p. 725 | PROHIBITION IN IOWA by Elder J. O. Beard

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 24, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 46.

PROHIBITION IN IOWA.

By Elder J. O. Beard

BY ELDER J. O. BEARD.

(Concluded.)

WHY THE LAW FAILED.

In the earlier history of our country, parties were formed for the purpose of advocating principles, and different parties arose only as men honestly differed as to what was right. But here we have a majority freely admitting that prohibition is right in principle, but at the same time repudiating it as a test of party fealty. With the evidence of this already given, perhaps this additional item will be sufficient:—

In partisan politics prohibition is weak, in the hearts of the people it is strong. The man who invents a method of getting prohibition in such a shape that no political party will have anything to gain by helping to nullify the law, will be a benefactor and when he dies should have a monument. —Daily Iowa Capital.

The above, with many like utterances, shows that political parties are now chiefly organized and managed to secure and hold official position. And, to that end, party policy is dictated by leaders and not determined by the voice of the people. Also there has been manifested among the people an alarming amount of apathy. They have been like men dreaming. A flurry of excitement would arouse them to spasmodic activity, but they would speedily relapse into drowsy inaction. The cause of this was a selfish love of ease and an almost total indifference to the welfare of others, especially when it required either labor or money.

Then, again, the dishonesty that was developed was indeed surprising. A measure of this was expected to show itself among the violators of the law and their defenders, because those who are so greedy for gain that they are willing to live by destroying their fellow-men do not often hesitate to do anything for filthy lucre. But of the advocates of prohibition better things were expected. But last year during the campaign the fact was brought out that the chairman of the Prohibition party’s State committee had been and still was printing retail price lists for a wholesale liquor store in Chicago. And from the size and character of these lists it was evident that they were made to be circulated in a Prohibition State—which State was Iowa, of course. Things also came to light which quite plainly indicated that the liquor interests were contributing money for the “Prohibition party” campaign expenses. They did this to divide and defeat the Republican party, which would insure the repeal of

prohibition. For it would seem self-evident that if the prohibitionists could not enforce the law while having absolute control of the dominant party, they could not expect to draw enough strength as an independent party to succeed.

During this same campaign a woman who is a very able speaker said publicly: "I was a member of the National Prohibition Lecture Bureau, and staid in that work until I received a personal letter from 'The Anheuser Busch Brewing Company,' offering me seventy-five dollars per month and all expenses to continue lecturing for prohibition. Then I thought it was time to stop and consider what I was doing."

These are striking evidences of wickedness in high places. Put with all this the bold recklessness of the saloon element, and the readiness with which it resorted to violence and bloodshed, and we have a most marked fulfillment of prophecy. Truly perilous times have come, for men are lovers of their own selves, covetous, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, and despisers of those that seek the welfare of others, and evil men are waxing worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. See 2 Tim. 3:1–5, 13. Our Lord said that at his coming it would be as it was in the days of Noah. Matt. 24:27–39. But at the time of the flood "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen. 6:5), and by drunkenness, revelry, and licentiousness did he gratify his lust. And so surely as God withdrew his Spirit from man in the days before the flood, so surely do these things show that he is again withdrawing his Holy Spirit, and leaving mankind to be led captive by Satan at his will. When thus led, Satan will be ready to carry out his plan of anarchy, violence, and bloodshed, ending in total ruin. 2 Thess. 2:9, 10. "But the Lord will be the harbor [margin] of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel." Joel 3:16.