The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-28

tjment to enforce 1t is an injury in a democratic republic, since 1t generates contempt for other laws and tends to pro duce lawlessness. wise statesman will not seek the enactment of laws. however desirable that cannot be enforced. Expe- rience has proved that wise prohibition laws, with a healthy public sentiment back of them, have been boon to rural districts and to many small towns. It is an unsolved problem whether they will be a permanent success in large cities. Maine has had prohibition over 50 years, % of which have been constitutional pro- hibition years. Yet with about six cities only that have a population above 10. GOO, and with a population of 6S4, 466 in 1900, at present ''in Maine there are 6S7 retail liquor dealers { wholesale, 506 retail malt dealers and 47 wholesale malt dealers;'' that is, there are 1214 federal licenses to sell intoxicating beverages in Maine, or about one to about 800 people Surely AL abama under statutory prohibition that requires everlasting vigilance, and that can be modified according to experience, can do better than Maine under sleepy constitutional prohibition.
 Again, effective prohibition law is 1, usually drastic. and 1t takes away by the strong hand of the law the natural right of an individual to drink in moderation, If his conscience approves. liquors slight ly alcoholic. It takes away also the privilege of the development of free agency in its resistance of temptation Expediency inouires: Shall this right or this privilege be taken away by statutes that can be modified at little trouble and expense by the legislature, according as experience shall teach its lessons, or shall it be by constitutional provision the mod flying of which may cost many thousands of dollars and the rending asunder of society, the church, and even families? ? We arc probably mistaken If we think that the present Is the only moral period in Alabama's history. In the future the people may be able through their repre- sentatives to have executed their com mands properly to regulate the subject of alcoholic liquors.
 What does the church say to the state on this subject? Both the state and the church are ordained of God but they differ in their nature and their functions The state is ordained by God. the Gre ator and is older than the church; it's guide Is the light of nature and of req son: its aim is the we'll being of man in his relations to his fellow man, and 1t deals chiefly with material welfare; it's symbol is the sword, with power to pro- duce fear and to punish with fines, im- prisonment and even death.
 The church IS founded by God, the Re- deemer, with the Bible and the Spirit of Jesus as it's guide; its aim is the regen- eration and the everlasting salvation of the individual, and 1t deals largely with the unseen and the eternal; its symbol Is the keys of knowledge and of government by which it binds and looses; it has no power to punish with fines Imprisonment or bodily pain whatsoever.
 The prohibition of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors by the state is exclusively a political or state matter. and is its extreme or drastic method of dealing with the great evil of the abuse of alcoholic liquors. On this subject the state must be guided by the light Of na- ture and of reason.
 Has the church any message from God speaking In the Bible requiring the state to enact q constitutional prohibition? Not & word
 The evils and the danger in the abuse. or incorporate use. of wine and strong drink are set forth in the Bible in strong terms. but even when church and state were united in the Old Testament theoc- racy prohibition existed only for the priests while engaged in their duties in the tabernacle and for r-e Nazarite while his VOW was on hinl-a VOW which usually was voluntary and for limited time No church council--presbytery, synod. asso- citation. conference, congress--has mes saee on prohibition. Resolutions favoring 1t by .presbytsry have been pcsaiblp only becauoo tho Bible has bssn re5ected by