The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-08-25
VOX POPULI

ately to free themselves from the
yoke OF their oppressers.
inns same rule ought to hold good
In this instance. If a religious man
OF certain denomination does not
Ieef ike drinking, dancing or parti-
clpallng In other enjoymentS, he has
no right to have laws enacted which
lorce me to act as he does. l may
not De religious, or nay religion may
not prohibit such indulgence. 1t is
certainly my privilege to eat or drink
what L choose, do what I please, pro-
Vlded harm no one, and even if so,
there is plenty law to protect and
punish the guilty ones. 1 am myself,
and always have been, a strong be-
never in the suppression of drunken
ness, as l consider it equal to a crime,
but let us devise other means to sup
press 1t than those advocated it
Is not just that he who uses it mod
erately shall be deprived of it, to
serve as a model to others.
1t looks I4ne Furnishing the inno-
cent for the guilty. But it is claimed
that We must make this sacrifice to
help the rest. But, even SO, will it
have that effect?
Local option, dispensaries and va
rlous other ways have been tried and
none have proven successful. Even in
the state of Maine, where prohibi-
ton existed for years, drunkards ex-
list In larger numbers than in MANY
places where there is no restriction.
Local option has nowhere proved sue
ceSsful, and candidly speaking, l
mink 1t increases instead of dimin.
lSheS drinking, for this reason: A per
son may go in to a barrOOm. take q
rxyh
VIII, II rich enough. order his LIQUORS
In case lots. This restriction answers
better purpose against the poor, but
ne, instead of ordering case lots. con-
tents himself with a bottle at time,
upon which he pays an additional cost
of eXpresSage.
dare say, if the campaign COM
mlttee is short of funds, and apply to
the liquor dealers in Mobile and
montgomery, they, no doubt, will glad
~ help to make this city go dry. as
they would be greatly benefited by
IL. Most all Southern states are send
ing agents to Europe to solicit i'm
migration to the South. Germans and
ScandlnaVlans have been preferred.
VIII they come to a section of the
country where they cannot indulge in
glass OF beer? Ignorant or narrow
minded men say We can do without
the immigrants, but such assertions
are not borne out by natural facts.
The laboring men need at times a
stimulant. The fisherman will not he
deprived of it. Alcohol is an essential
necessity in chemistry and physics
NO other KNOWN factor can take its
place, and therefore it must be used
and, If SO, the chances are certain
that 1t will be misused as well.
Campaigns of this nature are. as
rule, gotten up by religious people or
oy men who cannot control their own
passion for drink. They want to he
restricted, they want the alcohol re-
moved. The former has a good oh
Ject, though not in harmony with
other equally good religious peonIe
The latter remind me of kleptomani-
acS, who must steal because the
wares are laid bare for them to steal
Would it be reasonable that stores
must close to keep those from steal
ing? The same rule holds good. Must
L deprive myself of a drink because
others misuse it?
From business point of view, it is
claimed that the laborer Will spend