Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-09-03

! To Editor of the Boston Manuscript:
In his discussion of Prohibition
and Social Psychology in McClure's
Magazine for August, Professor Hugo
! Munsterberg mas given us brilliant
but not a pleasing or satisfactory ar
ticIe. He outrages logical rules, ig-
nores scientific discoveries, sets
aside historical facts, tramples upon
moral sentiments, and denies the prin-
ciples of human evolution.
His contradictions are numerous
and absolute. He hopes that Cam
bridge will maintain prohibition but
he denounces the prohibition policy
as a fraud and a delusion. He calls
alcohol the greatest civilizing agency
next to Christianity, but he is glad
that Harvard students are denied
drinking privileges. He damns the
emotional legislation" Of the present
temperance movement and in the next
sentence he demands indulgence in
intoxicants to prevent our nation from
drying up emotionally." These and
similar assertions are supreme Illus
trations of illogical procedure so eX-
IRENE as to prove ipcapacity for rea-
sonable argument,
He asserts that the drunkard must
be. abolished and the saloon destroyed
and the power of the liquor trafhc
broken, yet, he claims that the drink
ing of alcohol is needed to produce in
dustrial efficiency, national happiness,
artistic appreciation, and moral ex-
ceIlence. Did anyone ever before
claim that these excellences of civ1l1-
cation are due to liquor? Here is a
gross materialism that is exceedingly
jrepellant But how abolish the
drunkard, while teaching that alcohol
is a. necessity? We might as well
talk of abolishing typhoid fever, while
insisting that polluted water must be
used. Why close the saloons IL la
borers need beer to be efficient WORK.
men? There must be some place
where this blessed moderation may
be INDUCED. How break the power
of the liquor traffic. if our people must
have alcoholic beverages, TO be
happy. wise and strong? Somebody
must make and sell. His article will
multiply drunkards, open new saloons,
and be praised in every liquor Jour
nal as a means of increasing the IN
fuence of "the trade" Soon we shall
have Scripture revised to read: NO
prohibitionists shall inherit the king
dom of Cod Let him that is athirst
come; and whatsoever will, let him
take the beer of life freely"
Professor Munsterberg pleads 1or
the continued use of liquor because
even religious life began with intoxl-
cation cults" Are we TO infer that he
would have the church add a SUD
way tavern" to its Observation-Disclosures
of applied Christianity? Are We to IN
fer that he would suggest a new Beat
itude: Blessed are they who drink
in moderation. for they shall enjoy the
opera more than those who only use
ice water?" Are we TO infer that NJ
would have the "intoxicatlon CUTS
revived in connection with confirmation
classes. so that boys and girls shoulo
have their emotions developed Dy
the moderate" use of beer and VINE
, before they join the church, lest our
| nation dry up emotionally ana lose
the capacity of enjoying opera? II is
true that spirituous beverages were
usual in primitive ceremonials, but
are such ancient customs still ooiiga-
tory? BY parity of reasoning, We