Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-08-09
BOOZE ARGUMENT.
ISioux City Tribune].

The Tribune is, from time to time,
in receipt of the literature" of the
publicity bureau of the liquor interests.
1t gives to it that careful reading by
which all sides Of question may be
heard before judgment is made up and
advocacy or opposition assumed. we
are impresses less by the strength Of
the arguments than by the absence
among them of the only tenable. solid.
irrefra gable ground for justification OF
the production and consumption OF
spirits. the inlpregnable rock OF sclen-
tilc truth Instead they talk about the
sacredness Of personal liberty in time
when social needs are more and more
restricting individual freedom Of ac-
ton. They cite precedents when all
precedents are under challenge They
waste time. paper and ink in present
ing scriptural justification in day of
revised versions and higher criticism.
All such augmentation is mere
laundering IN the index. 1t is trite
And science applies such convincing
such irrefutable arguments, Darwin,
Huxley Spencer and others of their
class can be cited as authorities. While
William James pragmatism might be
brought in as a reinforcement. Instead
OF being eternally on the defensive
they might assume the offensive. In
stead of standing as the foes OF society
they might assert themselves its tru-
est friends Is there that in making
as we'll as in drinking intoxicants that
obscures the perceptions dulis the
mind to the obvious and accepts phan-
toms for realitieso This literature
seems TO indicate it.
Put on scientific grounds the argu-
naent would be thus sketched: The
constant effort of nature is to preserve
a balance. In the devastations OF the
locust we see the consequences when
the balance is upset and those predac-
ious insects are left to propagate I'M
hindered Insects feed on one another
and birds on them. big fish eat the lit
tie ones, farmers are kept from getting
opulent too radically by the gruo
worm. the blight. the drouth and the
hail Needless Of the unit nature is
jealous to preserve the type. But
when humanity is reached in that
vast scale of being other methods
must be used Cannibalism never
gained wide popularity Nor would
mankind submit TO even judicial power
used 10 repress over production Of hu
man beings.
other expedients. She implants certain
passions in men that can be stated only
by human blood Hence our depopu-
lating wars and the frequent killing in
brawls But the crafty dame does not
RELY upon bloodthirstiness alone. If
she works her end thru the pugnacity
of men she works il far more effect
lively thru other passions. indulgence
in which men think they find pleasure.
OF these the first rank must be given
to the pleasure men-and. too often,
women-fnd in the Civilizations and ex-
citements of intoxication. How ERECT
i've this is In shortening life the vital
statistics show Transmitted effects
increase infant morality. France.
nation OF wine drinkers, increases its
population but ! per cent in decade.
A major part of our murders trace
back to the intoxication produced In
pursuit Of pleasurahle sensations.
Here. then, Is the solid ground OF
physical science upon which the liquor
interests can plant their feet. Here
they can hurl science instead OF acad-
ernics at their opponents. We are AIDS
to nature In our laudable purpose OF
maintaining a balance, OF wedding out
the unf1ttest that the fittest may sur
vive to produce the coming perfect
race OF men. they can assert. We
stand with Darwin and Spencer and
demonstrate the truths Of their ply
sizes. We are no 1shmaelites. with
hands against every man and every
mans hands against us. We are the
real. If sadly misunderstood, benefac-
tors Of the human race.
This. OF course, would not be the
argument Of christians, but 1t would
follow the scientists ana be the cold,
hard nature OF dealing with the things
OF life. That the way OF science IL not
employed II testimony to the great
ness Of Jesus and acknowledgment
that His philosophy governs the word