St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1914-01-17

Jupiter Pluvius grab it all away, again.
Editor Clarion:
Will you please do me the favor to give
space in your paper to the accompanying
from The Shreveport Journal which
article the said journal had clipped, as you
will see, from the National Liquor Dealers
Journal. The admissions therein made are
significant and furnish food for reflection.
Yours truly,
P. FOSTER, M. D.
ATRIAL THAT CANNOT BE POST
PONED.
The National Liquor Dealers Journal.
in a recent leading editorial under the cap
ton Make Your case ready for Court, =
had the following:
It is always best for normal people to
look at things as they are, reality may be
obscured to the sick or feeble-minded in
certain circumstances. but deception is a
poor evidence of friendship, ~partisanship
with blinded eyes only leads the way to
ruin, and self-deception is the worst Of all.
Let us look at things as they are and in
face Of the enemy dare to consider and con-
cede his strength. Knowing his plan of
battle we can better arrange our forces for
his defeat. Rightly estimating his strength
we can better provide to meet it.
The prohibition fight henceforth will be
nationwide; and contemplates writing into
the national constitution a prohibition
of the manufacture and sale of all alcoholic
beverages. To accomplish this result will
require the ratification of thirty-six out Of
forty-eight states of the Union.
OF these nine are already in line through
state prohibition-Maine Kansas, North,
Dakota, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Georgia,
Tennessee, North Carolina, West Virginia.
The last five have been added within a pc
Rod of six years.
In addition to these there are eighteen
states in which a majority of the people live
in territory made dry by local option, and in
which we may be assured prohibition senti-
ment predominates.
If the people in these states who are
opposed to the liquor traffic demand it, their
legislatures will undoubtedly ratify a ma
tional amendment.
The most influential argument against
prohibition is that it is not effective; that
prohibition don't prohibit"
This is not basic or moral, the fact Of
failure to enforce is no argument against
even the expediency, much less against the
moral issue involved.
Ultimately all questions must be settled
by moral standards; only in this way can
mankind be saved from self-ehffacement.
The liquor traffic cannot save itself by de-
claring that government is Incapable of
coping with the problem which it presents;
when the people decide that it must go, it
will be banished.
We are not discussing the benefit or
justice Of prohibition; but it's possibility, and
probability in present circumstances.
To US there is, the handwriting on the
wall, " and it's Interpretation spells doom.
For this the liquor business is to blame,
it seems incapable of learning any lesson of
advancement, or any motive but profit.
To perpetuate itself, it has formed ALI
ances with the slums that repel all conscien-
tious and patriotic citizens.
EM Nl1O Y & C4N1o LIZ 14OSL QOL
political powers, and backs with all of its
resources the most unworthy men, the most
corrupt and recreant officials. 1t does not
aid the publication of municipal, state or
national administration.
Why? Because it has to ask immunity
for its own laWlessness.
That this condition is inherently and
inevitably necessary we do not believe, but
it has come to be a fact, and the public
which is to pass on the matter in it's final
analysis, believe anything bad that anybody
can tell it of the liquor business.
Why? Let the leaders of the trade
answer.
Other lines of trade may be as bad or
even worse, but it is not so plainly in evi-
dence.
The case of the liquor traffic is called
for adjudication by the American people
and must be ready for trial.
Other cases may be called later but the
one before the court cannot be postponed,
but as in the past, the men most concerned
are playing for postponment, not for acquit-
tai. Is it because they fear the weakness
of their defense that they fear to go on
trial?
Looking the facts in the face is best.
There are billions Of property involved,
and an industry of great employing and tax
paying ability; but when the people decide
that the truth is being told about the alco-
hoic liquor trade. the money value will not
49, --~.-- 800