The Washington herald., 1910-06-09

After a morning session devoted to
fiery arraignments Of those who believe
prohibition is the only cure for intem-
perance, 500 delegates to the United
States Brewers Association convention
took their wives and children down the
river on an excursion yesterday after
noon.
Representative Boutell. OF Illinois, de-
elared prohibition does not prohibit, and
he scornfully arraigned the attempts of
the Southern States 10 enforce their anti
liquor laws. He said:
Within comparatively recent times in
this country and in lberty-loving Eng
land. the state undertook by secular
laws TO dictate to its citizens. their food,
drink, apparel, equipages, amusements.
recreations. their daily and nightly oecu-
pations. Each age has had its own pecu-
liar notions as to what personal liberties
Of the individual should be invaded
Old Laws Petty.
"As Maeauly pointed out. the main OBJ
ject of the sumptuary laws Of the Puri-
tans under the commonwealth, seemed 70
be TO debar mapkind from indulging in
the honest, wholesome joys of life. To-
day all men laugh at these old laws and
regard them as petty. spitefui violations
of the rights Of the individual
''But Oliver Cromwell. who seldom
showed any leniency in dealing with the
foibles and weaknesses Of his feuow-men,
and took grim delight in curtailing their
pleasures, never thought Of deprivins
them of their beer, perhaps because he
had been brewer himself
In our day, however. the only attempt
that is made to revive the obsolete
sumptuary legislation, is by those who
seek TO prevent the Incorporate use Of
alcoholic beverages by making the manu-
facture. sale. or use thereof. a crime
In several States prohibitory laws
have been in force long enough for US to
form an accurate estimate OF the effects
Of this legislation
The three main facts are apparent.
First. that prohibition does not prohibit
This is demonstrated by the records OF
the commissioner OF internal revenue,
which show that there are wholesale
and retail dealers in spirits end malt
liquors in every State and Territory.
For example: In Kansas last year, there
we're $50 retail liquor dealers. ten whole
sale liquor dealers, two breweries, 49s
retail dealers in malt liquors. and sew
enty-two wholesale dealers in malt
liquors.
Similar Conditions Prevail.
AN examination OF the records Will
sto-.- +to4 sf-,ssar -o~,4t+so-,.- -,r.r-.sr a.
ali the States where the sale of liquors
is forbidden by the constitution or laws.
''The second fact that impresses the OBJ
server of conditions in prohibition States.
is. that when the open sale of mild bev-
erages is forbidden the surreptiuoUs sales
Of strong spirits Of an inferior quality
greatly increase.
The third fact calling for comment
is the appalling increase in prohibition
States in the damand for patent medi-
cines. tonics, and narcotic drugs. The
doped tCnie is the pitiful delusi0n OF the
temperance tippier- But even If prohibit
ton could be made effective, II laws
could he enacted and enforced that would
prevent. all men. the Incorporate and the
temperate alike, from using pure aleo-
hOlic beverages and their noxious sUbsti-
tutes. what ought our attitude be to-
ward such legislation2 or course. there
will never be a unanimity of opinion on
this subject. IT will always be a Gues-
ton to what extent the majority shall
encroach upon the freedom OF action OF
the minority
Now let us consider whether legisla-
ton making the use of alcoholic bever-
ages a crime conforms TO the highest
ideals OF an enlightened government by
a free people.
What Lincoln Said.
us the use of beer by the citizen what
Lincoln said II was that which is exclu-
sively his own business or, in the Ian
guage of the English philosopher. Mill.
entirely a 'self-regsrding action or is il
an action injurious TO society. and, there
fore. one that the state can forbid2
laws are directed against diff
ferent objects at different times. and we
must eoncede that If 1t IS right to-day FOR
the state to ordain what a man shall
not drink. it is equally competent for the
State. now or at any future time, 10 pre-
scribe what man shall eat or wear.
"Of course. in this country, where we
have popular government based on uni
versaI manhood suffrage, the majority
has the power to write its opinion on
any subject into the Constitution and
laws. The question, therefore, narrows
itself down to this. IN our efforts TO evolve
an ideal government. should the majority
make any concessions to the minority,
and il so, what should those concessions
be? In a popular government a ma
jority has the power to be as tyranuicsl
as a despot under an autocracy. The de-
gree of enlightenment TO which a people
haS arrived can be measured by the mag
naninity with which the majority treats
the minority.
Reversed Aged wisdom.
IN this country we first reversed the
wisdom Of the ages and agreed that the
majority should not interfere by secular
legislation with any mans religion. Now
We are also quite agreed that the ma
iority shall not encroach on the individual
Continued ON Page o, Column o.
Popular Excursion, baltimore & Ohio
r. r., June IL.