The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1869-07-01
Temperance.
LETTER NUMBER THREE.

To the Editors of The AHeghdnian
At the close of my last letter, I prom
ised to define and illustrate the rule that
should govern Legislative bodies as to wha,
is and what is not within their province
In respect of morals. First, then, it is the
duty of the Legislature to protect persons
in the enjoyment of all their natural
rights, as personal liberty aud personal
security. 1t is also the duty of the Leg
islature to regulate such rights and duties
as grow out of the compact of society, by
protecting persons in the enjoyment of the
first and by enforcing the second 1t as
sumes not to be the guardian of any mans
conscience, nor the regulator of any man S
private conduct. 1t recognizes the benef-
icence of religion, especia lily the Christian
religion; yet it does not compel any one
to be religious, nor does it say what con-
stitutes the Christian religion. 1t recog
nlzes the necessity of virtue, but it pre-
tends not to compel citizen to be virtu-
Gus, nor to say, except incidentally, what
constitutes correct standard of virtue
A man may get drunk, and not violate
the law. Yet, if be expose himself to the
public gaze in that condition, he is guilty
PIC he seCs' L he law, as rule OF public
convenience, declares that a common debt
shall not be collected unless suit is brought
within SIX years Of the time of its contrac
ton. But who will maintain that the
debtor Is thereby released from his moral
obligation TO pay his creditor Z? The debt
is as much a debt as it ever was, The
law merely says that the creditor. on ac-
count OF his long delay, shall not use the
Courts to aid him In the enforcement of
ms claim Ii 1T pretended to be a correct
standard OF virtue, or the guardian of
IL, such statute would be monstrous.-
Our law grants absolute divorce for more
than one species of offence. Christian
morality recognizes only one crime as suf.
ncient to Justify the dissolution of the
marital contract. The reason is that the
law pays regard only to what it deems ne
eessary to topreserye the integrity of society.
Ii recognizes morals and religion as neces-
sary TO preserve that integrity. Hence,
1t frowns upon and Furnishes whatever is
scandalous to religion or good morals, or
that plainly tends te bring them into dis
respect. But only for this limited purpose
does 1t assume to define either religion or
morals. Maliciously and publicly to revile
the Christian religion is an indictable act.
Yet to oppose it, to denounce it as false. if
done in good faith and in decency. is no
violation of the law. But when the law
says what man shall or shall not drink,
1t steps beyond its sphere and assumes to
regulate private conscience and conduct.
1t may regulate the public selling of L.
quors, or even prohibit them from being
Puoilciy sold as beverage, on the ground |
that their sale tends to produce idleness,
carouslng, and disorderly conduct. But |
certainly, if l have laid down the rule
correctly, it cannot go further. There is |
one other consideration that I might as |
well add here. The law acts by force
Virtue cannot be imposed by force II
must be accepted by the heart and mind
ere IL can be manifested in the conduct.
One other structure as to the ten,per.
ance organizations. The temperance re-
presents the singular aspect of
An apparent relative increase in the effica.
~ OF the organizations, and relative in
crease In intemperance at the same time.
Should some obnoxious disease prevail in
my community, through neglect of the
proper means OF preserving health, and
he persons who would fall victims to it be
AIKEN in charge by she physicians, this
anne singular feature would be seen. The
physicians could continually boast of the
'fticacy of their cures, and point to the
weekly increase IN the number of patients
eiieved. But the more they would cure,
he more there would be to require cure
he neglect of the means of preserving
ealth would afford constant room for the !
uccessful display of medical skill, while
he root of the disease would flourish in !
ndiminished vigor. q
Having stated few of che objections G
hat may be legitimately raised to the eff
acy of both prohibitory laws and special
l shall now endeavor to .
oint out the only means, in my judgment, j,