people as
fanatics.

The Prohibitionists cannot expect to make this question a Federal
one. The United States has no jurisdiction of this subject.
Congress can pass no laws affecting this question that could have
any force except in such parts of our country as are not within
the jurisdiction of States. It is a question for the States and
not for the Federal Government. The Prohibitionists are simply
throwing away their votes. Let us suppose that we had a Prohibition
Congress and a Prohibition President--what steps could be taken to
do away with drinking in the city of New York? What steps could
be taken in any State of this Union? What could by any possibility
be done?

A few years ago the Prohibitionists demanded above all things that
the tax be taken from distilled spirits, claiming at that time that
such a tax made the Government a partner in vice.

Now when the Republican party proposes under certain circumstances
to remove that tax, the Prohibitionists denounce the movement as
one in favor of intemperance. We have also been told that the tax
on whisky should be kept for the reason that it increases the price,
and that an increased price tends to make a temperate people; that
if the tax is taken off, the price will fall and the whole country
start on the downward road to destruction. Is it possible that
human nature stands on such slippery ground? It is possible that
our civilization to-day rests upon the price of alcohol, and that,
should the price be reduced, we would all go down together? For
one, I cannot entertain such a humiliating and disgraceful view of
human nature. I believe that man is destined to grow greater,
grander and nobler. I believe that no matter what the cost of
alcohol may be, life will grow too valuable to be thrown away.
Men hold life according to its value. Men, as a rule, only throw
away their lives when they are not worth keeping. When life becomes
worth living it will be carefully preserved and will be hoarded to
the last grain of sand that falls through the glass of time.

_Question_. What is the reason for so much intemperance?

_Answer_. When many people are failures, when they are distanced
in the race, when they fall behind, when they give up, when they
lose ambition, when they finally become convinced that they are
worthless, precisely as they are in danger of becoming dishonest.
In other words, having failed in the race of life on the highway,
they endeavor