Evening star., 1926-05-17
Advocates of Prohibition
Should Have No Fears

To the Editor OF The Star:
Undoubtedly there are many good
people. who, though entirely in SYM
pathy with the cause Of prohibition,
yet doubt the wisdom of the eight
eenth amendment and question
whether it will be possible to enforce
it and make it effective. All such
should read John Fiske's Critical
Period Of American History" In ad-
dition to having a rare literary treat,
they will realize that the Constitution
itself faced greater difficulties than
any one Of the amendments, and that,
in fact, it was doubtful whether it
could be gotten into shape for pas
sage by the convention, to say moth
ing of ratification by the 13 States.
Opposition developed at the suggestion
of the convention itself, and was met
at every step. One State refused to
send any delegates and delayed ratifi-
cation for nearly three years. Ratifi-
cation in some of the larger and more
important States was accomplished
only by the smallest majorities and
after long delays. In New York, for
instance, the vote was 80 to q, and
only then after a delay of two years.
In Pennsylvania, after ratification,
there were threats of armed rebellion
and some actual violence. In only
one State, and that one of the small
est. was ratification accomplished
promptly and with small opposition.
The following quotation from Fiske,
referring to the constitutional conven-
ton, is of special interest and gives
a clear idea of the difficulties that
had to be met and overcome before
the Constitution was gotten into
shape for ratification by the States:
''At the very outset some of the
delegates began to exhibit symptoms
Of that peculiar kind of moral coward
ice which is wont to afflict free gov
ernments, and Of which American
history furnishes SO many instruc-
tive examples. 1t was suggested that
palliatives and half measures would
be far more likely to find favor with
the people than any thoroughgoing
reform, when Washington suddenly
interpoSed with a brief but immortal
speech, which ought to be blazoned
in letters of gold and posted on the
wall of every American assembly that
shall meet to nominate a candidate,
or declare a policy, or pass a law, so
long as the weakness of human nature
shall endure. Rising from his Presi-
dents chair, his tall figure drawn up
to its full height, he exclaimed in
tones unWOnteuiy solemn WllH sup
pressed emotion:
alt is too probable that no plan
we propose will be adopted. Perhaps
another dreadful conflict is to be
sustained. If, to please the people,
We offer what we ourselves disap-
prove, how can we afterwards defend
our work? Let us raise a standard
to which the wise and the honest can
repair; the event is in the hand of
God"
After laying down this book, one Is
impressed with the feeling that con-
ditions facing the eighteenth amend
| ment are as nothing compared to those
through which the Constitution had to
pass before it was accepted as the
law of the land.
Those who are in favor Of prohibi
tion should cast aside all fear and
come out boldly in support Of the
eighteenth amendment.
Listen to Washington:
'1f, to please the people. we offer
! what we ourselves disapprove. how
can we afterwards defend our work?
/ Let us raise a standard to which the
| wise and the honest can repair"
CALEB S. MILLER.