The Ohio organ, of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, [Ohio]) 1853-1854, 1853-09-23

try, and the way of life, through Christ
His computed that ten thousand persons
in each province derive support from
making incense sticks, and that in tha
eighteen provinces about half million
Of people derive a direct subsistence
from the existing idolatry, Besides in
cense dealers there are priests without
number, and makers Of gilt paper,
shrines, candles and Gods. These ali
will, OF course, be ready to CRY out, tour
craft is in DANGER should idol worships
be assailed, and the true Cod made
known to the multitudes." rt -.-
Now, would we consider it good ar
gument in these manufacturers to say
that Christianity ought not to be intro
duced among them, because "a half mil
lion people, derive a direct subsistence
from the existing idolatry? How would
that sound in the ears Of enlightened and
Christian nations And now [ would,
in ali candor, ask the question, whether
these heather manufacturers and dealers
in idolatry are doing more harm than our
rum manufacturers and dealers The
oTmef are keeping the people in igno-
rance and superstition, but are necessa-
rily endangeTing the lives Of none;
whilst the latter are doing as muchfot
the cause Of ignorance as the surround
ing circumstances will permit, and atthe
same time are sowing the seeds Of sor.
row, misery, poverty and destruction, far
and wide. We send the former Mis-
sionaries to enlighten and Chfistianise
them, and at the same lime we are
closing our eyes to a curse that is daily
perpetrating more mischief right among
US, than all the existing idolatry on the
face Of the earth. a'r I -uEal
What pity it is, that intelligence and
morals don't travel more together:
The last dodge Of the question, (forI
cannot honor it with the term, "argU-
ment y is that a prohibitOry law will be
violated. So are our laws against theft,
robbery, rape, murder, and, in short,
every other law upon the statute book.
But this is no reason why they should
not continue them. And the very men
who urge this as an objection, would be
the first TO violate it a.|
According to this doctrine, the Savior
committed great folly in preaching to
the Jews, for they not only rejected his
doctrines but finally crucifed him. In
every great reform that was ever set on
foot, the friends Of such reform were OPP
posed, reviled, prosecuted, and every OBJ
stacle that could retard lis progress was
thrown in its way. But with all this, it
was necessary to continue TO labor for
its success.
The last argument | shall offer upon
this abstract proposition, is-That il is
not only the right, but the duty of State
10 protect the lives and lawful properS
of its citizens.
That hundreds and thousands come TO
their death by intemperance, none will
deny; and we assert that nothing short
of prohibitory law will put stop TO it.
Experience has proved it.
By "Iawful property" we mean pro-
perry that can be enjoyed and employed
without endangering the lives or proper
ty Of others. And any other kind of
property ought to be outlawed, be it in
whatever shape it may.
With this view Of the subject, we will
close our argument upon the abstract
question of the right of prohibition, and
proceed TO another part of the subject,
wherein we shall offer other arguments
in favor of prohibitory law, and will
further illustrate the doctrine just ad-
vanced-Ihat it is the duty of State TO
protect the lives and lawful property of
its citizens.
LEwIsBURG, Ohio, Sep. 10, 1853.