The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1908-05-23
In Defense Of. Prohibition.
Breanx Bridge, May 18th. 1908.
Editor Weekly Messenger,
ST. Martinville. La.


Knowing you, As do, to be- liberal of
view. | have no doubt but that you will
nublish this communication. even
though it be directed in cOntroversion
IN YOUR own views.
In your issue Of May Is note an ar
tiele wherein you display a glaring.
GROSS Inconsistency, | refer to the arti-
Gle in which you rightly condemn thu
free beer distribution during your late
municipal campaign As degrading and
a shame" ami in which same article
YOU say also: We are opposed to prohi-
hilton on principle 49,"
Mr.. Editor. your opinion are vOur own.
and do not want to impngn your mo-
tiyes which impels their expression; but
do want to ask you where is yonr con-
sistency in decrying the crimes of liquor
and in the next breath declaring that
YOU are opposed to prohibition on prin-
ciple''
DO you really mean to say that your
"principle" is based on moral grounds?
No. YOU are too intelligent man 20
champion liquor on morality. Then. do
YOU mean that the principle" which
YOU oppose prohibition is based on Il
commercial argument2 Even on this
ground your principle" would crumble
beneath the weight OF common SENSE
reasoning and actual statistical facts,
and challenge you to advance single
unrefutable reason to justify your posi-
ton as an opponent of prohibition and,
consequently, as champion OF liquor
and its hellish agent in crime, the bar
room.
Nav he Your principle" is based on
the fact that saloons yield revenues to
the public government. Ii so, are you
not ashamed to sanction the use Of
blood money" to run your government!
DO you not know that every cent deri-
we'd from saloon mans license repre-
sents the sacrifice of the honor, the
manhood. the happiness, the very life
blood of some poor boy. some wretched
husband and his miserable familyp Can
YOU cOnocienciously preach about liquor
As desirable factor in our domestic
and political economy, because of its Ii
eense revenue, in the face Of the facts
recorded daily that its distributing
agent, the saloon, is also al agent O'
poverty. dishonOr, murder and soul per
ditiOnp
Would you go in the liquor business
with the feeling that you were impelled
to do so by promptings Of principle?
dare say you would not. Then, how dc
you define the principle (which makes
you oppose prohibition and champion
the cause of liquOrp A true man can
not be ION the fence. you know; there
fore. as you are opposed to prohibition
you are logically in favor Of liquor ant
its traffic in crime.
Perhaps you are an advocate OF thu
idea that prohibition does not prohibit
"a tlimsy aud threadDare argument
that the liquor interests put forth un
der the guise OF a moral objection Il
prohibit laws. That whisk-y would b.
sold even if prohibition should gain II
this parish, have no doubt, for. as you
know. the enforcement OF the Sunda.
Law, and other laws, for that matter
are but poorly enforced in ST. Martin
Parish. But. if there were tenable. o.
even logical, argument against prohi
bitiUn law. would it not as well be ar
gued that the law against murder, rob
FRY, etc. should be repealed. becaus
these laws DO not entirely prevent muir
der, robbery, etc.
Prohibition may not altogether st0
the drinking of liquor, but it does clos
the avenues through which many. ay'
Many of our youths are enticed aud II
to damnation. and countless families
dishonor and misery.
MIR. Editor. you have sons, you lO'
them. and know you advice them
keep away FROM saloon and to beware
liqnor. Why, then. do you champio
the cause of liquor and say You are oI
posed to prohibition Oh principle
How can you consciensciOusly tell you
boys it is bad 10 frequent saloons all
drink its debauching liquor, when 1