The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-03-25

Argument of David Paul Brown,
Esq. Of Philadelphia, II favor Of
the Maine Law kA
In the loss Of every member of the
community the State suffers, ia the
fourishing vices of the community the
State is disgraced, in the unprohibited
drunkenness Of the community the
State itself becomes dfunk--and ito
the Legislators who may prevent all
this, and who do not, the odium is
legitimately attributable. Nay more,
il the subject was considered merely
in reference to the finances Of the
State, leaving its character out Of the
question, there is every possible rea-
son, as | have shown, for removing
this curse Of inebriety from our coun-
try. say, that it is expedient. No
man, at least no sober man, can doubt
it. Nor would drunkard doubt, if
in the interval between his cups, he
retains sufficient unbiased reason to
enable him to decide upon the qpes-
ton. The Legislature can prosecute
gaming, lotteries, brotheIs, unlaw-
ful assemblages, and dtumultuous meet
ings. Nay, they punish drunkenness
in various shapes, and yagrancies Of
all description, in short; regulate all
matters that affect the safety, the
health and prosperity Of the Slate
Why, then, should they allow drum
kenness, which carries all those evils
in its train, to flourish unmolested in
its supremacy Of horror? There is no
living reason why they should; Of
course, therefore, there can be no
doubt, Of the expediency ofthe meas
lre. Why, then, should the win be
wanting--the want of will arises from |
a want of courage. a politician is
the most timid Of Gods creatures
before he gets a post he is in constant
ear that he viii not get it, and when
le gets il, is in constant fear that be
AS to the violation Of Ehe Sabbath, Il
upon the unrestrained traf-
ic in intoxicating liquors it seems to
ne most extraordinary, that any man
hould be called upon to express an
opinion in enforcement Of the solemn
command of the decalogue, the in
JUNCTION of the Almighty himself.-
9 Thou shalt keep holy the Sabbath
lay" Unless the advocates Of intem-
can show that riot, revelling, Il
Sc., as embracing all beastly intoxi-
,ation, is in compliance with this di-
,ine requisition, | think we should be
ipared the necessity of suggesting ar
yuments in support of the laws Of the
)mnipotent. The municipal laws, it
seems, may he invoked in aid of the
livine law, and it is hardly, ! should
hink, to be imagined that a municipal
Chief Magistrate should be so regard
ess of his duty to this world and the
lext-to temporal and to eternal stat
ties, as to permit those vices to -four
sh and grow into a most pernicious
while he is not only empow-
,red to cross, but which he is bound /
" the sternest obligations Of duty,
Utterly to extirpate. He is called
lpon to do SO, as I have said, by the
aw of God and man. He is called
lpon to do SO, as the conservator of /
he peace and prosperity Of the great
,ity committed to his government.
lie is bound to do so, for the preser-
alton of the inebriates themselves.
is bound to do so for the benefit
fthose who may be dependent upon
hem, or connected with them, and he
J under especial obligations to do so,
or the protection of society against
be communicating and perVading in
Iuence Of their example. 1t is said
hat among the Greecian youths, DUR
lg the seasons appropriated to the
olympic games, the Athenians caused
leir slaves to exhibit themselves in d
.n4n oc haaatIvy .;nfnVy;oation for fha III