The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-10-21
BITTER WAR ON iNTEMPERANCE
SOLDIERS FIGHTING THIS CURSE
GREATLY CHEERED.C
A Movement For the Abolition of
Compulsory Beer Drinking
Among German University Stu.

Among German University Stu'
dents.
The Prussian Minister Of Justice is
leading a movement for the abolition
of compulsory beer drinking among
university students, and even to dis
courage voluntary guzzling, while a
formidable petition has been present.
ed to the government for the separa-
ton Of sober and drunken persons on
railroad trains by the use Of special
cars, though there seems to be some
uncertainty whether the cars should
be reserved for those who are sober
or for those who are tipsy.
Up in Finland the most remarkable
anti-alcoholic legislation Of all has
actually been enacted and now awaits
The Grand Dukes approval, which 1t
may not receive. Largely because OF
woman suffrage and the spread of the
Socialist propaganda, the most .strin-
gent prohibition bill on record has
been passed by the Diet. This amaz-
Ing measure not only forbids all man
ufacture or sale Of spirits, beer and
and wine, but it prohibits any traffic
in alcohol of any kind, save through
= strict government monopoly.
Churches are forbidden, under heavy
penalties, to use wine in the COM
munion service. People who had
wines in their possession before the
enactment of the law may continue to
hold them, but any n hereafter ac-
luiring any liquors will be subject to
fine and Imprisonment. The police
and other officials are authorized,
without special warrant and on mere
suspicion, to enter and search any
house for liquors. Any ship enter
Ing Finnish waters with a cargo con-
sisting largely Of alcoholic liquors
will be seized and coniscated. All
the breweries, distilleries and liquor
stores and shops in the country must
at once go out of business, without
compensation. Indeed, in framing
the law the Diet seems really to have
acted upon the exhortation of n of
Its members, Baroness Gripenberg,
TO "leave reason aside, and let senti-
ment prevail"
These things at least serve to en-
phasize the point which we have fire.
quently made in these columns, that
complaints Of puritanism and fan
atheism in this country as contrasted
with the liberalism Of Europe are
not altogether well founded. More
than one European country Is TAX
ing even more advanced ground in
temperance reform than has been pro-
posed here. We cannot recall any
American prohibition law as strin-
gent as that which. Finland Is seeking
to establish. When in one Of our
States it was discovered that through
inadvertence the law was so drawn
as possibly to prevent the use of
wine at the communion services of
churches it was quickly and generally
| conceded that an amendment must
be made so that there would be no in
reference with worship. But in Fin
land the clause expressly banishing
wine from the communion table was
purposely inserted into the bill. The
interference with personal liberty"
in sumptuary matters is far more
marked in several European countries
than it Is here. The merits Of some
of our temperance legislation may be
open to discussion; but at least 1t
cannot be truthfully maintained that
this country or. any part Of 1t Is alone
or unique or even extremely advanced
in meddling with mans supposed
right to get drunk.-New York Tribt
une.