Temperance by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 7, 1883

Temperance.

By Editor

Can Prohibitory Law Be Enforced?

MANY who are friendly to prohibition hesitate to put their opinions into active practice, honestly doubting if the time has come when prohibitory measures can be enforced. This is the standard argument used against prohibition, and it is used by friends and enemies alike. It was this that led a majority of Chicago ministers, men who honestly wanted to do the right thing and the best thing, to make a stupendous mistake in demanding high license legislation, and it is this that has led ardent temperance men to fall into the high license pit everywhere. We have often asserted and still maintain that laws of a prohibitory nature are the only ones that are even fairly enforced, and we denounce as cowardly and wrong the assertion that they cannot be fully enforced anywhere. That a just law against crime cannot be enforced is a statement un-American.

A. Goodwin, of Indianapolis, has researched a book entitled, "Seventy-six with the Traffic," which, with other interesting matter, gives a history of prohibition in Indiana in 1855, and shows that the law was modeled after that supreme law of Maine. Mr. Goodwin says:—

"The law was to take effect June 12, and it took effect! On the morning of the 13th every saloon in Indiana was closed and crape was hung on many doors in token of bereavement, and not a saloon was opened for public business from that day to the eighth day of the following November. Speaking of the workings of the law in Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Sentinel of June 15 says: “The temperance law, so far, has been universally and faithfully observed. We hear of no disposition to violate its provisions.” Recurring to the subject again on the 20th it said: “That the people of Indiana desire, and will have, a reasonable and constitutional law for the suppression of the evils of intemperance, none are blind enough to deny.” Recurring again to the same subject on June 28, it said: “During the past fifteen days there has not been a single commitment to the county jail for the violation of city ordinances, and in the way of arrests by the police there is little or nothing doing.”"

"The Indianapolis Locomotive of June 23 said: “There has not been a single arrest or commitment to prison since June 12. The mayor sits quietly in his official chair, and the night-watch doze on the store-boxes!” Such was the peace and order which followed, that on the 12th of July, just one month after the taking effect of the law, the Indianapolis council reduced the night-watch one-half. Referring to this fact, the Locomotive of July 21 said: “The temperance law has nearly abolished rioting, drunkenness, and rowdyism, and the tax-payers are reducing their expenses.” The Journal, referring to this reduction, in its issue of July 24 said: “The reduction of the night-watch was on account of the diminution of disturbances and drunkenness from the enforcement of the prohibitory law.” The Indianapolis Evening Republican of June 29 said: “Rummies no longer perambulate the streets, making night hideous, and the watchmen have little to do.” The Journal of August 20 said: “The law diminished crime, reduced drunkenness, saved money, and emptied jails until the supreme court took hold of it.” It was the same everywhere. The Sentinel’s New Albany correspondent of June 24 said: “The liquor law is generally and faithfully observed in this section of the State;” and the New Albany Tribune of the 27th said: “The sixty or seventy saloons of this city have been closed for two weeks.” The Lafayette Journal of July 2 said: “Since June 12 the mayor’s court of this city has been almost deserted. Our jail is now cleared of all the corporation prisoners, and the good effects of the law have been felt at many firesides.” The Madison correspondent of the Indianapolis Republican of July 3 said: “The liquor law works like a charm. Sorrow and sighing have fled away. Liquor cannot be purchased illegally in this city.” The Lafayette Courier of July 2 said: “What words can express the heartfelt gratitude of those whose happiness has been promoted by the enforcement of the prohibitory law;” and the Bloomingdale Times of July 3 said: “We have not seen a drunken man in town, nor heard of a single fight or quarrel, since June 12.” Such was the testimony everywhere."

Here we have testimony of the most positive character, from men and papers of all parties, to the complete success of prohibitory law and to the joy and gladness it brought to many homes. The importance of this testimony in the present stage of the temperance work is inestimable, and it should convince every one that prohibition is not only practicable, but the only practicable method of dealing with the liquor traffic. —Lever and Liberator.