Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-11-22
LAW POWER

The allegation that it is the desire and de-
sign of the Order of the Sons of Temperance
of North Carolina to invoke Legislative aid
in efecting the great work of moral reform
which they are endeavoring to consumate, has
been 90 often refuted and so thoroughly dis
proved by the contrary action of every Divis-
ion, both Grand and Subordinate, which have
expressed opinions upon the question, that it
would seem almost an insult to the common
understanding Of fan intelligent public again
to spread a denial before them. But as the
enemies of the cause, at this particular juno
ture, are endeavoring to prejudice the claims
of our Order by a reiteration of this ~oft-explo-
ded SANDER, we trust we shall be pardoned
for again stating the position which we occnpy
on this question.
The experience of those States which have
called in the arm of the law for the suppression
OF vice, has long SIM e convinced us that In
temperance is not to be arrested by penal en-
actments and statutory DEGREES. While there
are those who indulge in Intoxicating drinks
there will always be found means to procure
them. Where there is a will, there is a
way" is a trite but very true adage; and tho
there should be the strongest prohibitory laws
against the sale of alcoholic beverages, vet il
public sentiment and the practice ofthe people
be at variance with those laws, the cause Of
temperance would be retarded rather than adj
vanced thereby. And besides, law being but
II
the reflection of the popular will, if it transcend
that will, it remains as a dead letter upon our
statute books, with no moral power left for its
enforcement. Convinced as we are then. NJ
these facts, it would be suicidal in us to crave
legislative aid in behalf of our cause. We dc
not deS'reft; much less shall zee ask for II. Il
1t were in our power now to have a law passed
totally abolishing the liquor traffic in North
Carolina, we would not exercise it, because we
feel satisfied it could not be carried into effect
What, then, do we aim to accomplish, and
by what means? 1t is our design to make the
practice o~fseLling and drinking Intoxicating bev.
erages ~disreputable, and by the popular voice
OF public Indignation TO expel them from socie.
ty' And It'll our expectation to effect this, BY
calling universal attention to the widespread
ruin it is i~nficting upon all classes of our cit
zens by e~nlisting the voice of popular con.
domination against these practices, from an en-.
hghtened sense of their destructive tendency
and if we can accomplish this much, we care
not what the LAW upon the subject may be, we
shall have effected the overthrow of the evil
We want to reason and persuade men into love
for total abstinence, not to force them. We
had much rather have our Legislators unite with
as in the moral crusade we have waged against
the monster intemperance, by giving Us Their
individual aid as influential citizens, than to have
them pass legal enactments for its suppression
The one we do invoke; the other we neither
ask or desire. A Senator or Member of the
House of Commons can do more for the cause
of suffering humanity by e~xerting his influence
among his constituents in behalf Of temperance
than by spreading prohibitory enactments upon
every page Of our statute book, while public o
plnion is against those enactments.
This is the true position of our Order upon
this subject ; and he who asserts to the contra.
ry, is either wofully ignorant of our designs, OF
wilfully and maliciously traduces Us.