The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1855-05-05
Address Of Rev. J. O'ReiiIy on the Maine
NV.

BEFORE THE CATHOLIC INSTITUTE AT la SALE.
The following imperfect report of an ad-
dress delivered by the Rev. j. O'REnLY, in
the Catholic church at La Sale, on the even
ing OF April Cd, having been published in
the La Sale Watchman, number Of promi-
nent temperance men of this city, struck
with the force and excellence of its leading
ideas, addressed the Rev. gentleman n letter
requesting copy, fully written out by him
SELF, for publication With this request,
owing to other engagements, he was unable
to comply; but the report Of the WatcLmaa,
far as it falls short of the original, presents
so many strong considerations in favor of the
Maine Law, that it is believed the cause will
be greatly subserved by It's more extensive
circulation, and with this view we have been
requested to give it a place in our columns,
arequest with which We cheerfully comply
He said it was unusual for Catholic
Priest to lecture on Law--though the study
Of Law was part Of the discipline Of stu
dent Of Theology. The subject on which
he was about to speak was selected by the
Committee, and he cheerfully complied with
their request, although the higher and prior
duties OF Holy Week had occupied 50 much
Of his attention that he had not had time
to give the question that profound and care.
ful examination which it demanded
The Rev. speaker then entered upon the
discussion of the Law, rcnsrking, in sub
stance, as follows
There is hardly any act Of American stat.
ute law, that has called forth so much dis
cussion and agitation as the Naiae Ligu0r
Lou. As regards its operations and practi.
cal effects there are, indeed, conflicting opin-
ions. Some assert that it has made hypo-
critics, not ccnvcrts-substituted smuggling
for fairdealing; while others contend that
it has worked wcll-diminished by IS per
cent, the manufacture and consumption Of
alcoholic liquors, and amcloratcd, to a most
gratifying extent, the condition OF society," -
But let its effects, in Maine, be what they
may, there is one striking fact which de-
serves to be noticed Maine has found mi.
tators, and not unworthy imitatos Many
distinguished States, in their Legislative
capacity, have not thought it beneath
them to follow the example Of Maine,
and take up her Liquor Law in their deliber.
alive councils, and embody it in their stat
ute law, thereby cnjoning on the conscience
and proposing 1t as rule Of action to their
citizens.
II has now become an al-absorbing topic
OF private conversation and public discussion
among ourselves, as is right and proper, es-
pccially as 1t has already occupied the seri.
GUS deliberation Of our own State Legisla-
ture, and been passed by them into a law,
subject only to the judgment Of the sover-
egn people Of the State. As the People
then have to pronounce on the merits Of this
law, it is well they should profit from such
means and opportunities as they may have
to inform themselves thoroughly and Impair
TALLY, SO as to give discriminating and in
telligent voice in the matter. For in qucs.
ton Of Law, as in that of an oath, which
goes to bind the conscience and govern the
conduct Of a million Of living mcn-the free
citizens of Illinois, and probably many other
millions yet unborn-ignorauce or preju-
dice or passion should have nothing TO do.
Every man who is able to form an opinion
'cr't tie satJect, ought u inform himself and
il he is unable TO do that, hc should. it seems
10 me, abstain from voting, lest he vote in
the wrong direction and thus entail, i-nor-
antly or uncOnsciously, great mischief on the
present and future generations
The question then, is, what is the Liquor
Law about to be proposed to the suffrage OF
the citizens Of the State Of Illinois for their
approval or relectioni Is tia good Law.
conducive 10 their general mora and phys.
ical well-being: THIS is the question to he
decided and most important question il
is, and well deserving the dilisent study and
conscientious consideration Of every good
citizen and every good christian. For, my
friends, Laws are serious things, intended to
be rules Of action, showing us what we are
to avoid and what we are to practice: consc-
quently, on their tendency, quality and char.
acter, much for veal or woe depends. Their
potency for good or evil is ncalculable. If
good and wholesome, they prove national
blessing-if evil, national curse, and that
curse is terrible in proportion as its scope
or domain is extensive. The field its opcr.
atoms, should it become law, is the whole
State Of Illinois. Its millions of people are
to be the gamers or the looscrs. For Gods
sake, therefore, let us not act passionately
but vote nationally, intelligcntly and whcth.
er the Maine Liquor Law be maintained or
defeated at the coming election, let us rc.
solve and pledge ourselves, that during the
trial at all events, we shall be one and all of
us observation-disclosures, or if you
choose old Fathew Mathew men,-that is to
say, good old "teetotollers"
Well let us now come to the point, what
is the Liquor Law, as proposed to us by the
legislature Of Illinois, | regret | cannot
assure you, my friends, that am prepared
to give you an accurate definition. 1t is
true, l have given cursory reading to the
statute, or to what is supposed to be the
statute, as found II IN an old newspaper
more or less the worse Of the wear, and lack.
ing some paragraphs, which for ought |
know, might have contained the gist of the
matter. With certified copy of the act
have not been favored. AS far as under
stand it, regard it as stringent Act,
which our democratic people, long accus-
toned, like Oyerindulged children to rcgu-
late themselves and their pursuits, more per-
haps according TO their peculiar tastes, than
to law, may find to tread on their
corns, and therefore, at first and until they
become accustomed to the discipline, little
severe. 1t begins TO assert right in the
proper direction, aud which for my part
like TO sec begun to be asscrtcd,--a right
which every sensible man will admit to be
and indeed inalienablc in every
we'll constituted government, the right to
tell its subjects, (-for much as we may dis
like the term, We must admit that we are
subject to the government; j say it asserts
the right to tell us, that the particular must
yield to the general good and that wha. by
the experience ofat least tho last half cen
tury has proved to be a general vil,-a
public nuisance, must be checked: that a
disease, which has been eating into the very
vitals Of the social body must bo cured,
must be cauterizcd, even though it give pain
to the sound flesh, that is, to the good and
moral, unofiendng portion Of society
will say then that the purport Of the Act is
good and conducive 70 the well being Of So
ciety.
The Act does not precisely interdict the
pursuit Of legitimate business,--it does not
intcrdict the manufacture, nor the import
nor export Of intoxicating liquors; it docs
not shut up tho distillery or the brewery
but it regulates them. 1t does not forbid tho
sale Of Intoxicating liquors but it places it