The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17
as a nation.

hentucky where WhiSkey Is sold; ey- .
cry barroom in the state of Georgia
has gone out of business, and after
next Christmas there will be no more
bar roons in the states of Alabama
and Mississippi. There are only four
cities and towns in the state of Ten
nessee where the sale of whiskey is
licensed. In the state of Florida there
are only fourteen counties where the
sale of whiskey is permitted, and in
our own state we have prohibition in
a large majority of the counties. and
If we do our duty on the 26th of May.
next, there will not be a saloon left.
We are informed b those who are
opposed to prohibition that prohibition
will not prohibit 1t might with equal
be insisted that the law
which prohibits murder does not pro-
hibit. as well as all the other laws
which undertake to regulate human
conduct. While these laws do no. alb
solutely prohibit the commission Of
crime, they do minimize the Commis-
sion of crime, and if it weI- not for
such laws, anarchy would reign su
preme within our borders. 1t is not con
tended that by the adoption Of the pro-
hibition law in North Carolina that
we will De able at present to COM
pletely close up the blind tigers and
prevent the drinking OF
whiskey but that the adoption OF such
law, would remove the temptation OF
the barrOOm from our young men as
we'll as the grown up men of the state
who are inclined to indulge in the use
of intoxicating spirits, cannot be de-
MED
That under the present Law there
may be interstate shipments Of whis-
key into various communities i'll North
Carolina cannot be denied, but there
is now bill pending in cong. ess which
if adopted will render it impossible
for those who live in other states to
ship into our state intoxicant liquors
of any kind.
However, if the laws which We now
have and those which We propose to
adopt are properly enforced We can
prevent the sale and disposition of such
shipments after they are once deliver
ed at points within this jurisdiction,
and I doubt very much if the express
companies will, in the face Of our pres
ent state enactments, take the risk of
receiving shipments although
they may be interstate in their char
acter
But even if we should have the
worst, and all these things should con-
tlnue,- still the example of a great state
like North Carolina in prohibiting the
manufacture and sale OF spirits will
Rave a far reaching effect upon our
sister states and upon the nation at
large.
We are told by some that if We adopt
prohibition it would deprive them of
their personal liberty in that respect
Americans are a liberty loving people,
but those who are patriotic never de-
sire to exercise this right when to do
SO would be to the detriment of their
follow man. We enjoy liberty to the
utmost in North Carolina We have
fellow man. We enjoy liberty to the
press; We can go into the courts and
invoke their aid in the endorsements
Of our rights; We are at liberty to be-
long to any church or to join any polit-
ical party; or to engage in any legi-
innate business without interference
on the part OF any one. In a word,
we have the right to do anything that
* calculated to improve our condition
or to advance the welfare of our cit
liens, but when we are asked to Ii
cense certain individuals to engage in
the business of destroying our young
people morally and physically; to ad-
vance the cause Of religion and educa-
ton, then the good people of our state
should in no uncertain tone notify
those who crave this particular kind
of liberty that in the future North
Carolina will never authorize any in
dividual to engage in business which
can only result in disgrace and harm
to the human race.
Among other things there are in
volved in this controversy the question
as to whether the people of North Car
olina prefer the bar room to school
houses, churches and other institu-
tions intended for the moral and in
tellectual development of our people.
We are now offered an opportunity to
decide whether We will choose the bar
room with all it's evil tendencies in
preference to the other class of insti-
tutions 7 have mentioned.
The responsibility for the result of
he approaching election will rest with
the voters of the state and our destiny
in this respect is trembling in the bal
ance, but 1 have great confidence in
the courage and manhood Of our peo-
pie, and l feel confident that we will
have an exhibition of patriotism on
the day of election which will prove an
inspiration for all time to come for
those who believe in those things that
are calculated to promote the best in
terests of the American people.
Whiskey drinking is the greatest evil
that Confronts the human race at this
time. 1t ruins the character, it is
the advance agent of poverty and dis
tress, it impairs the intellect. it hui
initiates kindred, alienates friends and
it eradicates pride. First it ex-
hilarates, then exalts. then banishes
| responsibility; but when the reaction
comes, the pendulum swings just as
far the other was