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English VI.

Debate of May 29, 1895.

NO WRITER ATTRIBUTED

Question: Resolved, That state prohibition is preferable to high license, as a method of dealing with intemperance.

Brief for the Affirmative.

W. H. DAVIS and I. W. HOWERTH.Best general references: North Am. Review, vol. 143, pp. 382-397 (Oct. 1886), vol. 147, pp. 121-149 (Aug. 1888), and vol. 135, pp. 525-535 (Dec. 1882); H. W. Blair, The Temperance Movement; Hand-book of Prohibition Facts. 1892; Forum, VII. 678-682; Special pamphlets; Annals of the Am. Acad. of Polit. Sci. II. 59-68; Cyclopedia of Temperance and Prohibition.

I. The use of intoxicants as a beverage is a great evil. - (a) Economically: Blair, 210; - (b) Politically: North Am. Review, vol. 147, p. 147; - (c) Morally: North Am. Review, vol. 147, p. 121.

II. Prohibition is a legitimate remedy. - (a) It is constitutional: Decisions of the Supreme Court, 101 U. S. 819, Cyclopedia of Temperance and Prohibition, p. 473, (b) No unusual trespass on personal liberty is involved: North Am. Review vol. 147, p. 138.

III. Prohibition is an effective remedy, - (a) It can be enforced, e. g. Mass: R. C. Pitman. Alcohol and the State, pp. 26-47; - Maine: H. W. Blair, Temperance Movement, p. 370: - Kansas: Forum, VII. 681; - Iowa: Special pamphlets. - (b) It diminishes the evils of intemperance.

IV. High license is wrong in principle, - (a) It gives to an evil the sanction of law. (b) It strengthens the saloon power: New Engl., XLVIII. 127. - (c) It tends to make drinking and the liquor traffic respectable: North Am. Review, vol. 147, p. 123. - (d) It debauches public sentiment: Our Day III. 335. - (e) It is the plan of the liquor men: Hand-book of Prohibition, 68.

V. High license is a failure in practice. - (a) It does not restrict the evil: Hand book of Prohibition, pp. 5, 54, and 58; also Forum, vol. 7. p. 681. - (b) Revenue obtained from it is more than counter-balanced by the cost of pauperism and crime it entails.

Brief for the Negative.

C. E. COOK and E. P. JOSE.

Best general references: Labor Cycl. II. 384-5; Mill on Liberty, p. 158, et seq. Forum ii. 232, 401; iii. 152; vii. 673, 682; Macm. LIX. 338; Nation [1869-1889.] ix. 429, xii. 353; xvi. 365, xxxvi. 35, 168, 272, xiii. 52, xlvi. 70, xiviii. 133, xlix. 470; New Engl. li. 401; New Princ., Rev. iv. 31; No. Am., vol. 139, 185, vol. 141, 34, vol. 144, 479; Pop. Sci. Mo. xxvi. 787; Unita Rc. xxvi. 496; Boston Herald, Dec. 10 '92; John A. Andrew, Errors of Prohibition.

I. Prohibition is bad in principle: Forum iii. 152; New Engl. XLIV. 706; Andrew, 96; Mill, 158, 160. - (a) Infringes personal liberty: Labor ii. 384 - (b) An unwarranted and extreme measure: Forum vii. 674; And. Rev. ix. 22; Nation xii. 354. - (c) Inquisitorial in nature: Nation xii, 353. - (d) Society concerned with the abuse not the use of intoxicants; Forum vii, 674, Nation xii, 354. - (e) All consumption of alcohol not deleterious: And. Rev. ix, 20.

II. Prohibition does not prohibit: Forum ii. 234, vii. 682; Pop. Sci. Mo. xxvi, 795; No. Am. vol. 141, p. 38; And. Rev. ix. 22. - (a) It cannot control appetite: No. Am. vol. 139, p. 196. - (b) Not supported by public sentiment: Forum vii. 675; No. Am., vol. 141, pp, 42-45. - (1) Not supported by many good citizens: Nation xii. 353; Am. Jour. Soc. Sci. xiv. 90. - (c) Has failed in - (1) Maine; Fortn xvi. 168. 174. - (2) Iowa; Nation xlii. 52 - (3) Kansas; No. Am. vol. 141, p. 41. - (4) Mass; Macm. lix. 343. - (5) R. I :Unita. Rev. xxxi. 504. - (6) Vt. Fortrn. xvi. 169. - (7) N. H.: Unita Rev. xxxi. 504. - (8) Mich: Fortrn. xvi. 175-6. - (9) Minn.: No. Am., vol. 141, p. 39, vol. 141. p. 39.

III. High licence with "local option" is the most effectual method of dealing with intemperance: No. Am. vol. 144, p. 500; Nation XLVI. 71; Pof. Sci. XXVI. 790-2; Nordhoff, Polit. for Young Am. 156; Boston Herald, Dec. 10. '92. - (a) It will reduce the number of saloons: No Am. CXLIV. 499; Nation XLII. 52, XLVI. 71: - (b) Licences will defend their privileges against unlicenced dealers: No. Am. CXLIV. 499. - (c) The fewer the saloons the less the political power: No. Am. vol. 144. p. 500. - (d) It has all the good features of prohibition without menacing personal rights: And Rev.IX. 25-26; Nation XXXVI. 273. - (e) Tends to prevent use of spirits: No. Am. vol. 144, p. 500. - (f) Has proven its value: Forum iii, 152. - (g) Can be enforced: Forum ii, 410 - (h). The argument that high licence should be defeated because it indefinitely postpones prohibition is an admission of the efficacy of the proposed legislation: No. Am. CXLIV, 506.

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