This Day in History: 1907-06-30
A patriotic prohibition sermon was delivered by the Rev. W. S. Mains at the Ramapo Reformed Church. Drink, he maintained, interferes with “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”, perverts justice, upsets domestic tranquility, and is the great enemy of the general welfare. It is responsible, directly or indirectly, for 90% of crime and supplies the largest proportion of the inmates of jails, alms houses, and insane asylums. “It destroys homes, bringing untold suffering upon defenseless wives and children.” Would Prohibition curb individual liberty? Personal liberty ceases when it interferes with “the general good of the whole people”. The only way it can be stopped is to abolish it completely and this can be done only by arousing all the people. “It is the duty of the Christian and the Patriot to use all their powers to kill this enemy of the home, the state, and the Church.” (Bristow)