The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-08-09
TEMPERANCE TOPICS

Whatever may be said in criticism
Of the acts Of the General Assembly
Of North Carolina that has just ad-
1ourned it can't be alleged that Ii pass
ed a single act 10 either weaken. or
cripple the state wide prohibition law
the law which was passed by the
General Assembly. in special session,
in 1908, and ratified by popular vote,
the majority in its favor being. in
round numbers, $4,000.
On the other hand, the General AS
sembly Of 1911 passed two acts that
make the prohibition law more effect
| ive-the act prohibiting the sale Of
near beer in the state, and that max
| ing 1t unlawful for clubs to handle
| liquor Both acts were passed by good
majorities and meet the approval of
the people of the state as a whole.
| OF course, the liquor men put up the
plea Of local self government-a plea
| that has become thread-bare that
/ the motives behind it are easily seen.
| Local self-government as the advocates
Of liquor see it is not that true prinei-
pie from which our forefathers fought.
| but merely the right TO have thrust
| upon the people Of a community the
!grog-shop, the dispensary and other
joints where the damnable fluid is sold
that makes beasts Of men. Local self
government is put on low plane when
it means giving the people the right to
engage in a business. the foundations
| of which rest on hell Why not say:
Give the people OF a community the
right to repeal the laws against muir
der, larceny and other crimes for
which men serve sentences in prison"
Should man declare for this he would
| be branded as anarchist a fool,
but there is just as much sense in CIV
ing man the right to commit one
crime another. The law against
murder is one OF the fundamental laws
upon which all civilization rests. 1t
was written by the finger OF God on
the tables of stone and has been placed
on the statute books OF every law abid-
ing nation. On the other hand the
warning: Woe to him that putteth the
bottle TO his neighbor's lips is found
in the same Bible in which the law
against murder IS written. The law
against murder is violated and the vio-
lators are punished. The prohibition
law is violated. If you repeal one, re-
peal both-have elections all over the
country and give the anarchists a right
to repeal one along with. the other.
But, on the other hand, if you let one
stand, recognizing it as fundamental.
let the other stand, strengthen 1t, en-
force it, and punish the outlaw who
violates it. Don't discriminate.
AS to local government in its
. true and democratic sense. it is cher
ishsd nowhere in the Union more than
in North Carolina. 1t was for local
self government that the people of
Meeklenburg county assembled on the
20th Of May. 1876, and declared them
selves free from British rule; it was
for local government that North
Carolina beat those who sought to en-
force the Stamp Act, and 1t was for
| local self-government that the regula-
tors in Piedmont, North Carolina, defied
the English governor, Tyron. And il
. was for local self government that the
people of this state ratified the prohi-
, bition law Not that local self-govern-
ment which licenses men to sell liquor
but that kind which protects innocent
women and children against King AL
cohol In other words, the Magma
Charter OF the weak and defenseless
In other words, North Carolina has the
. moral and legal right to govern her
self.
, At the far end Of the bar there is
the man who comes in slowly ant
, passes his hand over his face nervous
ly. The bartender asks no questions
, but pushes out bottle of everyda!
whisky and a small glass of water.
The whisky goes down. shiver fol
lows the khsky and a very little O.
the water follows the shiver. The
| man goes out with his arms close Il
his sides, his gait shutting and hi
j. head hanging.
= 1t has taken him less than tire,
a minutes to buy, swallow and pay for {
, liberal dose Of poison.
Says the bartender:
THAT fellow had a good business
I once. Doesn't look like it, does he
Jim over there used to work for him
But he couldn't let it alone"
The "it mentioned is whisky
{ Outside in the cold that man, VIII
!. couldn't let it alone, is shutting hi
way against the bitter wind. And ev