The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-03-16


do otherwise yet this wot!i was
not created on that plan. Ga the
contrary, men, women, and children
are thrown into temptations of
various kinds, some OF them much
worse than the temptation to drink,
Yet they are not held uoaccounta-
ble.. They are expected to resist
temptation. That is virtue. Aud
if they yield to it they are held
guilty.
Is there any reason why tic
drinker should not be accountable
as we'll as other sinners? None
can be given. The temptation of
drink is no greater than that Of
other indu!gences. But in others
be is held responsible, and thus
there is moral and coercive in
fuence held over him; while In
drinking he is held to be irrespon
sible victim, and therefore the
moral and coercive influence is
wanting. The hard drinker re-
ceives virtually license for his
selfish indulgence. The theory is
lacking in truth, morality. AMI
Justice. and therefore it could not
be expected to succeed. 1t is
wrong at the very starting point,
in assuming that the drunkard
would be all right if liquor could
be kept from him. On the contra
ry, the taking to drink is proof Of
q constitutional moral defect, which
would be pretty sure to find some
! other outlet or to lead to wor;h~
lessness in some other way, If
there were no liquor.
Likewise with the grosser forms
of drunkenness. Where men spend
ell their wages for drink, and
leave their families to want, and
even spend the earnings of their
wives and children for drink, these
men have a defect in their natures.
Their selfish sensuality takes this
form; but it is much more proba-
bic that their natural worthless,
ness made them sOts, than that
drink make them good for no.h-
ing.
| But ar agreement. Of sll as 80
which was the cause OF the scottish
ness-the mans origins! nature OF
the liquors. not as all requisite
to the consideration of the app'i-
cation OF coercive and moral Unfit
ences to the drinker Upon either
theory of the cause, these proven
tive mems are just as necessary
and just as effective. and they are
equally proper whether it be as
sumed that the drinker is help
less, irresponsible victim, OR man
morally accountable.
AS to the place where preventive
or remidial measures shall come in,
there surely can be no more 6iffi~
Guilty in finding that than ia finding
where o cause has accrued for
damages to the family Of the
} drunkard. In every case where
there is ground for notice to the
seller that he must not sell to a
person because he is injnring him.
self and family, and in every case,
where there is ground for suing
the seller for consequential ill., ,juries
to the drinkers family, there is a
case for the interposition Of anr
thority to take charge Of The drink
t er himself If he is morally un-
accountable, he is a subject for the
e public guardianship. II he is
, morally accountable, he is a subject
for the public's reformatory treat
ment And as to this, if it is {
{ moral crimo to sell, it is a mora
crime to drink. The law should
treat both alike. The moral Of.
tense of selling consists in the in.
jury done to the dri aker. II the
d dripker, therefore, is morally &C
d coun.able, he is the principal ir
}, this crime, and shoul.l SO be held.
Ia every case where person il
ipjaring himself, or is violating
his obligations to his family. b.
intemperancc. there is case fo'
placing Tin under restraint AM
:. - discipline. In every case where
: just Claim has been crested 70
damages against seller, there wa
= previously case for the interven
: ton of the State to take the drink
- er under guardianship and discip
:: :. line There should be public in
: ebriase asylums for these cases
:, but the system may be begun b
:, :, using the lunatic asylums. Upo
- the theory that these persons ar
8 morally unaccountable, the luna,i
- asylums are eminen,ly prope
y places. And it may be that thes
t g will be sufficient Fer this is
~ ~ remedial. and preventive system
m ard great results may be expecte
~ from its direct effects. and from it
~ ~ vastly wider moral influence
,e About the SANE application %
j. the part OF family, or the san
50 showing on the part Of the pabi'
es that is required to bring persons ,
or unsound mind before the Proba'
Court. ard to- consign them to IL
as lunatic asyluw, would be prop.
Mt in the case of inebria.es The le
lis gal part is plain and simp:
50 Whatever may be said as to the
re- responsibility wien drinking. q
an know that they cnn be brought ,
Sc their right mind by such trea. m =,
50 as this. 1t will sober them, r,
er store them to soundness of boo
in and mind, will place before The
IA evps thu tOllv and crim;nol;tc