The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1907-08-24
PROMISES AND PIE CRUST
Are Like Prohibition laws-Al Three
are Made Only to be Broken
(Tampa Tribune-)

That the passage Of prohibition laws
does not keep the people from drinking
has ever been maintained by many OBJ
servant persons. The Tribune is large
~ of that opinion: for it does not be-
'iieye men can be made moral or i'm
bued with self control by legislation
Indeed the idea that they can be, so
largely held by thoughtless persons,
7pears to US as very absurd one.
ANS moral nature must be elevated
by a force far superior to legislative
.enacrment-the properly directed ana
well sustained impact of religious
training.
We are led TO this mOralizing by the
fact that the internal revenue report
fOl the fiscal year ended June So 1907.
shows that during that year many mil
Inns more gallons of whisky and beer
were sold than during the year ended
June 80. 1906. The total government
receiIts from spirits and beer during
the former year were over SIT 0O0. 900
in eyces of the latter-an ominous
exhibit. when one bears in mind the
so-called wave of prohibition that has
been sweeping over a great part of the
United States; the fact that in many
of the states which have granted To-
cal option an overwhelming majority
of the counties have declared against
the sale of liquor, and that several of
the states have acted as a unit in
driving the traffic from their territory.
In view however, of the lesson
taught by the figures quoted. We should
not have used the word driving" We
should have said in attempting TO
drive" for that deluge of liquor man
ufactured and sold. you may well feel
assured. was not stored away in ware
houses, but was safely consigned to
the inward regions Of those with bibu-
lous inclinations to create an internal
glow. even though many OF them did
reside in districts whence what they
call the rum demon" had been official
ly banished-
Some years ago when we landed in
the great city of Portland in the saint
ed state Of Maine over whose eXpanse
the white wings Of the prohibition an
gel had lowered for many a year, the
first question asked by the call boy
when we reached our room ia the best
hotel in the place was. What snail
bring you to drink, sir?" We are not
prepared to say whether or not We
took advantage Of this kindly offer.
Perhaps we didn't; but this we know.
it rather knocked US off our pins-that
is the offer did-at the time. But we
have since grown wise and have learn
ed that liquor may be found flowing
quite as abundantly in towns and
cities which have the reputation TO the
outside world as being dedicated to
prohibition and where the midnight
hour is not illuminated by the glitter
of saloon and cafe lit up by countless
electric lights as in gay Gotham itself
with all its glamor.
'Tis an ancient saying that "a good
wine needs no husband verify the
only one the subtle tiger with the alb
sent optics requires are those that will
faithfully conceal their lair from more
or less vigilant police officers-partic-
ularly the more" Now, brethren, all.
considering that we have been notified
by the book Of books that one Of the
indispensables before we may enjoy
heaven is that which is hid shall be
made manifest, don't you think it far
better to start the ball a-rolling right
now and have and carry on this drink
ing business-either for better or for
wOrse-right out in the open instead
Of on the sly? In fine and from pure
ly moral standpoint with relation to
its effect upon the inner man his self
respect and ability to live with Lis fell
low men without being covered with
-
crisy, is it not really better to imbibe
quite freely. even TO the point Of hi
larious enjoyment, in an open COM
munity than to sneak into the tigers
lair and take just one little one in a
city where it is written Thou shalt
not?" for laws are sacred and their
infraction perilous for both soul and
body.