The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-08-05
lnent. When we see taverns subverted


and churches substituted-and when un-
der the same influence we see the many
other prevalent evils Of the land, daily
diminishing, why should we apprchcnd
but that this, as well as other evils, will
be subducd under the process BY the
mild, yet wonderful agency of persua-
sion, revolutions, great and powerful
have been, and may yet be wrought, in
the moral world. LUTHER inculcatcd
doctrines which laid the foundation for
the worlds reformation, unaidcd by any
other power than moral suasion. The
twelve Apostles were instructed to
pre0ch the gospel. The dcciplcs of
CHRIST only crhortm and admonished the
observance of the tablet law They
taught the doctrine that heaven must
be obtained through the lorc Of GoD,
and not the fear Of hell. They cnhorted
to good, and .toreacorne1 evil works.
And in short, all history, sacred and pro-
fame, furnishes an example against the
policy of forcing morality.
But temperance members disclaim
any other agency than that Of persua-
sion. IN long and laborcd speeches,
they denounce Legislation as contrary to
their policy; and yet, in our opinion,
they make use of every opportunity af-
iorded them to lcgislatc, indirectly. The
Legislature makes it indictabc to retail
without license. When they indict,
they then lcgislatc to the extent that
they employ the means afforded by the
Legislature to enforce temperance.
DO they disclaim Legislation because
they do not represent the people in the
State Hall, and; there make laws upon
the objcct; and yet, when the law is
made, acknowledge that there are none
so eager as they to execute2 Do they
work up this distinction between the
law-giver and the cxecutioner of the
law2 We say, those who would catch
at such distinction, so far as the prin,
ciple of legislating, or employing force
upon the subject is concerned, would
sickle to "divide hair 'twixt south
and southwest side" In any view
that may be taken, the object of him
who makes the law is to enforce tempe
rance, and so it is the object of him who
executes.
But they not only use the means af-
forded by the legislature to enforce tenn
perance as the cxccutioners of the law,
but they employ Legislative force as
Commissioners Of Roads and members
of Town Councils. Now we do not op-
pose temperance societies, or object to
the enforcement of law and order, nor do
we object to indicting for breach of
the law; upon the contrary, we think
every offender, for the sake of law and
government, should be indicted; but
think it highly impolitic for temperance
men to indict as a means for the fur
therance of temperance principles. We
think it impolitic, because it will preju-
dice not Only that portion of the CON-
munity who are most.in need of refor-
nation, but the prejudice will extend
far into the ranks of the sober and pious
community, and thereby injure the
cause We think, therefore, it should
be left to those who are most offendend
as members of the community, and not
as leaders of the temperance reform, to
indict the violators of the law and break
eTs Of the peace.
We are not of the opinion that tenn
perance is advanced by any prohibition