The Irish standard., 1908-03-07


as an example Of extreme fanaticism.
$50 far as Cardinal Gibbons or any
Of the clergynen being bought is con-
cerned, the thought is ridiculous. AS
for the attitude which they have taken
on this prohibition movement and
which has brought out this TRADE,
surely every man has right to his
opinion and to perfect freedom to en-
press il. l have not read Cardinal Glib
bons' interview but have heard it dis
cussed and l imagine his views are
much the same as mine. All my life
have protested against the use of the
word temperate or rather the abuse OF
it as meaning total abstinence. OBJ
ject to the sentiment which assumes
that man who drinks an occasional
glass of wine or beer is not temperate
man. Temperance does not mean to.
tai abstinence. 1t means the moderate
use. l protest also against any move.
ment to pass laws which in any way
interfere with tho personal liberty of
the individual unless such interference
is necessary for the good and the pro-
lection of the community That pro-
hibtion is such a necessity is thing
which it's advocates have failed to
prove.
II believe in the restriction of the
liquor traffic and in strict control of
the abuses which arc responsible for
drunkenness and misery. think the
good, that it has awakened men inter-
ested in the liquor movement to the
necessity for this control. They have
come to realize that unless they bring
about Il safe reform in tho business,
public sentiment will become so
aroused that prohibition will be the re-
suit
II can understand how some people
arc earnest. honest advocates Of pro-
hibjtion and honestly believe that it
would be a good thing to arrange it so
hat no ono could get intoxicants.
have seen n great deal of misery and
poverty caused through excessive
drinking and 1 sympat thize deeply with
those who have suffered. But, after
ALL they look at II from their personal
viewpoint only. and see only a small
part Of the great subject. They car
not sec IL in it's general relation to
life. But with the proper regulation
and control Of the liquor traffic. the
abuse of II, much of the drunkenness
and misery would disappear.
II can believe also that as ii tempor-
AIRY measure and in certain localities
prohibition might be advisable. Pro-
hibition in the South. where there Is a
vast preponderance Of negroes, for in
stance, is a different proposition from
prohibition in the North. In certain
Southern localities prohibition might
be a good thing for a while, but that is
not saying that prohibition is the only
right way to get the desired results
nor is it saying that it is the right way
for all places and all time.
"1hc stand which take against the
imposing Of laws by any community
which interfere with personal liberty
is the stand taken by the Roman Cath
olic church. The church holds that
any attempt TO curtail this liberty is
to DC discouraged. Prohibition is such
an attempt and on the whole believe
1t to be an unwisc movement which
would not bring the results claimed for
it,
For some time past some temper
ancc leaders have been coming more
and more to take the view that the
use Of light wines and beer discourages
intelnpcrance. Tho large percentage
of drunkenness. the acute craving for
drink, ] believe, is caused by the spirit
uous liquors, by the sharp drinks with
a large percentage of alcohol in Them
Il would not be understood as favor
ing the drink habit. ! regret deeply
It's abuses and the misery which it
causes but do not believe that pro-
hibition is the cure. Tho provisions
for the control Of the traffic drawn up
by the liquor men themselves and sent
out in circular form prior to the model
license convention recently held in
Louisville, seem to me to point the way
to a reform which will be much more
genuine and sane. ! think the general
plan formulated by these men who arc
in the business one which deserves
hearty commentator and which, IL
adopted. will do far more to better
conditions than any such extreme
measures as prohibition could possibly
do
Is It Asking Too Much?