The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-02-08
The Temperance Bill.

It is one of the inevitable results of
constant party strife that almost all ques-
tions are discussed more or less from a
political point OF view, and IN their bear
ing upon the success or defeat OF party
organizations. This Is the case with the
proposed temperance law which has been
introduced into our legislature. An at
tempt is being made to consolidate the
Democratic party in opposition to its pas
sage, The real object being to recover the
ground it has lost by its position on na-
tlonal questions during the past ten
years.
Now, the provisions of the proposed
law may be open to valid objections % nd
We think many Of them are :; but they
should be discussed from the stand point
Of principle, of expediency, and of the
probable results and actual benefits of
evils which would follow their adoptions.
Sumsuary laws are not in harmony with
our ideas of genuine Republican liberty.
When the private life or liberty Of a
citizen is invaded for any cause not es-
sential to the support of the government
or the protection of the rights Of all the
people, there Is no security that tyranny
will not eventually result from undue
legislation Of popular majoritles. More
over, this class of legislation is certain,
judging from the history of the past, to
prove failure In the erd. The law of
command and of force has never perma-
nently revolutionized society or the world.
The thunders Of the DecalOgue from 81
mai re-echoed for more than thousand
years among the hills of Palestine and
the east but it remained for the Sermon
Oh the Mount, with its appeals to the
reason and moral sentiments of the hu
man race, to break up the foundations
o s idolatry and paganism, and to cause
trae religion to spread into the remotest
corr ers of the earth, touching the hearts
and controlling the actions of millions OF
people wherever It's eloquence is heard,
All reforms must likewise depend more
upon appeal to the reason and judgement
of men, than upon an attempt To control
human nature by com pulsory legislation.
Upon examination Of the proposed law
| it seems in some respect obnoxious to
| the objections we have raised agalT st
! sumtuary edicts. While the general
principle of making persons responsible
| for all damages necessarily or lcgltlmately
growing cut OF their actions, Is correct,
! the principles of social aud political llber-
ty sheuld be carefully guarded against
abuse And this is no question upon
which the fundamental principles OF the
two parties differ In Illinois the same
law was passed, all the Democrs is in the
Seoate but one. and all the Democrats in
the House but five, voting for it. The
| Chicago Times gave it a stroug endorse
meat. Whether it will prove the uui-
versal panacea for the evils of intemper-
ance, as is sincerely believed by many
friends of temperance, or not. remains to
be tested in the light of future expert
enoe. It is certain, that thus far 10 law;
however stringent, has ever accomplished
the desired Teslit.
We see that it is suggested by Hon
.. Fl. johnson. of Milwaukee, an able
lawyer gifted With practical sense, that
some distinction should be made between
the sale of beer, which seldom lntozl-
Gates, ard rot-gut, which produces near
| " all the crime and misery in the world
Whether this may be wise or practicable
is an open question and will excite some
discussion IF it certainly is the. part OF
prudeGt legislators to pass no law op-
nosed to the general sentiment OF the
community land which will defeat ltseH