Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-03-15
For the SpecLator.
Prohihiiarx 1.a,x


.Nessrs. Editors:-That intemperance Is a YER
great evil no one will pretend to deny. # tn
friends Of prohibitory law could accomplish wha
IS no doubt their obect--the putting a stop to tn
evil--no right thinking man could refuse to secon,
their efforts. have no. doubt they are goyerne,
by good motives, although they are accused b,
some of tyranny and oppression -
am strongly led to believe that the agitation
ofthe subject of a prohibitory law has rather in
creased intemperance, as some no doubt are dis
posed to manifest their opposition by INDUCING
more freely. If there shsudat any time be found
majority in favor of prohibition, there will still
be left minority strongly opposed to the law
The public mind is very unsettled and capricious
on all such subjects, and may in short time fly
back, as it were. We will then have repeal Of
| the law and run to the opposite extreme.
Evil has existed in the world since the fall Of
Adam in the Garden Of Eden, and will no doubt
exist until we have millennium. ] doubt very
much whether the millennium will be brought a.
bout BY prohibitory laws This apprehend will
be done by perfect reconciliation between God
and man. All that man can do, and all that hu-
man governments can do, is to deal with evil
in such manner as is best calculated tokeep it in
check. Experience | think will prove that ex-
IRENE measures are not the best. What can be
done to keep in check this very great evil2
We have frequently heard it asserted, and no
doubt it is true, that there is less intemperance
in France than any other country in the world,
although the French people cannot claim to be
more enlightened and moral in other things than
we are Then to what must we attribute it O.
il must be attributed to the use of wine as bev-
erage instead of strong drink. We are told by
those who are familiar with the habits Of the
French people that they Use wine as freely almost
as we use coffee, and strong drink is hardly used
at all. The wine satisfies the appetite, and in
toxication and ruin to the health and constitution
is avoided.
Such being the case, it is strange that orr wise
men and politicians don't see the necessity Of al
tering our policy altogether on the subject of wine
Our Democracy has taught US TO look upon
wine as great luxury. and consider il fit only
for the rich and affluent. The common people
have been taught to believe that wine is out of the
question so far as they are concerned. Politicians
have therefore been required to go for high du-
ty on wines and thereby tax the Injuries of the
rich. ~
We are told that wines are exceedingly cheap
in the countries where~they are manufactured;
the freight is but little; let us then have wine in
abundance and cheap, and drive out the strong
drink and the mixed stuff that high duties have
led to the Introduction of. Give us pure wine,
cheap and unaduterated; let the Government
raise revenue from something else. Wecan then
enjoy the pleasure of taking glass without being
made drunk or poisoned. Intemperance will then
decline. e 49,
These suggestions, Messrs. Editors, have oc-
CURED to my mind on this all-imporiant subject.
They are thrown out in very desultory manner,
with the hope that they may be of service.
A FRIEND OF TEMPERANCE.