionally mis-stating or
ignoring TIE real issue
Question at Issue
"No amount Of solf-deCept:on. or
cowardice. can prevent dispassi0nate
people from ultimately seeing that
the issue il not one between the peo-
ole Of Kansas and a few 'jointists.'
over the question. shall outlaws be
permitted - violate law with inpun-
ityo' II is q much greater matter. II
j.. substantially, shall a calculating
minority. that happens 70 control a
government. be permitted - regulate
the personal and social habits OF the
ma ority against their wishes In fact.
il g.. are We or are We not TO be a
free people,
And those that think the majority
can be perverted from asserting (and
ultimately securing the right of self
government in purely personal mat
tiers do not understand the character
Of the American people. ! say minor
ity' because the majority Of the people
are not in favor OF the rigid suppress
sion II the liquor traffic-and probab-
ly never were.
L repeat that. ignore it as persist
emily as one may, IL remains true that
the real purpose q prohibition is (and
must be- 10 compel all drinkers 10 quit
drinking-an6 II tries 70 do this in an
unmanly as well an ineffective way
by making SCaregoats Of the mere sell
lerS. and casting all the o9ium and in
1icting ala The punishment on them.
Their frequent denial II this self evil
dent prouositi N il one Of the reasons
why 50 many drinkers think prohibi-
Jionists the hypocrites-and cOnse-
Quently regard them with hatred and
contempt.
Not long ago a prominent and eS-
1imable prohibitionist said: II any
une wishes To send u Kansas City and
get a cas- Of beer. fgr his OWN use ]
have no objection. What I want is 70
close the open saloon Although not
80 intended. this was equivalent N
saying. 'Well-to-Go people may drink
what they desire but poor PEOPLE must
81 without or perjure themselves IN
6rlSstoreS' Should not even the dull
est intellect see that this i not 'rro-
nibition.' hut offensive discrimination
Scores Of Tin & l have heard good peo-
pie almost hiss with rage Al this effort
Il prohibitoIy laws. Il IL undeniable
that under hem men Of means can
ta-1 often O. n lawfully ir1uOTr what