The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-04-11
THE KENOSHA TELEGRAPH
THURSDAY, APRIL, 18th 1872
THE UNION ON THE TEMPER.
ANCE LAW.

The Editorial Leader of She Union
CAST week on the Tenn perance law is such
a singular mixture of approval and dis
approval of the law, of good and bad
advice, and Of cant, hypocrisy and pro
family that our first imp ession on read
ing it was, that, like some articles which
have appeared in the TELEGRAPH, 1t was
not written by the Editor, aud that when
q,e came to read 1t he would express his
disaDnroval of it. But on inquiry we
we're informed that the article was writ
ten by the Editor himself and appeared
bv his authority. This imposed hew
aabors upon us to understand, If possible,
the animus and intention Of the article
And to give cur readers an equal chance
with ourself to understand it we publish
It in another part of this paper.
AS we understand the article the Ell
tor dropped his editorial functions and
assumed the functi rs Of Attorney for
those engaged in the liquor traffic and
especially for those who DO not comply
with the requirem ents Of the law. And
in assuming the functions Of Attorney he
entirely ost sight Of the functions Of
Judge III the impartial administration Of
the law. Hence, in speaking of the law,
be can say: Such legislation, if not
cruel, unjust and inhuman, is nearly al
lied to it." And in his action as Attorney
for the liquor tarfikers he assumes t. be
Counsellor for four classes of people,
which embraces nearly all the public ex
cepting the liquor drinkers. 1 Public
officers and the public are advised to let
the law remain dead statute for Ger
tain number of days, ostensibly to give
&hose engaged in the liquor business time
90 comply with the terms of the law, hnt
in effect to encourage disrespect for and
mon compliance with the law. 2 Those
engaged in the traffic are advised to dis
continue it forever, or to comply with
Che provisions OF the law as speedily a
possible, or hell awaifs them; that is,
they will be subjected to prosecution.
The friends of temperance are advised
not to let their zeal Outrun their wisdom,
and reminded that "the wisdom of God
Is greater than that of mas, and that he
through the holy Christian religion, has
furnished more pure and potent agency
Cor the reformation of humanity than leg
lslative wisdom can furnish" This is tie
highest cunning of the lawyer. IF tenn
perauce men, who have long labored for
the passage of the law, can be induced to
fall back on the superior potency of the
Christian religion for the reformation of
humanity, and thereby neglect the en-
eorcement of the law for the Removal of
CL Evils of Intoxication, it will do much
SoTrd having the law become a dead
SE&1uI not only for certain number of
0ayS permanently.
" naees~ the design of the article may
nave peer If we do not misunderstood it.
Tne ehecwill be, so far as it has any eff
fect' to courage those engaged in the
ilquor fic to continue in it, to induce
the omrs, and the public, and the
frlendS Temperance, TO neglect the en-
6orcemel of the law, and, by the contin.
uance OF he traffic and the non-enforce
menu OIL E law, to prepare the way for
Ine repe of the law by the next Leg
stature Heretofore we have said some
sooo Tugs OF the editor of the Union
Ior Whahe has said and done personally
ana col rally in behalf Of temperance.
we are st sorry for what we have said.
on ths sntrary We are glad there was
occaslor for saying what we did, and
S'au said it. And we have no desire to
"~Ae y OF it back. On the contrary
%S only sorry that the editor does not
s10ulue to give US occasion to continue
so good things of him. And If he
calJhow the public that his editorial of
"a week on the Temperance Law does
c mean, indirectly, encouragement to
he liquor traffic, encouragement to the
enforcement of the law, and the repeal of
the law, or even if it did in letter thus
mean, that it was not his intention, we
shall ba glad and ready to help him to
give publicity to his showing 3&s+
we none those engaged in the liouor