SHOULD PROHIBITORY LAWS BE ABOLISHED? 233 



and the statement that it is the greatest peril to modern civiliza- 

 tion has a basis in actual experience. 



It appears to be a conclusion, which all scientific and socio- 

 logical progress is verifying, that a more complete knowledge of 

 alcohol will demand some form of prohibitory laws ; whether like 

 those existing at present or not it is impossible now to say. Such 

 laws will not depend on any sentiment or any theory, but will be 

 founded on demonstrated truths, and the necessity for self-preser- 

 vation. It will not be a question of Maine law, or whether pro- 

 hibition prohibits, or whether any party or society or public senti- 

 ment favors or opposes it. Action will be taken on the same prin- 

 ciple that a foul water supply is cleansed or a sanitary nuisance 

 removed. The questions of high or low license, local option, and 

 all the various schemes of partial or complete restriction, with 

 the vast machinery of moral forces that seek relief by the church, 

 the pledge, the prayer, and the temperance society, will be for- 

 gotten, and the evil will be dealt with in the summary way in 

 which enlightened communities deal with other ascertained causes 

 of dangerous disease. 



While the average citizen may be slow to unlearn and change 

 his views about alcohol, he is ever quick to recognize and provide 

 for dangers that peril his personal interests. Show this man that 

 every place where spirits are sold as a beverage is a "poison 

 center " and every drinker is a suicidal maniac, whose presence is 

 dangerous to the happiness and peace of the community, and he 

 will at once become a practical prohibitionist. This is the direc- 

 tion toward which all temperance agitation is drifting. 



Sanitary boards, government commissions, and hospital au- 

 thorities must gather the facts from very wide sources, and the 

 generalizations from these will supplement and sustain the labo- 

 ratory and hospital work and point out conclusions that will be 

 real advances in this field. Inebriate asylums (at present obscure 

 and bitterly opposed) will become very important aids in the 

 study of the causes of inebriety. Like prohibitory laws, they 

 will become a recognized necessity when the disease of inebriety 

 and the poison of alcohol are understood. 



Beyond all theory and agitation there is another movement of 

 startling significance. Everywhere the moderate and excessive 

 drinking man is looked upon with suspicion. His capacity is 

 doubted, and his weakness is recognized as dangerous in all posi- 

 tions of trust and confidence. Corporations and companies demand 

 employees to be total abstainers. Railroads, manufactories, and 

 even retail liquor dealers of the better class require all workmen 

 to be temperate men. This is extending to all occupations, and 

 the moderate drinker is being crowded out as dangerous and un- 

 fit. This movement has no sentiment, but is the result of experi- 



VOL. XLV. 19 



