Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-08-09
Temperance, and our COrrespOn-
dents,

VCutCe
Agreeable to our promise, we wish to
take slight reveiw oflhe articles Of ou'
correspondents and Of the subject O
temperance, as now agitaled before the
people.
First, the intellectual or physica,
perception Of man is controlled in q
greater or less degree by the medium
through which he perceives an object
As the physical perception is more cir
cumscribed in dense atmosphere than
in a rarer one, so is the intellcctual un
able 10 take an impartia. and IN
BIASED view Of any subject upon
which it has allowed itself 10 become
over anxious, for or against. Yet upon
all questions having bearing upon the
general state Of society, it is not only
the privilege but the duty Of every one
to take Pa',, Nnd act as he conscicnti
ously believes 10 be for the general good
Hence, in this inability to judge impair
tally where we are necessarily inter
ested, lies the secret of the great di
vcrsi,y ofopinions that may be honestly
entertained among men upon all.im
portant questions. And those opinion!
assume forms corresponding to the ex
citability and impe,uosi,y, or the grav
ty and caution Of those expressing then
and will have an influence in commu
nifty parallel with tho stability ant
frmness of character displayed in thei
advocates.
Thus he who proscribes those ,ha
differ from him in opinion, because o
tha, difference, is wanting in that vir
tue without which all others are said tt
"pro6t us nothing" In the correspon
dence to which we alIu'ic, there is ne
great difference of opinion in regar! tt
the object sought, or to which the per
cepton is directed, as might at first seem
from the contradictory opinions expires
sed. We have not the least doubt thai
the best good OF society is desired by
both-but that there is great differ
ence in the mediums (or means) through
which ttey look at, and by which they
expect to attain that object is certainly
apparent.
Again, Law is a rule Of action, fol
the government Of its subjects, AMI de-
rives all it's powers from the consent Of
the governed. Hence in the enactment
of law, it is desirable that a ma jorily
should consent TO its provisions, in Or
der TO enforce submission from those
that violate them, as the mere letter OF
a law upon the statute book, that is moi
consented to on the part of its subjects,
is not only imperative, but tends 10 les.
zen the respect for law. So that the
policy Of submitting to a vote of the
people imports mt and grave questions
OF political economy, is most likely to
ensure their respect, and command their
interest in'its execution. Second only
to this is the system Of presenting the
principles at issue, and discussing them
before the people prior to elections, and
comparing them with the professions
not only, but with the general course o
conduct Of those that may be brought
forward for our suffrages.
Now the query is whether the tenn
perance question is fairly before the
people, and If so, whether there is thai
unity OF action among its advocates thai
will ensure the election Of men that will
enact such laws as will receive the as
sent Of the people SO as to ensure thei
enforcement. To the first proposition
there is but one answer. The question
Of temperance in contradistincton to {
loose and reckless disregard Of we'll be
ing Of the incorporate, and the good or
der and prosperity Of society, was Ion!
since settled by great majority Of th'
people, and hardly needs mentioning
as ii is part and parcel Of the COMPOUND
that makes the good citizen, any ant
everywhere. But the means by which
the geratest amount Of temperance is t
be secured without unnecessarily op
pressing those that will ever violate th'
law upon all subjects. is question tha
we had supposed was far from being set
tied. Indeed, the very great agitation
in many places upon the subject -togeth
er with the extraordinary exertions o
the fiiends Of a peculiar measure Its en-
actment in one state, and its defeat ir
another-its effective operation in ont
place, and the almost total disregard o
its PROVISIONS in another, not only Prov
conclusively that in the great struggle
going on b ween the friends Of humani