St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1908-03-07
THE PROHIBITION MOVEMENT.


organized movement to prevent it sweeping the
whole country before it has become long enough
tested in any one district to note its effects for
good or evil. There seems to be plenty of money
back Of it, and it is fast becoming a power in
politics, not as plank in any platform but as a
Vieldef of votes, throwing it's influence with any
faction or party commanding strength enough
to be of service. This fact alone hoists signal
danger, by giving power to inferior factions in Of
municipal affairs and subverting local interests
to the accomplishment Of the downfall of the
saloon, and by the sacrifice of all other interests
on the altar of prohibition, with it's doubtful
benefits. 1t may be called to mind that some of the
darkest spots in the history of the world were
born under the mask Of religious fervor and
fanatical intolerance. A reform that carries in
its wake the destruction of so many interests,
and refuses to listen to any appeal opposed to its
ideas of moral salvation is certain to erect bar
riers in it's path that will be insurnountable.
Extreme radicalis1n and extreme conservatism
are alike Ineffective. There is much good that
could be accomplished by the forces that are
now at work in the ranks of the prohibitionists,
aside from the accomplishment of their object,
but the reactionary effects of the campaign as
it is being conducted in the Southern States will
leave the cause so weakened that it's influence
as factor in moral Improvement will be greatly
lessened
Local conditions should be taken into consid-
GRAFTON. A law beneficial to one community
might be the deathbloW to another. Prohibition
in Covington to-day would ruin its prospects,
while a proper control Of the sale of liquor, a
strict enforcement of adequate laws and higher
license would be benefit
The moral idea back of the prohibition move
ment is the open sesame which is being used
with magical effect in gaining entrance to the
pocketbooks of those who look no further than
the surface indications, and who conclude that a
movement that waves such banner and is sup
ported by large number of church people must
be right. The evils of rum can easily be seen,
but the unsoundness of the proposed remedy
for these evils is not so obvious because it is yet
embryonic and undemonstrated It sounds well
to say, if thing is bad, do away with it, but
we have also heard it said that sometimes the
remedy is worse than the disease"
That the prohibitionists are handling large
sums Of money there is no doubt, although we
do not place much reliance in the statement that
ordinary donation it might see fit to make to any
movement that possessed local influence; but we
do believe there are in the ranks among the
good number of persons whose only interest is
the money they make out of it, and whose chief
morality is the FURNISHED side that is held to the
view of the public while there are others who
use it as a cloak pure and simple For those
who are honest in their conviction that the step
is for the betterment of society and an aid to
prosperous conditions, we have only sympathy
yet we cannot but think they are mistaken and
that the methods they are using are subject to
the same criticism and denunciation that has
been heaped upon the heads Of the manufac-
turers and dispensers of liquors for the use of
money to secure the enactment of laws.
Money is valuable to man because it gives
him power to satisfy his needs and to crafty
his desires. Political office is valuable to man
because it yields him money or gratifes his am
bition. Where is the difference between -pur-
chasing. legislation with money and purchasing
legislation with votes? Yet on every hand you
can hear the threat, Woe unto to the leg
islator who fails to support the cause! Well
see to it that he does not take his seat again.
Is this not pure and simple coercion, or per-
haps in a better sense, bribery? It is bad
enough when sinful people use sinful means,
but when sinful means are used under the cloak
of morality and benefcence-a christian desire
for the welfare Of humanity is prolific of
doubt and breeds incredulity and distrust
1t would be a serious move to contemplate, |
this striking out of existence the manufacture
and sale of intoxicating liquors, considered only
in the abstract as to displaced capital and labor
but when we also consider the allied interests,
the products of agriculture that would be thrown
upon the glutted markets., and note the effect
it would have upon the farmer, who is least of
all responsible for the causes which induced the
prohibition movement, we cannot but condemn
it as irrational
The evils of the trade in rum are numerous,
and we do not wonder that christian men and
women have become shocked and Mortified at
the depth of degradation that has been revealed
in some of the larger cities, but all should not
be laid at the door of the saloon; there are other
causes that will exist after the saloon is gone
You should not cut off mans head becase he
mas Wart on his nose
Make and enforce proper laws; organize for
he Improvement of society and the proper edu-