The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-04-14

once respect is last, for law, a Republic
ceases to exist-and a despotism takes its
place.
In Reforms, we thus sec that there ar,
several points to be taken into consdera
ton before they are pushed-amone
them.
lst. Is society fit ad ready for tn,
reform, or does it desire it2
I'd. IT attempted, may it not be pushed
to the extreme, whereby reaction NAV
make us lose the securities and BLESSINGS
we already enjoy.
Sd. Is the Reform within our legislative
power, consistent with the genius Of our
People, and of our institutions?
4th. lfit be indisputably disiraLlc, arc
not principles and preccdents involved in
ltScXccution incompatible with the Lib
erty and Rights of man, and therefore.
more danger than good come from the
Reform
We are aware that the Temperance
movement, as it has been conducted, has
been pronounced failure, unjustly, how
ever, and that more vigorous measures.
therefore, are insisted upon;-unjustly we
say, because in the remembrance of nil of
Us, the Temperance movement has effect
ed most salutary reforms in the social
circles, and social habits Of the people
That more vigorous measure will haste on
this Reform questionable, and if attcm-
ted, that the reaction will not be such rs
to lose about all the advances that have
been made, is not improbable. Men can
not be driven into sacrifices of Appetite
They must be reasoned into them. Men
cannot be le9islated into being sobcr.-
They must be shown the necessity of be-
ing SO. Forcible total abstinence in rum
among drunkards would lead, it is more
than probable, into the adoption of other
exhillrations,-such rs tobacco. or opium.
temperance men must not be discouraged
because they cannot realize all their good
expectations at once. Christ even could
not convert the world in day. Centuries
have passed before mankind could be in
duced to take what are now deemed the
most indisputablc maxims of life. Tom
perance, wethnk has within Twenty-Five
years achieved7wonders, in these United
States, and in twenty-five years to come
with Reason and Prudence, puided bv ex-
pencnce, at tie helm, it will add to its
wondrous victories. Force, violence, ar
Oltrary and tyrannical legislation, intcrfcr-
ence with the rights of man, or of proper
ty, general or personal abuse, or dcnuncia- |
ton, however, will arrest, if we mistake !
not human nature, all its progressive victo- |
rles, IT not tarnsh such as it has already |
achieved. The great moral victories of
or over mankind, are effected !
not by Force, Legal or Rhysical,-for
men rebel against Forces%bat by Reason
by Energy, by Action, by persuasion,-
GmpowdeE was used for about century
to cannonadc or fusiladc mankind into
one form of Religion, but there are vet
moro forms than ever. Papal Bulls rent
the Catholic Church into n thousand sccts
but seductive Jesuitism captivatcd almost
whole continent to Romanism. Indeed.
there is scarcel Y any great Reform record
ed in History that was ever effected by
mere brutal force. The great law of Ma
tons, the books which all mankind look
up to, revere, aud bow down to. have not
an army, posse even, no, not Il constable
to execute them. Grotius and Vattel arc
authorities higher than the Autocrat of all
the Russians, or the whole floating anna
ments ofGreat Britain but both have been
IN their gravs, years and years, and but
few can tell even where their remains were
buried. These men but embodied, and
expressed the Public opinion Of mankind.
and that opinion, in the main, governs the
civilized world. To create that opiuion,
to embody and to proclaim it, is the august
mission of Temperance and of Temper
ance men,-and as they embody and pro-
claim it in the spirit of Peace, and charity,
they became irresistible among mankind.