The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-10-28
From the Providence Journal.
Temperance and Law. I

Catholic Priest OF North Brldgewater
has told those lrishmen of that town,
who are competent to be bail in any
case before the court, not to be bail for
any ranasel'er In any case whGtever !.
adding, mo matter how much the rum
seller may be worth, don't you bail
for him. The law is a good one, let
ittake its course.'" F" a
The above paragraph we find in a
late number of the Independent, that
able and admirable orthodox paper,
published in New York, from which
this Journal recently gave a passage
from a candid ard startling article on
Modern Scepticism." Much of the
scepticism of the day was ascribed by
that article to the constant doctrinal
preaching of the pulpit, with so little
that is adapted to the common wants,
perplexities, and vices of the commu-
nifty, We believe this to be true to a
degree that will yet rouse the country
from its strange apathy. 1t does not
assume the truth or falsehood of any
set Of doctrines, it only AYERS there is
a Want Of plain, fearless, practical
preaching, such as will tell men what
they are really-not theologically--
and will spare no offender and no Of
fense, whatever its responsibility, pop
ularity, or orthodoxy, And this must
be brought to bear particularly on that
tremendous evil, which is the cause of
more iuidelity, anarchy and misery
than all other causes combined-In-
temperance, with its diabolical foster.
father, Rumselliag.
We know not the truth of the state
meat respecting the Catholic priest IN
Bridgewater. We hope it is true.
And if SO, it rebounds greatly to. his
credit, and the credit of any of his
brethren who give the same counsel,
here or elsewhere, IfProtestant min
listers, Protestant capitalists, and Prot
estant magistrates would take a SINH
lar stand no one can limit the good
that would be done. AT present, and
with US particularly, their course
would seem to be directly the reverse
by speech or silence, action or mac
| ton. Let the truth be told. In this
city there is large bounty on rumsell-
ing, and all possible encouragement
given to intemperance. Laws are
openly trampled upon, and no notice
taken oft. Magistrates, judges, off
GERS, citizens, do not apparently ever
attempt to execute the law. Instead
Of saying, as the priest says above
"The law is a good one, let it take its
course"-they say, if they say any
thing-"the law cannot and shall not
be put in force" Suppose they dc
not think it good, but bad. Is that q
reason for letting it be violated with
impunity and audacity +? Did not
many of these same men cry out, a
short time ago, for the support and
enforcemento Of Olllaws, whatever their
features or operation, in the Judgment
Of the few or many +? and they did
right, as matter Of civil obligation.
Let every law, while it is a law, be
sustained and enforced, that its true
character may be seen, and its wisdom
tested.
We make no argument for the
"Maine Law" If those who wish to
know how it works, will get the actual
facts from the Stale in which it has
been in force two years, we are will
ing to rest the question there. Let
them read a letter just written by Rev.
W.H. Hadley, Unitarian minister to
the poor in Portland, and they will
see proof, that not more than one ff-
6sth part as much liquor is now sold
and consumed in that city and State,
as when the population was but half
what it now is. For facts of another
class, let the doubters read the affect
ing reports of that noble missionary,
A n J. L L L A Il