The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-26

the cut Of the beard, nothing 90 yrannlcSt a. the
Peters reforms, In al the penitude Of Russian
sutocrscy were less severe than these voluntary
rieidtiee Of Canada and New Bruins vick. OF course
IL may be said tia. the whole thing y only the 70
We have to account for Is this revival.
Strictly speaking, the affair cannot be regarded
as triumph Of abstinence principles. Rather the
reverse Religion owned its Inability to convert the
world whom 1. took to the inqusiticn AID the "a ,k
and prohibitoy laws directed against intoxics ting
liquors, are practical confession that moral arxu-
ments have failed. The chole array of lectures,
leagues, pledges, and trccfs, acknowledge their
,reakness lcAen they resort to The last and most per-
suasire ,htoric of fine and imprisonment. The
change 10 nom moral force to physi,sl for q; and
the earnest advocates Of temperance have little
law. II proves, at any rate, their weakness.
For ourselves, and for all who are earnestly
concerned in checking intOxication, and In pro-
listing listing against drunkenness on moral and re-
success, If such it Ia to be caleb A fatal resc-
ton is sure TO follow-at any rate, it always has
folle wed, even in the New England States, every
ve restrictions on personal liberty the old tf "a
titan regulations against Drunkenness were twice
% severe a. those recently embodied in the Milne
laws and Jet, in spite of them or, many think,
in consequence of them-the New England States
became conspicuous for immortality and intern
perance.
After all, these prohibitory laws are, and ever
",
itself, every man who can import hogshead Of
brandy or pipe Of wine, can get as drunk az he
pleases Of homo. And IL, for social purposes, we
are resolved 10 make drunkenness impossible in the
poor man, We ought to guard against its possible
commission b. the rich man. 1t may BE- true, aud
in one sense Il Is, that drunkenness is a grave
social offence; but unless we treat intoxication
as equally criminal in every class Of the COM
the duty Of the State to interfere on behalf
OF moral virtue, it must do its work tho.
roughly ; and great as may be the benefits Of CON-
pelllng soDliety, tne compuisloa must be total In
drunkenness are more than counterbaancei by the
immoral spectacle of law which permits excep-
tons to its principles in the Of all who are rich
enough to afford the luxury Of setting it at def
ance.
Fmther, the law in taking the place Of moral
sanctions, ought not merely to be equal but conss.
tent. Not only must II prohibit insempersnce N
tells us that the quantity Of corn consumed in dis
TILED liquors is sufficient reason for prohibiting
its use in the form Of alcohol. On the same princ
not only in the matter Of grain med 10 distilla
ton, but in profigaely expended in pastry and
other Injuries. If it is q robbery Of the
national ssorehouse, and if it unnecessarily
single bushe to find it's way to the dstillers second
courses and soups are equally an uDjustidable
waste OF the common stock Of beef and muffin.
as ve as assns e bt a must saos
with tie dish as well as with the glass-1ith to-
bacco no less than With rum. Velvet aud satin are
equally an offence with port and sherry. Nor can
we stop here. Temperance is only OF OF the ma
jestc circle Of Christian graces or moral virtues
But ii the Legislature is bound to step in between
man and his conscience Ia one case, why not in all
Drunkenness is the ruin of fani!ies-it is pro-
higate waste Of health and Msans-it entails not
only On the sinner, but on all connected with him,
an incalculable amount Of poverty and misery
We admit all this to the full. But 40 does idle.
ness-so do incontinence snd adultery-so does
livin beyond ones income. Are we to have Maine
prohibition specially directed against every breach
Of the moral law If not, Why against intempe-
rance alone? MoIalists and thinkers will perhaps
the root Of the evil. Intemperancs is only the as
cidentsl sign OF general moral corruption. A man
who is drunkarc does not labor so much un 1er
specific and local weakness as under a total absy-
ance OF moral rcst ants; and the perience Of six
Thousand years proves tie inability OF merely secu
lar proh billions To cure this inveterate evil. Bar
bsrism and vice, in their most hideous forms, may
and do exist In communities where intoxication is
impossible.
On general grounds, therefore, we more than
question the policy Of the recent Canacian mea-
sure while, as tyrannical interference with
the freedom of manufactures and trade, it runs
directly counter to all recent experience ana to
the accredited laws Of industry. It is mere
sophism to say that the Maioe Law only expands
the principle embodied In our excise Laws. We do
not make the manufacture and consumption of
ardent spirits expensive on mo al grounds, but on
purely fiscal ones. The object Of taxation is to
make those Contribute to state purposes who have
money or wine and spirits ia available proof that
he has mILey 70 spend-thst he INDUCES hi nself
with uxuries Is distinct evidence that be las the
wherevithal to contribute TO the public tire ssury
We enhance the price OF his liquor, because he is
taxable subject; and we interiors WITH distiieres
and dramshops, not to discourage the manufacture
Of ardent spirits, but only to take that every
drop OF liquor shall pay its modi to tae revenue
The moral purpose Of the Maine and Canadian
liquor laws IL, at all events an icuov alton. IL
may be for good evil but it cannot be seriously
cepted in excise reguIa.ions aud we state this
because recent Edinburg reviewer has, not little
to our surprise, vndica.ed such legislation by this
strange argument.
Mniemoisellc Cr1veni.
The following parag'ap appears il the Paris
Patrie OF November 7, and aho rs thst the mystic
rious affair of Mademoise.le Cruvslli has beea ar
ranged -
1t is in consequence of rcgre.table misuoder-
standing that the absence Of Mademoiselle Cruvei
put stop to q representation at tae Opera, the
person directed to inform the administration If her
departure not having acquitted himself Of his COM
missions. Maderloisels Cruvelli frightened at the
annoying effect which ensnad, has not dared hitherto
to appear before the public. C9mprehending now
how much the proloDgaiion Of her absence might
agqravafe her involuntary fault, she has demand
and OBJ aired authority Immediately to resume her
service at the Opera.
The Rank OF England.
Tie return from the Bank Of England for the week
ending the 4 Of November gives the following fcsult
when compared with the previous week =
Public deposits e. s5s, 100 Increase s952 5s7
Other deposits 10 e32, 023 Decrease .. 500 ASS
Rest......,.... 3136,S75 Increase. ........ 4,323
On the other side OF the account =
Gov. securities eli ,524, 4o2 Increase s5e3, $50
Other securities II 1866 Decrease .. 40l 1923
Notes uncmpld. 6356.3io Increase . 279915
The amount Of notes in circulation is go 503 Go
being decrease Of f332 2S5 and the stock OF bullion
both departments IL s13 525 02G showing decrease Of
f52, 406 when compared with the preceding return.
Issue Department.
Notes issued. f26 9e9, $50
Government debt. eli ,015, 100
Other securities. 2,eS4, 800
Gold coin and bullion. .,........ 12,96g,95
Silver bullion. Observation-Disclosures.
Banking DEPARTMENT.
Propretors' capital. $50, 900
Rest n I3dS75