Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-01-30
Moral and Legal suasion

If the vice of intemperance is ever re-
moved or if its evils are greatly mitigated,
this end will be ordained-frst, by in
creasing the power of resistance within,
and, second, by removing the temptation
from without. Motives must be addressed
to the understanding, the heart and con
science of the individual, to lead him in
the right way, and the temptation and op-
portunities to err, removed as far as pos
sible. The victim of appetite knows full
we'll there death in the cup, but he cannot
withstand the importunities of friends
clamors of depraved desire. On the other
hand, many who have not formed the
habit of drinking, and who even loathe
the taste of the poison, are unable to say
No to boon companions when impOrtuned
to partake of the social glass.
The ordinary law of demand and sup
ply Is reversed in the case of intoxicating
drinks. Scarcity of any necessary of life
increases the demand for it; but in the
case of liquor, the supply creates the de-
mand. In a neigbborhOod where there
are no grogshops the demand for liquor di
minishes in exact proportion to the length
of time the nuisance has been abated.-
On the other hand, the establishment of a
drinking saloon in perfectly temperate
community, will in a short time, make
customers, and become almost a necessity.
You cannot by legislation dest oy the
appetite for strong drink but but by wise
and judicious laws you may interpose bar
riers to the formation of that appetite
or. If already formed, make the means of
its qualification more difficult. and thus
enable the victim to gain the mastery over
haA hah tuff II
will avail nothing, and hence the advO-
Gates of temperance have never asked such /
legislation. The dealer in intoxicating
liquors, and his defender or apologist are /.
entirely willing that you should fine and |
imprison the drunkand; they will even pc I
titon the legislative bodies to enact laws 1
against drunkenness. The benefits os
such laws may well be questioned While
the habit remains, and the opportunities
for Its indulgence are omnipresent, the
fear of imprisonment avails nothing. The .
law of habit is stonger than the prison
bars. The poor victim sees the ruin Of Sc
and family; he knows that life Of in
fanny and shame are bis portion if he does
not quit bis cups, but he cannot b-eak his
chains. You may address such motives
to the wretch wao is ready to pander to
his depraved wishes, with an expectation
of accomplishing good. He who resovles
and re resolves that he will drink no more,
desires that you will take away the temp.
tations to indulgence. and halls a prohibi
tory law with gratitude.
1t is not merely useless, but cruel to in
hict punishment. upon a man for doing
what he cannot help. As well infIc.
stripes upon q paralytic for refusing to
walk, as to fine and imprison a drunkard
for becoming intoxica' ed when the means
of intoxicatiOn are within his reach.
Moral and legal suasion perfectly har-
monlze and neither will accomplish great
and lasting results without the other.
When Gods chosen people took possess
sion of the Promised Land, they were to
build temples and erect affairs to cultivate
a spirit of true devotion and lead them to
a coniding trust in the God of Israeli
This was the moral suasion. But they
were required to tear down idol temples,
consume the craven images, and leave not
a vestige of anything which would tempt
them or their children into idolatry. This
is a perfect illustration Of the divine plan
of reform We are taught to pray not to
be sled into temptation, and to be deliv-
9Eed from evil"