The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-07-22

AS TO PROHIBITION ]
Abstract of an Address Given by Prof. Hugo Num-
sterberg, of Harvard University, Before the !
Contemporary Club, of Philadelphia, 4
in November, 1908. i
Il Il II
in November, 1908.


agree further that all alcoholic bev-
erages are dangerous for children
and psychopathics; and we agree
that to fight against such evils IS the
duty of every conscientious reformer'
Our possible disagreement appears
thus only when we consider the
means by which these evils can be
removed in the highest possible de-
gree without introducing other evils
equally calamitous. After studying
this problem for more than twenty
years and after repeating frequently
in the psychological laboratory all
the significant experiments, and after
curing scores of drunkards by psy-
chotherapeutic means and thus being
near to the question all the time, l
am fully convinced that under the
present condition of American life
the only wise way Of reform is by
working toward temperance and not
towards prohibition. 1t must be a
campaign of education towards a
moderate use of light alcoholic bev-
erages.
Prohibition and Pragmatism.
Since uttered this opinion public
ly few months ago in popular
magazine, whole literature of So
called replies has gone up. There
was no lack of vehemence and an
abundance of misstatements, and
even the excitement of the presiden-
tial campaign would not be sufficient
to excuse the denunciations and fall
sifications which my friends, the pro-
hibitionists, INDUCED in; but I
looked in vain for a. single argu-
ment which could change in the
least my opinion. OF course, I do
not deny that the other side has a
much simpler remedy. To exclude
all alcohol from this country by pro-
hibition laws seems to get rid OF the
evil with one stroke; It needs much
less effort than true education to-
wards temperance. But the prohibi-
ton movement is just like the free
silver movement in economics, or
like socialism in politics, or like
spiritualism in religion or like
Christian Science in medicine, or like
pragmatism in philosophy. They all
contain little core of truth, but
their truth is old and they become
new fashioned movements only by
new sensational Foundations which
appeal to the unthinking crowd. But
just this always secures at first an
immediate cheap victory; super
fciality of thinking prevails in the
world and can never resist the en-
thusiasm of fanatics. have hardly
any doubt that this prohibition move
ment, too, will at first overwhelm,
by it's very superfciality, the sober
efforts for education and reform in
this country, just as the vaudeville
and the operetta have overwhelmed
the serious drama, as the cheap mag
azine has demolished the book store,
as the yellow press has captured the
masses, and as in a hundred other
forms the appeal to superficial judg-
ment has been successful. Then of
course the reaction comes in time,
and the cry for prohibition will just
as swiftly disappear as the cry for
free silver.
Our Habitual Disrespect for Law.
Let us not forget that we want to
make laws for nation whose habit
ual disrespect for the written stat
utes has proved in the last years to
be the chief source of it's troubles,
and let us further not forget that we
want to legislate against physiolo-
gical desire which belongs to a
majority of men. The absence of
this desire in women or in large
number of men whose nervous sys-
tenn is differently organized can
easily mislead. I personally, for in
stance, brought up in temperance
household, have had my life long a
physiological dislike not only for
strong drinks, but also for beer. But
in planning for the millions I should
feel reckless and irresponsible if I
simply generalized my own chance
constitution. have no word,
whatever, against the so-called re-
strictions of personal liberty; I do
not know a right to personal liberty
if it interferes with the common
good, but the more I must demand
that this common good is determined
by the careful observation Of the real
facts.
Prohibition Brings Many Evils.
That kind of abstinence legislation
WHICH prevails III certain pdrtS Ol the
country and is evidently near in
others is surely not for the common
good That it destroys industries
and makes hundreds of thousands
breadless, and that it deprives mil
lions of harmless, joyful feeling is
still the smallest harm which it pro-
duces. But far more important is the
disrespect for law which it creates.
Prohibition puts premium on the
systematic violation of law and pro-
duces form of corruption which is
still worse than the corruption which
irradiates from the saloon. Furth-
er, it reenforces drinking in its
most miserable and dangerous form
The moderate drinker is cut off,
while the immoderate drinker is ere.
ated. 1t abolishes light wine and
beer; and opens wide the way for the
worst whiskey. 1t eliminates every
sound supervision and makes minors
and inebriates the favorite custom.
ers. A clean surface appearance is
bought at the expense of inner moral
and mental destruction. Worst of all