Arizona republican., 1914-07-25
ANTIDoTE TO PROHIBITION

participate III tHlS ueUdtc, lOl WHICH
The Republican was kind enough to
offer the space, and thus expose my
self to the unnecessary criticism of
some of our prohibition friends.
However, noticing the perverseness
and contortion of their arguments,
was tempted to express my views in
this important issue and at the same
time suggest a plausible remedy.
At the present age of reforms, al
though not at all new, as we have
had reformers and refo-mers from
| time immemorial, the progress of
mankind. instead of taking long
strides as anticipated, is invariably
hampered and handicapped in its
onward march. Instead of removing
obstacles from its path. these So
called reformers are themselves the
greatest drawbacks to the advance
ment of society.
| Not only do they (the reformers)
restrain and hamper mankind in its
march, but even aim to dissolve and
disintegrate the ties that keep soci-
ETY. intact, i. e.. endeavor to loosen
| the props of the home by forcing
| eugenics upon US. The home, that
| is sacred to every one of US, and
which has been preserved for CEN
| turtles at the cost of human life. will
| at the stupid caprice of ou-' so-called
reformers. be annihilated. Invariably,
instead of obeying the mandate of
God and the laws of the country,
there will be forced upon us that
which is obnoxious to every decent
and respectable citizen, the practice
of free love- evidently running the
home and consequently the country.
Now, 10 and behold, there appears
our prohibition friend on the horizon.
blind to common sense, reasoning
and sound deductions from expert
ments of the past, and ardently
wishes to impose upon us a reform
that will reduce US to the stage
which scientists place our origin
His reform, if enacted. will do away
with individuality and personal lib
erty, for which our forefathers Of
fered their lives that we may enjoy
the fruit of their labor.
1t is sad, indeed, that less than
one hundred and forty years after
the Declaration of Independence, and
twelve years less than that time af
ter the constitution of the United
States. the question of personal lib
.erty should still be open for discus
sion
Have these -eformers forgotten the
thrills experienced while reading the
history of the bloody fields strewn
with human beings sacrificed for no
other purpose than that We may en-
joy that which is synonymous with
life For could there be life without
liberty?
Should all those good efforts.
deprivations and loss of life be
sighted at?
1t is a known fact, and obvious
to the sound mind. that liquor is not
the cause of the existing poverty
and misery among the masses, and
that prohibition does not prohibit
the sale of liquor. For the history
of such legislation in the states
where it has been enacted shows that
it has failed completely to accomplish
its object, and what is the result of
such legislation? Law habitually
disregarded breeds contempt for
law So you see that there is a
main cause which is amenable for all
the misery and crime in society.
If ou.' friend. the prohibitionist, is as
altruistic and as magnanimous and
sincerely desires to eradicate an
evil, why don't he strike at the root?
Why be quixotic and attack wind
mills, thus imagining that stupendOus
things are accomplished? But it is
as Rousseau said: 1t takes a great
deal Of philosophy to enable us to
observe once what we see every day.
II there is a glimmer of light in his
head he may eventually realize his
futile waste of energy by fighting eff