Smyrna times., 1856-10-01
The Right and Wrong Side.


We suppose the Editor is just attempting.:o
lay little game of deception-such as is r.
racticed by politicians in making the unin-
ormed " believe that there is not the host OF t
. chance" for the opposition, and that they C
must unite with them or the country is ruined. a
The bid to advocate other measures, and the
at the close of his article, we think
unworthy even 4" foeman of his metal ~
such, however, as might be expected from those
held to principles by cool $250O." "Con-
vinced that such law is bad !"'' No, Mr.. Re-
porter, we are more than ever convinced of the
necessity of prohbtory legislation. The mis-
cry, wretchedness, profanity, corrupt tenden-
eies, blasphemies, &C., which result from the
rum traffic. convince us that law prohibiting |
the source of those evils is bad! Expect us
10 compromise with an evil that curses humani-
ty and blights every prospect of a blissful eter-
nifty! What could. we think of oursef if we
should, forgetting the obligation of good cti-
Gems, become the instrument of evil and
" broadcast sowing of crime" In looking up
on this subject, we can view it in but one way:
that the sale of run is "crying evil" and
that the helpless orphan and widow, aud the
poor, weak, ruined inebriate, needs the protee-
tion Of law from the merciiess rumseller and
whether the arriving at this protection be in
progressive steps by taking one outpost after
another, or done at clean sweep" it is only
a matter of time, and will be as surely irrevo-
cably instituted some day as were the laws of
the Medes and Persians.
The assertion that the law is not doing the
good it was intended to do, is no argument at
all against it. The fault is not in the law, but
in the cupidity of the rumseler aud the array
ing of party against it, before it was even
brought to a trial. Taking into consideration
the usual opponents of morality and law and
order, and adding thereto a whole political or
ganization, what other result could have been
expected Such blazing fire directed against
> spy other law, wosld have torn it to fragments
>foagssince.
All the temperance men want is fair trial,
which every honest man will admit theS4S~t
has not yet had. They are not so tenacious as
to wish 20 saddle the' people with law which
Is an injury rather than benefit. Their OBJ
ject is the overthrow of King Alcohol with all
his emissaries, and how it is done, they care
not, SO it proves efectual Our enemaes-many ny
of the leading ones among them-are not only
opposed to the law, but the principal upon
which it is based-that of "restraint" Thi,
was made conclusive to our mind by a conver
sation which we had short time since with |
gentleman of intelligence and influence, anC
one of our strongest opponents. We compar
ed the Prohibitory law to many now on tn,
statute book, and asked him if he was opposed
to the laws against gambling, horse racing
bowling saloons &c., to all of which he said h,
was opposed, because they Dould be UioIated
and, further, it was wrong to throw the law o
restraint upon such amusements because som,
did net know how to conduct themselves III,
was in favor of every one doing what he pleas
ed, and be responsible alone to himself for hi
moral conduct.
Thus, on the one side, we have those wh,
are willing to make personal sacrifices for tn,
good of the community; and, on the Other
those in favor of the fullest extent of libert
without regard to the laws of God or man.
We commend the following, from cotem
porary, to the especial attention of the Repor
ter. We think the editor may find his hkenes
More than once.
THP HATED PRoHIBrToRY LAw.-This ha
become favorile utterance with certain sec
ton of the opposing press; and probably it
true enough that this law is hated. But who
we ask, are the parties who cherish this IN
righteous passion against a law established 70
the public good! If we are TO Judge by ac
tious we'll as words, we should say that it
hated n high as well as in low quarters: j
/. Wine-loving Governors hate it.
2. DraR-loving slaves hate it.
3. Wine-bibbing Bishops hate it.
q. The open violators of the laws of God an
man hate il.
5. Priests who love their glass more than th
souls of men hate it.
@. The lovers of Yankee White Eye hate i
Z. Wholesale liquor-dealers hate it.
s. The keepers of petty dramshops hate it.
Q. Aristocratic drunkards hate it.
10. The staggering inebriate hates it.
IL. The editorial advocates Of drinking usage
hate it.
H. And 10 crown all, Beelzebub, the princel
monarch Of the great empire of evil, hates it.
We must not, therefore, blame our cotemp
raries for calling il a hated law" for il Il
views abuye be correct, the hatred is high, ne,
high. and it is deep, VERY DEEP. 1t is felt
very high places, and it burns in very lono pl
ees. II speaks out through the Bishops robe
and the drunkard's rags. Its lurid glare shin
in Che mansion Of the great, and sParkIes in 4
dark chambers of the poor. II is then empha
caIly HATED LAW. But there are some W
love il, and for the sake Of contrast we m
call special attention to the following:
l.. Gods ministers, whose special business
isso labor for the destruction of vice, and
IL.