The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-10-09
For the Herald Of Freedom.
CoFFEY Co., Oct. 4, 1855

CoFFEY Co., Oct. 4, 1868.
ED. HERALD OF FREEBoM-S1R That
great evil - intemperance is rapidly
gaining ground among a class of our citi-
zens, which makes it one of all, and above
all, to be most seriously lamentsd.
Tho young men in and about our towns
are fast becoming either moderate or ex-
csssive drinkers, and are fast abandoning
themselves to those other vices attendant
upon habits Of dissipation. Very few
seem to be aware of the mastery control
of the appetites, when nourished into .
vigorous existence, until they learn by
experience, and it is too late to escape
the evil consequences attendant upon
habits Of dissipation of any kind; and
even then, most persons, instead of using
their influence to dissuade others from
their evil practices in life, by various de-
vices, exert themselves to allure them
on in the broad way to destruction, as if
their ruin were the only thing sought af-
ter. It is said that municipal law is a
rule of civil conduct prescribed by the
people Of State. The objects of its de-
tailed provisions, the government and Sc
curity of persons and property part of
which is effected by prohibition, the bal
snce by specific regulations. Then why
should the habit of drinking ardent spir-
its of any and every kind, 50 common
only for the qualification of appetite, not
be the subject of statutory restraint, since
those habits Of intemperance, arising from
that useless qualification, lie at the bottom
of a great share of those other evils, to
restrain and prevent which, the system oi
law-making is generally considered 50
necessary.
If by any means we would eradicate
any evil, or connected train of evils, from
amongst US, we ought to aim those means
at the root, and not at the branches for
though We are constantly looping of tn.
branches, the parent stem will be con.
stantly sending out new branches which
must ever be felt before they can be dis.
covered and struck of. ,e..-
A more disgusting sight never came
within the range of mortal observation
than that Of young man apparently vel
educated, and by nature promising, whs
has 30 far become the victim of dissi
pated appetite as to rise from his couch
and, instead of repairing to some plac.
for the transaction of business in some 70
spectacle avocation, directing his feverisf
attention and hurried steps toward some
dram shop, before the morning repast
there to crafty dangerous appetite tha
Is daily luring him on to hopeless doom
Since, in some Of the States, laws prohib
iting the sale of ardent spirits, except fo
mechanical and medicinal purposes, hav,
been adjudged unconstitutional, would
to God that provisions might be made il
the constitution hereafter to be franco
and adopted in Kansas, THAT no person
in the practice Of drinking ardent spirits
unless the same shall have been directed
by regular practitioner of physic, ans
, then only in strict conformity with his di
: rections, shall be entitled to exercise th,
elective franchise, or BE- eligible TO any
Office in Kansas."
Under provision Of this kind, ",
should never Be troubled with judges whs
would have any motive to adjudge pro
hibitory liquor law unconstitutional, fo
the purpose of securing 9 reelection
through the influence Of the lovers o
strong drink. and society would. in du,
time, become clesnsed from great por.
ton of the crime, criminals, and the pau.
psrism among rs. Youn, &c.
JUNO.
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