American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-06-12
INTE EMPERANeE.

The ferocity with which Governor An
drew has been assaied by some persons
as reprobate and lost leader because
he differed with them as to the best meth
cd Of promoting temperance is very anus
ing. 1t is the comical side of what was
so tragical in the Southern States in the
good old times when slavery, which Mr.
Charles 0'Gonnor described as SO blessed
and beautiful had full swing, and any
man who questioned its divinity was
mobbed, ridden on rail, hung or burned
amidst the applause of a the great Dcm'
ocratic party" which has such whole
some contempt for g moral ideas" But
this intolerance, which is natural in .
barbarous state of society and under the
auspices of party depending like the
Democratic party upon ignorance and
passion, is ridiculous in any enlightened
community. If men may not differ upon
the methods of diminishing or restrain
ing'viee, upon what may they differ ? II
a man may not object to method Of
dealing with intemperance, which in his
judgment merely increases its evils and
produces countless others, to what is il
proper for him to objects a a5
There are certain general statements
made in regard to the nature of ard emf
spirits, and their effect upon the human
system, which are constantly repeated
and undoubtedly honestly believed =
Some of these Governor Andrew ques-
tons, and sustains his doubts by ample
authorities. Are such points not matter:
of discussion? Must man think at his
souls peril that every kind of stimuIent
under all circumstances is pernicious p
The question of stimulents is one ol
which not one in five hundred of the
most pugnacious teetotalers has 'any
knowledge whatever, and those who have
no right 20 an opinion. .s.at
The Temperance reform can no more
leave common sense behind than any
other. When good men are agreed upon
a great object their business is to agree
upon the best method of attaing it, and
that is to be done by ascertaining the
facts and comparing views-not by ours
ing those who think differently It i,
said with great veheme nee that Governor
Andrews argument cheers every grog
gerry in the country. What then TIL.
abolition of the death penalty for many
offenscs cheered every rogue in England
Was the reform therefore unw.se? Tha
which the rogues approved has resulted
in the surer punishment Of roguery The
advocates of hanging for stealing join
of meat denounced Sir Samuel Romilly
as opening the jails and giving up Eng'
land to thieves. So the opponents o
Governor Andrew insist that he fayor'
Drunkenness and misery, Governor An
drew replies, g mean TO diminish drunk
enness and misery" Is the loud sneel
that answers him an argument? my
lords, we shall be ruined" croakcd the
old Tory leaders when the reform wa,
iminent. The reform was carried, anc
England will stand a great deal of sucE
running.
The Court of Appeals in this STATE
IN. y when deciding the Constitution
ality of the Excise law, said truly tina
the regulation of the liquor traffic is al
undoubted right of society. But how i
shall be regulated, whether by partial o
total prohibition, is puerly question o
expediency. All the foul names in tn
world do not change the fact, The ma
jority of the Massachusetts, Legislature
disagree with Governor Andrew, an,
have retained the pfohibitory law. lie
us hope they you'd smile if they wer
called body of Torquemadqs; prccisel
as Governor Andrew and his friend
smile when he is denounced as a los
leader.-Hd,per's Weekly.