Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-02-29

consigned to an untimely grave l be-
lieve the majority of the people to be
wrong in this instance but it is useless
to lcgislate in the face of public opinion.
Laws which the people hate, no matter
how ignorantly they hate them, will be-
come dead letter, in spite of all that law
makers and law interpreters may do to the
contrary.
Although voted for the law Of last
session, am now ready to vote for its re-
peal, but at no time and under no circum-
stances for its unconditional repeal. In
coming to this conclusion, l have not
founded my calculations upon the dollars
and cents which the owners Of taverns,
makers of whiskey, and sellers Of grog,
may gain or lose. There are considera-
tions, paramount to these, which claim my
thought aud command my sympathies-
considerations that involve more vital in
terests-the degradation of men, the sor-
rows of women, and the tears Of little
children. And trust in God l may ne
yer be brought to disregard these, for the
sake of the gold that may be wrupg from
human misery.
will vote for this repeal, not that tav-
ern keepers may make more money, but
that our great cause may not be injured
by forcing public opinion. The popular
voice is just as clamorous for wholesome
and vigorous substitute, and am glad
that it is SO. In no quarter Of the State
is anything else expected or demanded.
Since the 14th of April, 1885, the very
trafickers themselves have ceased their iu-
discriminate howlings at everything in the
form of restrictions, and whimpered as
gently as sucking doves for any change
We may be pleased to give them. This is
one good result that has grown out of the
enactment which Senators on this floor, in
the enthusiasm of their gratitude to the
combination that sent them here, have
spoken of so contemptuously. Aud I,
for one, sir, am anxious to take advantage
of this salutary change in the sentiments
of the advocates of whiskey. While it is
unwise for law makers to get too far ahead
of public opinion, it is senseless and un-
patriotic to fall behind it. The Legislator
should not attempt to steer his bark
against both wind and tide, but like
skilful pilot, should take advantage of the
current, guiding it carefully among rocks
and quicksands. While he avoids the
hurricane blasts, that only cease to blow
when fhey have destroyed their victims,
he should not dread the transitory storms
of mobbich clamor, for they will pass
harmless away, and the sun will shine
again, and the more brightly for the dark
ness which his rays were able to dispel.
Let Justice, Courage and Truth be stamped
upon the fsg that floats above him, and
when his bark is safely moored and its
cargo brought to shore, they who were
6ercest in their imprecations, will be fore
most and loudest in their praises. Letus
work upon this principle, and step BY step
we shall gain upon the giant evil that for
centuries has been desolating the world,
and scattering crime, poverty, disease and
death, with all their concomitant and in-
separable horrors around it.
Mr.. Speaker, the day is not very far of
when people will look back in astonish-
ment at the time when traffic in ardent
spirits was legalized, or even tolerated,
among civilized men. And although, just
now, the law Of reaction seems to require
backudrd surge, the great tide will roll
on, till the foulest and most universal
scourgc that ever afflicted the world shall
be obliterated from its face. 1t is my hope
and earnest belief that in ten years from
to-day, licensed groggery, or greggery
of any sort, will be unknown among the
forty millions Of this Republic and in
other ten years, unknown among all the
nations of the earth.
There was time, sir, when to assert
that the globe moved around the sun was
punished with Imprisonment and threaten
cd with torture, a1d now it is not only the
creed Of learned philosophers, but Of Doors
and schoo! boys. As sure as the Almighty
has gifted man with intellect to eompre-
hend the Truth, so sure will Truth ulti-
mately prevail 1t needs only time, and
its own inherent omnipotenee, to insure
its triumph; and its grandest triumph will
be to dethrone Intemperunce, and blot out
Rum from among the great powers Of the
earth. When this triumph comes, sir,
Beggary will be driven from the land
Crime will no longer stalk abroad-prisons
will be unpcopled-the gallows robbed
and Madness howl in vain for its victims. |
That time will come, sir. Truth is so
mighty, that if single ray Of its light fall
among men, it will grow wider and deeper /,
and higher and brighter, till no vestige Of