Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-09-22
Can the Temperance cause be promoted by Leg
islation

This question (says the Georgia Temper
ance Banner, is daily growing in Importance
Heretofore some of the most strenuous advo-
Gates have frowned upon every effort to IN
woke the power Of law for the suppression Of
the evils which they have deplored. They
have thought that penal enactments for the
abolition Of the liquor traffic would involve
the question with politics and create a SYM
pathy for those who would be regarded by
many as injuriously treated. At the same
time they have supposed. that hat vt the u ey2 M5Gpd
render the statute practically useless. Legal
restrictions being, in their judgment, impoli-
tic, and impracticable, they have preferred
the long-tried expedient ofmoral s~uasion.
This class, though originally numerous,
has been constantly diminishing and it is but
occasionally that we meet with any persons
whose opinions are entitled to much consid-
Grafton e~spousing the view of the subject to
which we have just referred. We believe
that the time has now come in the history of
this Reformation when something stronger
than moral force is requisite to carry our eff
forts to the most desirable results. In this
good work we have active opponents-men
whose profits, whose comforts, whose subsis-
tence depend upon the sale of Intoxicating Ii.
quors. Break up their business and Won do
stroy the means to which they have resorted
to for support. 1t is not of course to be sun
posed that such men could be effectuaIly
reached by moral means. Men will not al
low to these their proper force when such
pressing interests are invaded by their con-
slderation. It is obvious that the only kind
OF suasion which can be effective in their
case, is that which is sustained by compul-
sion. Men will not ~relinquish a business
which has afforded support to themselves
and families, unless compelled by law.
Again, there is a large class Of consumers
who are so completely the slaves of appetite.
that they cannot be reached by any ordinary
measures. Stupefed as the intellect has be.
come with strong drink, warped by passion
as are all their moral perceptions. all the ar
guments and exhortations which YOU NAV
address them, produce no lasting impression
The only hope of reforming them is to re
move from them Che temptation which it !,
the interest Of the liquor vender CONSTANTLY
to keep before them. You must make it i'm,
possible, or at least very difficult for them tc
procure the means of gratifying their appe
tites. You may be unsuccessful after all
but the probability of success is much more
encouraging than when easy access can b,
had to the fatal beverage.
The impracticability of enforcing the Law
on the event of It's enactment, is no argumen
against the law. When legislators are dis
cusslng the merits of any statute they do no
ask, can its provisions be executed vii
this law be popular? Will it be agreeable t,
the officers of justice to enforce it? Their,
is but one question which they should con
slider: Does the public good demand such
law? We are here to legisIate for the pro
lection of the people from injustice and SUI
fering-wil such a result be in any way at
tanned by the passage of this law ? If thes.
enquiries can be answered affrmatiyeIv. thei
duty is plain. If the possibility of its bein.
evaded be any solid argument against an
law, there would be found very few laws I'M
on our statute books. The sophistry and in
E genuity of skiIlful counsel are every dav eva
ding the plainest statutes. Men steal com
NIT perjury, murder, and numerous other ~
fences against society, whichar prohibited !,
terms as explicit as language can devise: an,
Jurles are bringing in verdicts of not ou;zt,
We have more to say upon this subject bn
we shall not trouble our readers longer a. ~,
present time.