Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-04

ance. What are they? First, every
where, especially in Europe, there are
rational laws regulating the sale of
alcoholic liquors. A definite RESPONSE
bility is placed on the person who re-
tails liquors. In Germany, France and
other European countries, drunkenness
is not crying evil And if, in this
country, the laws that are already en-
acted We're enforced, the evils caused
by intemperance would greatly de-
crease.
The prohibitionist wants to subdue
intemperance by destroying, in toto,
the entire business of manufacturing
and selling the beverage. Is the course
suggested by tempered force? For
the sake Of terrifying our position that
a regulation of social evils is produc-
tive of more good and preventative
Of more evil than rigorous prohibition,
consider the prostitution of women
which means the prostitution of man.
We call it-everybody calls 1.-THE
social evil" There are two ways of
dealing with it, repression and regu-
lation. Which is more conducive to
the physical health and moral safety
of community? This subject is here
referred to, not to discuss but to IL
lustrate the principle that. even as
Stunning that the liquor traffic to be the
awful cause of human misery there is
a right, and there is wrong way OF
dealing with it.
The spirit of Pharisaism has invaded
the ranks of prohibitionists. It's advo-
Gates assume that they are perfectly
virtuous and perfectly wise-and that
all who differ from them, especially
every man engaged in manufacturing
or selling malt or ardent liquors, is
depraved beyond description, willing
to aid in any crime, and foster any
iniquity. And those who drink, even
IN moderation, are guilty of disobedi-
ence toward Cod Without entering in
to the religious argument we may
ask, What is the tenor of the teach
Ing of the Bible, and what has been
the attitude of historic Christianity
towards the use of wine and beer
There is another fact to be remem-
bered, and it is too important to be
ignored. And that is the palpable i'm
possibility of enforcing any prohibitory
law in large cities and especially in
cities where large foreign element re-
side. People who come here from
Germany, France, Italy and other
European countries have been ac-
customed to the use of either wine or
beer in their native homes, and never
even thought it was wrong to do SO.
In every land where the grape grows,
wine is made and becomes an import
ant article Of commerce and where
barley and hops grow, beer is manu-
10 Nf, ",
hibitionist says: CHOSE foreigners
have no right to drink if we forbid
! them"
Gentlemen, there are two things to
] be remembered First, this is a re
public-a system Of government that
guarantees to every man an unmo
Tested right to pursue his own happi
ness If he makes no criminal invas
ion of others rights.
Second, any attempt to forcibly
change the habits and customs Of
large numbers of people because yor
do not approve of them would entail
a cost on the state that would bank
rupt its treasury and corrupt its NOR
ais.
In small cities rigid enforcement
of prohibition is possible, although II
1t doubtful II 1t is really maintained
But In large cities it is simply impos
sible to maintain it. Thus In Maine
Iowa, and Kansas, where prohibition
has been pretty well tested, the Illicit
traffic in beer, but more especially IL
wine and spirituous liquors, is ap
pallingly large. But says the pro
hibitionist, "If prohibition does no
prohibit, why does the liquor dealer
object?" The question as ordinarily
propounded, shows the profound lacl
of judgment necessary to deal witt
any social problem, especially such :
problem as this. The liquor dealer may
well say, "The fact is that men de
Tnand some stimulating beverages
But you make or try to make it {
crime to serve that demand We are
not criminals, any more than you
And we simply insist upon the prin
ciple that our business shall be under
the supervision and protection of rea
sonable laws. We believe that {
discretionary power should be give1
to those who are authorized to issue
license, with authority to revoke any
license whenever they deem it advis
able. We do not stand for intemper
ance. We stand for sobriety, and fo
| personal freedom. The American Re
public can learn something abou
regulating the liquor traffic by study
ing the laws of Germany. In this
strain the attitude Of men whose in
terests are bound up in the liquor bust
ness may be known. It is dishonor
able and humiliating for one class o
men to rise before the public and make
the dispersion that the men who manu-
facture or sell malt or spirituous liz
uors are animated by mere love o
gain
Suppose that is true. OF whom /.
it not true? What is the banker il
business for? And the grocer? Tht
heteIkeeper, and everybody, including
the preacher? The love of gain liel
back Of every human enterprise, ant
the man who doss not possess it Ii
tnet above. but below, any good stand
Ard Of worth The heneBt acquisition
Of wealth is one Of the highest proofs
of mental excellency.
There are two things that deserve
tserious attention. The one is this
If ia nerjlOus to authorize any HIM ar