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

IL 10 oil SStSS lidlISi w tippcdl W d
morbid sentimentalism in dealing with
an issue which forms the substance Of
reform.
1t is not SO easy a matter to look at
all that may be involved in the issue,
or what may result if the issue is
dealt with in one-sided and unjust
manner.
This appeal, then, is to intelligent
and thoughtful men and women-to
those everywhere, who are willing to
allow others the same right of freedom
that they claim for themselves.
The fundamental argument of the
prohibitionist is that the use of al
coholic beverages is the principal
cause of vice, crime and poverty; and
that the only right way of dealing with
the matter Is to prohibit, by stringent
laws, rigidly enforced, the making and
sale, and consequently, the use of such
liquors.
Distinct issue is taken with both
positions taken.
poverty, and insanity are, in the great
majority of cases, caused by drunken
ness.
Second, it is not true that prohibit
ton will prevent those evils.
And in the third place, the sacrifice
of personal freedom is too great a
price for SO doubtful a good.
In the first place, we contend that
while drunkenness is one of the many
causes Of human unhappiness, 1t is
not the sole, nor the chief cause. The
nations that are VIGOROUSLY opposed to
the use Of alcoholic beverages, are not
any freer from the burden Of misery
than is our own. 1t is generally ad-
mitted that Oriental nations are not
accustomed to the use of alcohol-but
1t has not yet been observed that their
lives are any happier than the lives
Of people in Christian lands. And In
our own country, while 'intemperance
leads to the commission of crimes
agains persons, yet the most serious
crimes against life and property are
effected by other causes. 1t would be
tedious to enumerate, in detail, the
several causes Of crime. But let us
select murder as a sample. The most
awful and sensational crimes against
human life have, as a rule, been insti
gated by other feelings than that OF
intoXication. Neither of our three
martyred presidents were slain by 9
drunkard. Nor have the most sen
sational crimes against life been in
duced by drunkenness. Jealousy is
more of menance to life-and causes
more murders and more mischief
than does intemperance.
1t is difficult to conjecture where the
reason of prohibitionists is when, ii
view of the numerous crimes against
women and against property-that one
thing alone, and that not the chief is
singled out as the cause of all human
misfortune. The truth is, the charge
| Is not true.
The question of insanity is subjec
to the same consideration. Unques
tionably, drunkenness may lead to In
| sanity. So do other excuses. TIL,
most reliable statistics Of insanit,
give as the cause:
First, self.polution and sexual ez
cess.
Second, religious fanaticism or ez
| cessive zeal.
And intemperance is given as tn,
third cause.
II the logic Of prohibition is to pre-
vail it would be right to unsex man
kind, or to forbid those religious bod
les whose practices or teachings lea'
to insanity. This shows the faulty O
unscfentiflc reasoning on a profoun,
and intricate social problem.
Let us glance at the poverty. VIVA
causes it? Are total abstainers, othe
| things being equal richer than thos
who are not? q am not here referrin,
to drunkards. That question come
under another consideration. It i
well attested beyond the possibility O
any dispute, that poverty whereve
and whenever it exists-whenever
becomes general social condition, i
not in any sense attributable to tn
use of beer and wine. Any man who's
opinion has any value as student. O
social economy knows that the causes
not cause Of poverty are complex; ar
far beyond the reach of human will
and defy any and every attempt at re
moval by any act of legislators.
What is the cause-sui generis-o
human misery? What is the verde
of history and experience? Primarily
the lack of intelligence, the lack o
moral energy, the lack of thrift AM
of prudence. And further, and no
least, long established customs an,
modes of living that defy reason an,
morals.
It is illogical and unjust to singh
out instances of want, of crime an O
ordinary wrong doing, to intempel
ance, when human life, for ages pas
bears testimony of other things NOR
productive of suffering. What shal
we say about religious fanaticism
Which like scourge has cursed ma
tons and communities and families
! No nation has been exempt from thi
awful evil. hut what Is tie remedy
Legislation? Force? cafy SO far 4
to keep the right Of the individual ii
violate. The panacea for the nafrsN
mindness, for religious intolerance,
education
Whenever a government has under
taken to rectify religious errors b.
force Of law 1t has been the abetto
of persecution, the friend of hypocrites
the ally Of tyranny.
Is society driven to the necessity O
enacting drastic measures, such as ar
involved in absolute prohibition, +