HOW PROHIBITION OPERATES.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 156, 31 December 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

HOW PROHIBITION OPERATES.

American piohibition means that alcoholic liquors shall not be manufactured or sold as beverages in any district where a prohibitory law exists; and their proposed constitutional amendment provides that the manufacture and sale for purposes of science shall be regulated by kw. It is neci-ssary to remember a few items affecting the progress of piohibition and the amendment of constitutional laws. Most people know that America is a big country. All do not realiso thatjnany of its Scates are each larger than all England, aud that each State has its own House of Legislature and coie of laws ; also that conntrie.", cilifp, and towns have all to be voted in, before any change can be made in an existing law, ornny new law enacted. These facts indicate " big" difficulties in the way. Yet they have made prohibition g accomplished fact in five different States, viz., Maine, lowa, Kansas, Rhode Island, and Vermont ; while a system of local option is widely adopted in Georgia and other States, which practically prohibits. The amendment has been submitted to the people in eight other States, and the people are being educated up to the point of forcing its adoption on their respective Legislatures. These are Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Arkansas, Alabama, Oiegon, Tennessee, and Texas. So much for the thing prohibition and its growth. Now glance at a few results :—: — Maine Before and After Prohibition. fifty tears ago. now. 13 distilleries Nono 400 open bar taverns Nono 10,000 drunkards 2,000 (one-fifth, and these are rapidly dying out 2,000 grogshops Nono 200 delirium tremens deaths 50 1,500 rum paupers Very few Poverty Plenty Wretchedness Happiness Those comparisons are taken from the Portland Herald. Now let'us note a few further proofs of results on the authority of Mr. Joshua L. Baily (chairman of the State Temperance Committee of Pennsylvania.) He has made personal inquiries in the State, and says : " I saw thirty years ago the following daik picture : — "1. Barrels of rum all around, and drunkenness in abundance. "2. Men worked only three or four days per week. " 3. Unpainted houses. " 4. Dilapidated fences. " 5. Overturned gates. " 6. Broken windows, stuffed with old hats and pillows. " Now, on a recent visit, I saw no liquors, no drunkards, and men working six days a week ; houses are newly painted, fences are upright, gates are on hinges, and behind whole windows aie blooming flowers and the smiling faces of children. And, what is more, there are many full-grown men and women in Maine who have never seen a drunken man. There are 333 towns in which not a drop of alcoholic liquor is sold as a beverage. " More Results to Compare. "In 1857. " Total amount of deposits in banks of all issues, in Maine, a little over two million dollars. " Eloven savings banks, with aggregate deposits less than ouo million dollars. " Lcs3 than five thousand depositors. " In 1835. "This general banking account had been multiplied by five, and amounted to over ton million dollars. " Fifty-five savings banks, containing deposits for thirty million dollars. " Nearly ninety thousand savings bunk depositors." Still further proofs are given by Mr. P. V. Nasby (published by the National Temperance Society, New York) relating to the city of Poitland (Maine) as an important centre : — Thirty years ago the population was 30,000, and it had 300 grogshops (an average of one to every hundred persons). The city was one of the most drunken in the country. Poverty, crime, and misery abounded in proportion to the number of liquor shops ' In 1883 only four open bars existed, defying the law. These were iv subcellars of the four principal hotels, and so intricate were the ways to them that a guide was necessary ; and when found were unattractive and dreary places, without even seats for thirsty customers ; also about 20 secret places, still more haul to find. The 300 grogshops of 1853 were leplaced by useful tradespeople, such as bakers, shoemakers, tailor?, and milliners, fvo houses vacant, and all house property improved, and general values increased. Working men now largely own their own houses, and Bnpport newspapers, book stores, and art galleries, " Prohibition iv Maine

saves the youth of Maine." The same authoiity dedans that Kansas and lowa ha\e a similar expeiience. And in these al.so the boys are saved In Topekn, tho capital of Kansas, there is not now a .-iiloon left. Ilieiuare, however, seventeen s.tloon keepers, but they an: till in gaol. "Go behind thisu prison It.us and ahk any of those imprisoned saloan keepeis whether piohibition prohibiu" The r.nlioud companies doing imsine?s in Kansas and Jowu is-ue public notices that they will not transport any intoxi eating liquors to lie delivered in those States. These field should teach us two things: 'I hat prohibition means prohibition, and that piohibition creates prospenty.