The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1919-01-31

sinners.
Post Comes Nearer Comprehendini
Perhaps the editorial which display
the keenest comprehension of the sit
uation OF all the New York City cd
itorials was that published in the New
York Evening Post OF January IL
Discussing the causes OF the success
OF ratification. the Post says:
Among the causes there was
doubtless war impetus left over.
All the talk about man-power,
about conservation of grain, about
care for labor, about social de-
nands and national needs blot
ting out individual privileges,
must have had its effect And the
financial argument had been
driven from the field by our i'm
mensc war expenditures and the
discovery of what the country
could endure and produce in the
way of taxation. Why longer
hesitate about sacrificing millions
i'll revenue from the excuses when
we had come TO thinking of cv-
erything i'll billions?
The great and permanent force
behind Prohibition has been, how
ever, moral force. 1t was under
the ban OF public morality that
the army OF men and WOMEN who
have fought for the abolition OF
the liquor traffic swelled its num-
bers year by year. Not since
slavery have we had a question
which so plainly showed the read
mess OF the American people to
respond to moral appeal. It
took deep hold of their hearts.
They grew impatient OF objec-
tons. They would no more be
deferred by admitted difficulties,
or resultant loss and hardsiips to
many. Here, they said. is a great
evil. Its bancful effects in society
are not denied, and cannot be; and
the thing TO do is to loitcr no
longer, but to cut it out root and
branch. To carry such questions
into politics is grievous to some. -.
They would keep them for the in
dividual conscience and for edit
cation. But in the United States
ii is impossible to keep moral is
sues out of politics. The voters
may be misinforned about them.
may not foresee til c consc-
quenccs of their action, may in
dulgc in hopes that the event will
cast TO the earth, but take an in
tense interest they will, agitatc
and organize and vote, and no
man or party can prevent them.
\ complex OF motives encrgized
the Prohibition movement. but its
CHIEF driving power was moral
This is the American of it.
Another American quality is
now for the opponents OF Proti-
bition to display. We mean
cheerful submission to the major
it,. 1t is for us all not merely
to acquiesce in what is. or soon
will be. the law OF the land. made
by such lawful methods. but to
help enforce it. People were in
tic habit OF using arguments
against Prohibition which ought
to be dropped, now that it is All
accomplished fact. II was said
that tie law would be a dead let
ter. IT was said that hidden booz-
ing-kens would take the place of
open saloons. and make our last
estate worse than our first. 1t was
legitimate 10 urge such 'pefils as a
reason for not hastily undertaking
to abolish the manufacture and
sale OF liquor; but now it is too
late. Good citizenship requires
unqucstioning obedience TO the
law 1t also requires holding Up
the hands OF the authorities in
enforcing the law To repeal the
Prohibition amendment is impos-
sible. To nullify it would be
disgrace. We have all got to be
good losers and take our medicine
with smile.
The event which became GER
tainty yesterday will bring with it
mighty changes 1t will destroy
property. 1t will alter social GUS
toms. 1t will cut through per-
sonal habits. As a set-off, vast
gains are looked for. All OF them
will surely not be obtained. The
millennium will not suddenly ar
rive when drinking is abolished
Yet we may look forward to the
working of the tremendous OK
pertinent without undue forcbod-
ing or dismay. What the Amer
lean people have deliberately de-
cided to do, after years and years
of debate, the American people
will certainly survive and profit
by.