The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-03-06
THE PROHIBITION ISSUE.

of personalities. and that arguments
for and against prohibition will be
based upon common sense and will
appeal to reason rather than preju-
dice. At the outset we desire to de-
fine our position as accurately and de-
fnitely as possible. so that hereafter,
should the campaign develop needless
heat. there shall be no question as to
the attitude Of this newspaper.
We admit that the liquor traffic in
all its forms Is an evil. that the use
Of liquor as a beverage Is injurious,
physically. mentally and morally to
the person using 1t. that the country
would be bettered by the abolition of
the liquor business In all its depart
ments. that every dollar spent for al
coholic liquors Is a dollar misspent,
that even as a medicinal agent alco-
hol is of doubtful value and that
there are other remedies of equal or
greater value and less harmful in ef-
feet. Believing as We do. we would
gladly see the use of liquor totally
discontinued and the liquor traffic
destroyed root and branch. So firmly
are these convictions grounded that
were 1t within our power to cast the
single and deciding vote that would
give US absolute prohibition in place
OF the legalized sale of liquor. that
vote would we cast for. prohibition
most gladly. We would outlaw the
manufacture and sale of liquor.
the shipment and delivery Of 1t by
common carriers. and the ban would
be put upon all social clubs that sell.
serve or store liquors for its members
and guests. That Is our position. and
were II possible to reduce the theory to
practice In It's application to the public
at large we would be willing to live up
to our belief and neither sell. buy nor
drink or aid another to sell. buy or
drink. Is that strong enough for our
friends who profess to be-
lievs that this ideal candition can be
brought about by the enactment Of a
law forbiding the sale Of liquor?
But. however strong our convic-
tions may bs. when we consider
that conditions are antagonistic to
our theory. as reasonable man
We must admit that 1t is impossible
10 enforce q prohibitory law because
public sentiment il not back of it.
There Is a law against murder, an
other against arson, another against
absolutely the commission Of the
crime against which It Is directed.
Neither will a law prohibiting the
sale of liquor. This is stock argu-
ment OF those who demand a prohibi-
tory law regardless Of all facts and
experiences. They either overlook or
disregard the different attitudes as
sumed by ninety per cent of the peo-
pie respecting the violation Of the
laws directed against crimes against
person or property and the violation
OF law forbidding the sale of liquor.
When murder Is committed public
sentiment demands the apprehension
of the suspected murderer and his
trial. Every mans hand Is against
the murderer, the house burner or
the thief and only his nearest and
dearest rally to his defense. 1t is the
State-meaning all the people
against the criminal. But what is the
situation when a man sells liquor in
violation of a law? Are all or a ma
jo-lty of the people against the liquor
seller? Do they demand his appre-
hension and trial and punishment?
Do the people really I'm their inmost
souls regard liquor selling as a
crime? Do they not shrug their
shoulders and dismiss 1t from mind
with the thought that liquor selling
Is nothing more than the infraction
of a man-made law and no great
harm has been done? There is new
er hue and cry raised when liquor
seller breaks the law. The people do
not demand his punishment, for there
Is no ingrained feeling that society
has suffered grevious wrong and the
safety OF life and property has been
put in jeopardy. and for this reason
prohibitory laws have never been
even approximately enforced any,
where. An unenforced law is worse
than no law and breeds lawlessness,
for when any considerable element
amongst a people become accustomed
to violating a man-mdde law with i'm
punity. they soon lose respect for all
law and proceed to break Godmade
laws