The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-05-09

they are branded as disreputable
low, hidden things. All that is best
and highest in the state Is arrayed
against them; they are outcast, and
If there is any psychological trend in
such a situation, it is not clearly in
the direction Of better things? 1t is
universally known and accepted
fact that the taxation laws are vio-
lated everywhere-most fagrantly;
yet nobody cries out about any re-
sultant contempt for law. The pure
food laws are violated constantly, and
will continue to be violated for a
long time, perhaps, yet no one pro-
tests that their existence is a menace
tte-FsesPeett- feF law. On the contrary
lit is quietly and sanely recognized
that. by their mere existence, viola
tons or no violations, they are a
constant reproach to their transgres-
sors, and an uplift toward better con-
ditions. Every wise and far-seeing
law. will serve to create respect for
law. None else can.
The next protest that reaches our
ears is that you cannot legislate a
man into righteousness and that If
you remove temptation by law, you
merely deprive an individual of all
initiative, that you weaken, not
strengthen. his will, and that you de-
prive his act of all moral value. The
authors of such an objection are re-
miss in their understanding and in
their foresight. Supposing that one
should grant that not a single con-
frmed drunkard. not single mod
nTqtQ L
ed by prohibition law las a matter
OF fact great many of them would
be-and at least their families would
be benefited) vet after all they, be
they thousands or millions, are
small matter in the long run. What
of the fact that their children and
other mems children. and the young
men whose opinions are just crystal
lizlng. and the young women whose
ideals are just taking definite form,
what of the fact that all these re-
ceive through the law, a strong bias
IN the direction of belief that in
toXlcating liquors are useless, de-
grading and productive of misery
that they are unworthy of true man
hood and womanhood? Is that bias
important? And what of the fact
that their eyes as no longer offended
by the open appearance of the saloon.
OF the poor staggering maudlin who
might have been a man; that the nos
trils are not greeted by the stale Of
fensive odor of intoxicants: that the
ears are not hardened to sounds of
oaths and obscene language. the in
separable accompaniment of intoxi-
cation? Is such immunity worth
striving for? What though the drunk
ard still manage to keep up his old
habits; at least he, with his revolt
ing weakness, is cutcast in the eyes
OF the law, and the young need no
longer suffer proclamation of senses
and of ideals. James Hutchins Bak-
er. president of the University of Col
orado said, "if we could rightly ed
ucate and care for one generation of
children, society would be regenerat-
ed"
Is exposing them to the horrors
OF lntemperance, and to its tempta-
TONS in order to strengthen their
will power, the way to care for the
coming generation? AS we'll ask if
the eyes become stronger in an at
mosphere of smoke and dust; or if
the flower can put forth it's richest
beauties in soil of rock and sand.
No. the Unreasonable influence of
environment is surely too we'll I'M
derstood today, to be capable of re-
futation by the opponents Of prohi-
bltlon. An eminent psychologist has
expressed, in reference to suicide, a
truth which is suggestive here.
Ready access to instruments of self
destruction" says the writer. seems
to increase the probability of suicide"
The analogy is not favorable to the
saloon.
But suppose we do not grant, and
assuredly we need not, that prohibi-
ton could have no saving influence
on the millions addicted to the use Of
dntoxicants. The confirmed drunk
ard 1t probably could not save. but
what of that much boosted class. the
moderate drinker, the man who can
rake 1t or leave it alone as he
likes Does it not seem fair to as
sumo that when the law places liquor
under a disreputable ban, he will be
more likely to choose to leave it
alone? Certainly large numbers who
vi ahh sparlnsly before, will now not
drink at all. What is the result?
Just here we may profitably take ac-
count of the most deplorable fact in
the nature of the effects of alcoholic
indulgence. The drunkard, it is true.
is very present evil--he is produce
tive OF no good in society, and is often
an instrument of crime, and of poy-
erty and suffering fer others. Yet
while he does much harm we must
recognize that in most cases he wouId
have done little good. So the drunk
ard. though the most obvious, is not
the most unfortunate result of the
liquor evil. 1t is rather the insidious,
hardly noted. constant encroachment
on the character and attachments. on
the physical and mental health and
vitality, of the moderate drinker. the
man who drinks occasionally or who
drinks only beer, which constitutes
the saddest fact disclosed in the
study of this problem. And q fact II
is, scientifically established. The ef-
fects of even very moderate use Of
alcoholic drinks are such that tho
man who might have done well for
himself and for society does but moor