The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-04
PROHIBITION VOTES
Jospeh Hall Protests That They Are Not Cast for
 Naught.
NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE PARTY
Prohibition Does Not Take the Man on the Political Battle
 field
New Haven. Conn. April 90.

New Haven, Conn, April 90. To the Editor of the Journal-Courier.
 If I rightly understand your article of this date under inc caption, Some Ingenious Arguing" pr R. F. Thomp- sons argument against prohibition amounts 10 this That prohibition adopts legal instead of moral methods; that fl is nobler to rise above tempta- ton than to escape by legal restraints: that instead of reclaiming victims of the drink habit it devotes all it's ener- ey to carry the state for an impossible party, and finally, that a party for gen. eral reform in politics has been weak ened by a withdrawal of votes from that party by the prohibition party
 appreciate your editorial criticism that Dr. Thompsons temptation test has not worked very well. and that fla failure may he held responsible for the very existence of tho party he deplores; but. s born victim of tho drink trnf- fe battling for years against inherited instincts and standing alone to-day with almost every relative and friend of my youth In q drunkards grave, I realize with Gladstone that it is tho duty of government to make 1t easy to do right and difficult to do wrong,
 His insinuatlon that we make no ef- forts to save drunkards ia untrue; we are saving drunknrds every day, but we can't save them as fast as the drink traffic makes them, and for that reason we want to stop the source of that traffic. The best way 10 save the sheep is 10 kill the wolf
 Dr. Thompson's logic Ia fatal 10 his theory for he levels his aim at tho root of all social government and of every public effort for the prevention of crime Every enterprise to protect men and women from the evils of society ls an interference with ones moral free dom and depriyes one of the opportun- fly of being one man out of hundred thousand, moral hero like John B. Cough
 In fact Dr, Thompson's moral theory is political anarchy and virtually says to every man. Govern and protect yourself for any attempt on the part of the government to protect you from rum sellers, gamblers, swindlers and sharpers Is an insult to your moral dig nity, and dcprives you of individual sovereignty.
 More: Dr, Thompson betrays a party motive and sacrifices principle 10 poll cy for whether the prohlbitionist cast his vote for the republican or demo- cratic ticket he puts himself under tho same legal restraint as on the prohi, bition ticket. Then, again. how is he to know that he is casting his vote for the party general reform2 If inc votes republican the democrat says No, that's not the party of general re- | form" and if he votes democratic, tho republican charges him with voting against general reform. But, If he votes the prohtbltIonist ticket he docs know that he has cast his vote against | the greatest enemy of general reform | in both parties
 if the prohlbitionst party is "an i'm. possible party the other two parties make 1t so, and 1t is the measure oi their shame.
 An Institution that fosters every spe. cles of crime and stranRles virtue is q criminal institution and no government 1 has Il moral right to legalize what is morally wrong, If is the sin and shame of our civilization and no heathen oi pagan nation has sunk down to oui level If we have not moral courag, enough ourselves to stand by the great. est moral enterprise of tne age, ther for suffering humanity's sake let us b. manly enough to step aside while bray, CT, nobler and godler men march on tc storm the fort of common foe.
 Prohibition does not take a man of the battlefield or deprive him of tht chance of proving himself the warrio upon that field without sword ant leaving him helpless at the mercy o his enemies He IS willing 10 eros swords of break q lance with an hon orable foe. but iL is our duty 10 protec him from murder and assassination that deprive htm of fighting chanc, upon inc battlefield of life It is Cadmean victory that conquers by tn policy of q Cyrus that makes our moth CTS blush with shame
 JOSEPH HALL
 Exchange street.