The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-06-18
THE TEMPERANCE REFORM

The sincerity of thos. Jealous members
Of the temperance orgalization and others
who favor total abstinence, was brought
to test on Sunday evening week ago, at
one of the church temperance meetings,
by the introduction Of resolution ap-
pointing committeeto canvas for sigma
lures to paper, pldging every voter
who should sign it tovote for no candi-
date for any Office whtever who is known
to use in any form an,thing of an intoxi-
eating nature. The resolution was intro
duced by democrat, land the republicans
thinking they could SIC a coup d etat on
the part of the democrats to injure repub
licanism in this notwithstanding that
all Of that party who signed the paper
would be disfranchiset at the November
elections-thcir candidate for president
being in the habit Of taking a little some
thing for the stomacl's sake-voted to
lay the resolution on the table until Fri
day evening last. OnFriday evening the
resolution was taken rom the table and
discussed. A motion was made to table
the resolution indefinitely, aud it was car
ried-the republicans voting to table, and
the democrats voting against it.
CO - ho, i IL ~ -
have talked the loudet-those who have
professe to be willing to do anything to
advance the Temperance reform are the
first to go back on Their professions when
anything tangible is presented.
We have been asked if we would sign
the paper if it had been presented to US.
We answer, no.
Why not?
For several reasons, some Of which are
embodied in the following extract:
1t is not necessary to e into senti-
mental description of the consequences of
an excessive use Of Intoxicating liquors.
They are known Of all men, aud may be
safely left to tho cloque.sco vf lecturers
who take lively pleasure in harrowip &
up the souls Of audiences at twenty-five
and fifty cents head.
One of the radical difficulties in the wav
Of temperance reform has been that the
moment it made decided progress, and the
total abstinents felt strong In numbers,
they made it an ultimatun that all pco
pie must conform to their views, and be-
come, like themselves, tee'otalers, or incur
certain pains and penalties, which legisla
tion is invoked to enforce We detect in
the language Of the resolutions the ex.
preston of an intention to repeat this fol-
ly whenever, if ever, the time shall favor
the repetition of the experiment Of COM
pulsory abstinence. a somewhat length
ened experience has convinced us that
such experiments end only in. reactions
that leave society in worse condition than
before. We have no faiti in prohibitive
legislation, and believe the state has as
much right to compel attendance on the
churches, or prescribe the number Of
baths an individual shall take weekly, as
to intermeddle with matters that concern
him individually. IF the temperance So
ciety hopes to make any progress in tenn
perance reform, it must abandon the idea
of bringing ID as cooperative forces the
machinery of political parties, and the
mechanism of Legislators whose zeal is
greater than their wisdom.
If a reform is to be effected, it must be
accomplished, as in religion awakenings,
by personal appeals to the conscience, the
reason, the intelligence of the individual.
1t is not likely that all cases will be reach
ed by these means any more than that all
cases are reached by the pulpit. Many
will be saved, and many will continue in
their errors. But if we are justified in
imposing legislative restraints upon the
appetites of men to save them physically
AVID temporarily, how much more the
church would be justified in resorting to
the same means to save them spiritual ly
aud eternally.
If serious attempt ia to be made to
check intemperance and, as a conse-
quence, diminish the traffic in ardent
spirits, it is Of the first consequence
that we might begin right, and have a
clear understanding whether the propose
to accomplish it at the expense of individ-
ual liberty. or by SO working upon the
minds and consciences Of the people as to
bring them voluntarily to the side Of alb
stineuce. We do not propose to dea
damnation round the land on those wbc
engage in the manufacture and sale oil
wines and other fermented and distilled
liquors, or by legislation convert into 8
crime trade that has beeu tolerated il
all ages as legitimate. AS long os the de-