The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-08-12

tour old respected mothers" lie. o dear,
what are we coming 'tillp
Admitted evils in the indiscriminate sale
of alcoholic liquors to be guarded against by
constitutional laws; and how but by making
some sales a penal offence. And what PEN
atty! You are opposed to fine and imprison-
ment; that you find an oppression and war
against it. Fine alone thenl A very gentle
inniction that is generally found to be upon
liquor seller who can't pay it. If you have
any other legislative guard for the evil, out
with it, and generously give the world the
advantage of the discovery. The Maine Law
proposes other remedies, remedies of preven-
ton as well as cure, not mitigatory merely
but exterminating.
Mr.. Heany says:--
my position has always been that the force Of
"pubic opinion, properly directed is all powerful
in correcting ihe abuses of society. hence my un
"beietin legislative enactmenis to carry out u NOR
" al reform"
Then you did not vote for the above reso-
luton. You don't go for constitutional laws
to guard the evil, You are a genuine Son
of Liberty and 60 for free liquor, restricted
only by the force of public opinion. You
don't approve of the statutory enactments a
gainst gambling. Indeed, your "position as
always been" IN opposition to all criminal
law; to what end are criminal laws at all,
but to guard against evils, correct abuses, q
carry out moral reforms.
But Mr.. Haney, little further on explains.
snow hold you cannot legislate morals into
people, il the moral sense, OF community does not
condemn the statute book cannot eradicate 1t;
| laws may restrain but never did retorm."
Nonsense, Mr.. Haney, although your dis
tincton is not without difference. Laws
reform by restraining; not because restraint
and reform are one and the same, for they
are not; but because restraint is necessary to
reform. Reform yourself Old Topper q don't
mean Mr.. Haney) and what have you to do!
Restrain yourself, clearly without that the
reformation never begins, and, of course, will
never come. Begin with restraint and per-
severe in it; the liquor appetite will be SUBJ
dued by the restraint imposed on it. Happily,
as the liquor appetite is an acquired sensa-
ton and not a natural impulse, restraint is
all that is necessary to reformation. Restrain
your hand; keep the hell-fre out of your
mouths; and nature will assert. her mild do
minion, and bring you back to your first love
Admit that there is the power of restraint in
the Maine Law, and all that is asked for OF
expected of it is conceded.
sYou cannot Legsate morals into people,
says Mr.. Haney, 'if the moral sense, of 9
) community does not condemn error, the stat
ute book cannot eradicate it. But what il
the moral sense of the community does con-
denim the error, is there no occasion Tor the
statute! The moral sense of the community
condemns murder, shall we therefore repea
the statutes which punish it as a crime! The
moral sense of the community condemns rape,
shall we therefore abrogate the laws for the
protection of chastity, and withdraw from the
old bachelor .Q don't mean Mr.. Haney) that
"abridgment of his personal liberty"! The
good sense and the moral sense of the COM
munity condemn the use of Alcoholic liquors
as beverage; if not, let there be no Maine
Law, for it will not be enforced. The Legis-
lature enacts what the reason approves and
the moral sense condemns. The law must
be sustained by an appreciable propriety OF
necessity, or it will fall into disuse.
But notice, Mr.. Haney, one law of our in
dividual and social existence. The principle
which observation discovers and intellect ap-
) proves, if much thought OF and long acted
upon, passes into habitual feeling, and be.
comes moral sense. Do you not see, sir
that the temperance principle is fast becom-
ing fixed idea and moral sense! And thai
moral sense will ere long find expression in
the Maine Law, or some similar enactment
that will take its place upon the statute book
and remain as certainly and us permanently
there as the canon against murder. A consum-
nation that the Sons of Liquor may retard
, by their opposition but cannot prevent. You
defeat is as certain as that God and the right
are on the side of your opponents.
Mr.. Haney gives his testimony to the eff
, ficacy of the Temperance Reform movement
. as follows
"But will do justice to the temperance reform
movement. While it had for its only weapor
moral suasion il was all powerful in doing gooe
l witnessed its operation; many Of my neighbor'
who used to keep their barrel of Whiskey BY
them, and furnish il to their laborng hands who
thought they could not treat friend with Proper
hospitality unless they set the bottle before
them all silently and quietly laid aside the Gus
tom, thereby paying due respect to public opin
ion."
But alas, Mr.. Haney himself had no hand
in this good work. Not for want of op.
portunity or invitation did he Withhold him.
self. for he was solicited to join the old
Washingtonans and strong and plausible
arguments were urged to induce him to ado
his influence to theirs. But he scented the
Devil afar off, and withheld his hand, and the
good work went on without him. Others did
the good work, and Mr.. Haney reserves all his
strength for opposition. From one form Of
effort to another the Temperance Reforma-
tion went on, until, at length, it has reached
the period for legislative ena ctment, and the
Maine Law is proposed. And Mr.. Haney &,
all the Sons of Liquor take the field in op-
position. But let Mr.. Haney tell his own
story.
"But temperance men, professsd reformers
mean, have abandoned their old platform, as
always believed they would. have been often So
cited to Join the old Washingtonians, SO called