True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-04-21

LllCII IldCCS dilu uCiCuu VIC CduSo VI LtIl'
perance. Yet the weapons in the hands
Of temperance men are sufficient to van
quish all opposition-being the sword of
Truth, the shield Of Justice, and the cause
Of Humanity--encircled with all that is
honorable and digni6ed, and humane
The witness of temperance can defend
himself even though his language may be
broken, and his ideas disconnected; the
tears of millions of heart broken wives,
the cries of as many starving children,
and the graves Of as many ruined inebr-
ates, will argue the cause for him, with
more force than the eloquence of Cicero
or Demosthenes.
have always admired the clear, indie.
pendent, and forcible way that the gen.
tleman from Franklin, Judge Rankin, has
expressed himself on these subjects which
have not met his appreciation, and which
he has undertaken to oppose on this floor
1t was doubtless evident to all on this
floor, how different was his manner in his
effort TO pallate the evils Of intemperance
and the liquor traffic ; it is evident tha:
he was inadequate to the task, with all
his native eloquence and force or argu-
ment.
The burlhen was loo ponderous tor
him. The moral darkness that attends
the cause OF intemperance, blinds his
judgment and bridled his tongue. His
pathway was rough and steep. II was
hard road to travel--aad hence the weak
and Intellectual manner in which he defen-
ded or palliated the liquor cause.
1t has been stated here that there is not
so much harm for a man to get drunk, if
he would conceal or shut himself up, and
there remain until he get sober. am
willing to admit that with this precaution,
he is not dangerous to society but am
yet to be convinced that man has a
right 10 murder himself in this slow, yet
certain manner. II this doctrine be cor
rect, then why not strike out our law
prohibiting suicide-and let individuals
take away their own lives at will-so
they do it without detriment TO others ?
For / am sure there is no more sure way
for an individual TO murder himself, ply
sically and morally, than by drunkenness.
| do not wish to consume time, Mr..
Chairman, in further discussing this sub.
ject-but | wish simply to state before l
take my seat, that / do not by any means
think the present law regulating the IL
quor traffic perfect-I am sure it is defec-
live. The same il true with regard to
every other law existing on our statute
book. Our very best and most wholesome
laws are inefficient to some extent in
certain cases it is impossible for US TO
get perfect code. But / have yet to
hear any member rise in his place and
pronounce the present law regulating the
sale Of liquor unconstitutional and if its
provisions are not carried out, the fault
is not so much in The defects of the law
as in the disposition Of the officers of
the law. They do not enforce the law
because they are opposed to its provisions;
and as an excuse, a miserable subterfuge,
the law is declared defective.
1t has even been asserted here that it
is impossible for law.to reach the rum
seller and rum drinker without moral in
fluence being in favor of temperance.
admit that it is much more difficult to en-
force law in opposition to moral influence
yet sir, cannot feel willing to admit
that truth, justice, and humanity itself
must necessarily be prostrated and tramp.
led under foot, simply because their
claims may not be in accordance with
the views and appetites of the rum drink.
ers and rum sellers.
Mr.. Edson--I would like 10 ask the
gentleman from Jefferson, if it was eve
as easy TO enforce the liquor law in this
} State, before or since, as it was in 1874
; and 1s42, when the Wasbingtonian army
was in full force.
Mr.. Wortbsngton-I am not prepared
to answer the gentleman definitely, whe
ther il was or was not. The gentleman
speaks with much assurance and pre-
sumo is prepared to answer, l therefor
ask him to answer the question.
Mr.. Edson-I think not.
] am willing to admit that II is mucl
easier to enforce the law where popula
influence is in its favor, ] have ALREADY
made this statement.
But, sir what are we 10 do! Are th
; advocates Of the temperance cause to si
silent and see intempsrance like sweep
ing deluge, roll over our endre State
/ carrying, in its destructive wave. tbiri,
, thousand human yictims-husbands, "a
thers and brothers. Is our land to b
drenched with the tears Of widows an
; orphans? Are our prisons to he peopled