Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-09-24
THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.

public OPINION,
them by the stern mandates of unwelcome and med
dlesome statutes. s~
If such laws are made when the public mind are
unprepared for them, the feelings Of the people
revolt against Them one of two results is inevitable
either that the law viii be dead letter and trampled
upon with impunity, or its enforcement (supposing
that possble9 will be considered an ntolcrable grew
sance and downright tyranny In either contingency
more harm than good to the cause of good morals
will be the nc cessary result The experience of the
past is full of lessons of wisdom on this subject
From the pains and penalties of the inquiston, by
which men tortured according to tdap to change
their religious faith and to be heretcs to the
lesser torments sometimes inflicted upon stubborn
conscences, such experiments have been found to be
cruel and unfeeing and anti-republican and detr1-
mental to the cause of truthful reform
And now the temperance advocates have become
Incorporate reformers. Men may become added,
and lose their selfcommand by other stmuants tnan
alcahol Temperance in all things was one OF the
imposed admonitions of the Apostle Paul. And what
is the excuse for all this fecundty of Zeal?that not
Only stringent prohibitory laws must be passed. but
that this moral movement must be dragged neck and
heels into the of political controversy !-thata
temperance political OTgd7izGta0n must be made IN
the State and in the different counties of the State!
The pretended answer is, we have tried moral
suason long enough, and we have been unable to
make men cease the of ardent spirits, and now
we are going to compel them by law to do what we
cannot persuade them to do. And, inasmuch as we
have not been successful in persuasons to make
the citizens of the Commonwealth think as VIC think
the subject of the use of alcaholc drinks we are
convinced that they do not know their own interests
and therefore we will pass laws to compel them to
do and think as we say they ought to do and think.
But perhaps this may be question, or 1t may
involve questions in which the minority have rights
we'll the majority, and rights which majority
even if such could be ascerained in favor OF the ut
ter prohibition of the manufacture, sale and use OF
Intoxicating liquors. could not be suffered to- rampe
upon or disregard. No matter, the Temperance
zealots and fanatics say. Weare engaged in grand
Il i 90 y
moral movement, and we are determined TO carry IL
through and save the people from themselves. Such
has been the plea of tyrants always. Because Is
right to be temperate, and it is moral duty to be
temperate will compel you to be temperate or at
leas we will pass laws which say as much, and you
must run the hazard of disregarding them. There
are many other moral duties which it might be very
announcement to enforce by law. There are many
things right in themselves which are exceedingly
comely and good but which the people OF free States
would be loath to be forced to observe by legal en-
actmcnt 1t is exceedingly right and proper that
man should be christian and beongtO some chris
tan denomination. But what would become OF
Legislature that would pass law compelling men to
become members of churches? What constitutional
right would they have to do 500 1t is all proper to
worship God but what legislative body IN a free
country would pretend to enact that the citizens
should worship Supreme Being? That is matter
left with every mans own conscience.
But suppose it be said in reply, that we temper
ance advocates would not pretend to pass laws COM
polling men to join the church, nor would we pre-
tend to pas laws saying that citizens shall not drink
but will shut up all the taverns, stop the manu-
cture and sale of ardent spirits and thus let them
drink If they can get 1t. That would be very like
saying We will not compel men to join any church
to attend divine worship, but we will make 1t I'M
lawful either to stay at home or go any where else
on the Lords Day. or to join belong to any other
association of men.
We must say that we look upon such movements
with suspicion. They antfrepublican and con-
trary to the spirit and progress of the age In which
ff,oi of the constantly
and the powers of government are con-
stantly relaxing and diminishing. Jefferson said,
the world is governed too much - and we hope that
remark is not less true at the present day. than when
that patriot so felt ard spoke.
In connexions with this subject VIC must say, we |
don't like this oficiouS conduct of the clergy in the
temperance agitation of the day. They are assum- |
ing politico-religous character very like the fat
Wears of England, where the union of Church and |
State is fundamental element of the mOnarchical |
constitution of that country. Let the prohibitory
law be passed by this movement, and white cravats
and solemn faces will soon be seen on our political
platforms again the of elections ralying their
followers in some other great moral movement"
They have thus far been unable to persuade all men
to be christians, and the quickening influence of
legal enactment might Also in their estimation, help
on this great and desired work of reformation.
There is now decided attempt to give the prohib-
tory liquor law movement political aspect. Accor-
ding to the New York Tribune this is hereafter, in
with the abolition of slavery, restricting
he Fugitive Slave law, to be the Wing platform.
Fhe old one is spit upon" and thrown aside. The
Democracy are to be overpowered and subdued by
he Temperance phalanx. The day of the Millennium
md of the year Jubilee to be approached the
nearly as the Wings ride into power upon the prn-
;ipes of cold water, that being by way of contrast
he very antipodes of their hard cider campaign in
$40, and thus clearly Indicating their great moral
and their title to popular confidence
They will thus they imagine, be taking advantage of
he " sober second thought of the people, which is
seldom wrong and always efficient"
But can the prohibitory law be enforced, if it be
enacted ?-or will it be dead letter. and thus &C
custom the community to see the laws violated and
hus deaden still more not very acute nerve of pub
ic sensiblity7 We doubt whether the law would
% enforced if it passed In Boston it is dead
otter. In Washington county, in this State, it is
worse and is leading to unheard of secret debauche-
y and to almost innumerable grog shops. Are such
Kings strong ailments for the public morals? Better
nave no law than too much and that not observed.
1et the Temperance men to the enforcement of
he laws already have. They are strong as pub
ic sentiment will bear and that they not enforced
s conclusive evidence of this state of facts
In conclusion, would say, that all laws regula-
ing what we shall eat, what we shall drink, or
what we shall wear are obnoxious and odious to the
common sense of mankind The sumptuary laws of
ancient Rome, although perhaps praiseworthy in
heir design, were odious in operation Those of
Laleucus, of Diogcnes Laertes and Orchius the Tri
pune, restraining luxury in Dress furniture eating
&C., the number of guests at feasts, and the num-
Der and quality of dishes at entertainments would
not be highly reshed by the plain republican people
Of Pennsylvania
The English sumptuary laws in the rcigns of Ed
ward III. sEdUardIV HcnPv VIII and Eliza both he