The Democratic advocate., 1909-07-23
DANaER or suMPTUARY LAWS.
Instead Of Lawful Regulation, They
Beget unlawful Evasion.

We have seen how prohibition
works in Maine We are seeing how
it works in Georgia. We shall see
how 1t works In Tennessee and Ala
bama. For awhile, ] dare say, 1t will
keep whisky from the negro--at least,
make 1t harder for the negro to get
It. But II will not abate, for nowhere
has 1t abated, the drink habit among
the whites. Instead OF lawful regu-
lation, 1t will beget unlawful evasion.
For plain intoxicants II will substi-
tute poisoned intoxicants Snug
Cling, extortion and adulteration will
become-~there as elsewhere-accept-
ed agencies. In place of the saloon,
which, as we know 1t, Is an indefen-
sible quantity, but may be regulated,
II we see fit, and the sale OF drink
open and above board under statutory
enactment, we shall have the various
forms OF outlawry and hypocrisy
which lava. repugnant to the habits,
= sntlments and opinions OF great
ooGteS Of the people always provoke.
n he long rGo this is not the worst
Of H. Beycad and above these things,
the establishment in any community
OF policy resting upon disputed
code OF public morality and indivldu-
al conduct. and looking for It's sup
port TO infiamed appeals to religious
feeling, generates not only pharasaism
but tyranny. It arouses passion and
promotes collision by assailing what
free men regard rs private property
and personal rights, and, by bringing
the church and the state nearer to-
gether, II not renniting them, Il In
evitabiy corrupts the fountains Of JUS
tice ara law by eliminating reason
md eehroning emotion. We know
at What cost slavery was abolished
Upon the ruins Of slavery have arisen
other new and direful evils. The at
tempt even 10 seem to abolish the use
OF alcoholic beverages in Kentucky
must begin by extfnguishlng many
hundreds of millions of dollars OF
property and revenue. The property
was honestly acquired. II Is lawfully
possessed Directly II employs and
sustains at least 100000 people. In.
directly 100 900 more. II brings TO
the State many millions OF dollars OF
foreign money which enters the gem
eral reservoir and makes for the pros
NfkAAF VI bAAh NJ ANAWlNt@
late these millions OF property. income
and revenue, as the Anti-Saloon
League proposes TO do. and what do
We gain IN lieu OF them7 Immensely
Increased taxation, 10 start with. and
after that, precisely what they have
gained In Maine--for every saloon
that pays taxes. a spcakensy that rays
none; for every dollar Of revenue and
income cut on from the people and
the public treasury. dollar Of trib-
ute 10 the smuggling express company
or the contraband road agent: for
every man who sells a drink. an out
law: for every man Who takes
drink. liar and lawhreaker. the po-
litlcal preacher and the rasoaily poli-
ticiAn In alliance. the ono % dispose
of corner lots In Heaven according 70
his ignorance or hie vanality, the
other to roll his eyea aanctimoniousiy
in the direction Of Heaven, TO hold
Office and 10 control the ciAndeHtlne
disposition of drink--inat as they have
done Ia tho State Of Maine for nearly
so years.
He who calls the peoples attention
10 circumstances and considerations
which cannot be- denied II OF once de-
nounced az friend OF whisky and the
rumAalier, aR an enemy of religion
and temperance. II not drunkard
outright. as a hired man OF the dis
tillerlss. breweries and saloons II
IL of piece with the reioinder ~ the
Southern radical In the old slavery
debates that. II you were IN favor Of
freedom. you wanted 10 marry Mig
ger Sentimental extremiam has no
other answer when confronted with
the lneSorable facts of experience
and the inevitable deductions OF logic.
Each civil district in county
should be It's own judge. Each pre-
cinct In a city should be les own
Judge The hotels and clubs. like the
private dwellings. should be their own
judges " a man wants 20 take a
drink. let him take Il like n man,
and not like q sneak. II drink IL to
be sold. AZ II IN bound 10 be. no mat
Ter what statutes arc ievclcd against
II. let II pay taxes 20 the statea. coun-
~ and city. not contribute 10 the sup
port OF olerico- political alliance. de-
rivlng itR power from fraud. outlawry
and the spy gystem.-IIenry Waiter
son. In L.oulayille courier-Jouynal