The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-03

state prohibition and thereby a.
tempt by statute to absolutely forbid
the sale or manufacture of Intoxicating
liquors" anywhere In the state. TO stop
and think Reason out wnat their vote
viii mean and what it viii lead 20.
| To vote whether your home town or
cocnty shall have barrooms or not.
Is altosssher \ different proposition
That il your rigat and is based upon
the greai basic principle or democracy.
aad when the majority OF o community
decides this or any other public oues-
ton, every GOOD citizen should obey
the Law. but kpr the voters OF prohi-
bition towns and counties TO say what
excise or any other kind OF local laws
shall prevail In anti-prohibition towns
and cities Ia altogether suosersive OF
the great democratic principle OF local
self-soverument. and Is as wrong.
as IL would be. for the anti prohibition
cities to reverse the verdict OF the
people in the prohibition towns, otc
Stop. and think. what the result
would be In your home life II the
sale and manufacture OF intoxicating
liquors" was absolutely forbidden and
a respectable physician In the state.
whose services you would have. who
does nC< prescribe and look upon IL
quor IN some shape. as an indispensi-
ble remedy in his daily practice? Is
there q household I'm North Carolina.
where IL Is not. at times n uscessityG
IL II is outlawed. what are you going
TO put in its place? Is Il not better
TO vote down this f9natical piece oC
populistic political nonsense. and then
let the fairmipded. ieve!-headed. pa
triouc, commouseuse manhood OF the
state, regardless OF partisanship or
politics" get together aud pass such
laws as can 10 enforced. controlling
regulating and legalizipE tralac,
thai always has existed and ;ha, be-
iieys always will exist In spite OF ali
laws human or divine.
'Tis comparatively easy 20 do.
look upon drunkenness as crime
We pass laws against theft adultery
and Osher similar crimes: We don't
prohibis them. but We punish for
them. Why not treat public ttrunken-
ness th~s same way? IL viii do more
for temperance In a month than pro-
hibition ever will do. LeagahEe the
sale Of iiquor. and the blind tiger
must go nut Of business. II ws' also
stop the use OF the fearful conDUctlcn,
sold by tham which seems TO b.E made
Of concentrated lye, soft soap. boiled
shoe soles. tobacco Juice and branch
water. that is now filling our hospi-
tails, sanitoriums, Kelley and McKana
cures and pals with men suffering
from all sorSs Of delirium and crime
Mr. Editor. TheIa Is no moral spnes-
tion involved IN this state lEsue.
Some OF the most immoral men Of my
acquaintance, men, who drink and de-
bauch their home lives. pose as Stat
ant-mouth prolIibitFonists. While many
OF our best Cftizeus, whose lives are
pure and bcyund reproach are Mt
spoken anti-prohibftionists.
Thure can BANJO church question in
ySlved. Does not the Christian church
legaliZe wine III it's sacramcnts? lEDes
it@not make vine the typical symbol
or the blood OF; It's founder? Does not
hniy writ recommend its use for your
'nfirmaties?" But, sir, there Ia.
great political and public issue at
stake. viz: Ia " right, is II demCora-
tic Is 1t in accord with the vital pTin-
cipleS OF our system OF government,
for one community, to- regulate the
lCeal affairs OF sister community?
Is IL for the best interests OF the pub
Ii 2 welfare, TO pass laws that 4-5ths
o. our people will violate with i'm
punity? or is it, best TO pass laws that
they can and VIII respect?
II every voter IN North Carolina
will use the reason that God has given
him, and solve this question for him
sAlf and not allow himself to be mis-
lead by the "shOrt-haired women and
long haired men" and politicians. who
are seeking selfish ends, there cannot
and will not be but one result
I well know that my motives, in
| writing this communication will be
! nisconstrued bv some. but let ms
say to them. that / have no political
aspirations. have no desire to be
senator congressman. governor, SEC
retary OF state. or to hold any other
political Office. During the past 80
years l have built up a business that
yields ne sum amply 10 supply every
reasonable need. When radicaiism,
populism. fusionism and such issues
have in the past menaced good govern
ment In North Carolina. never hesi-
tated to speak and speak plainly,
and act I'm accordance. Exactly the
same motives govern the writing Of
this communication.
Respectfully.
JAS. ID. Mc<ETLI.