The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-07-10
: ERron the ". y. Evening Post.l
Threadbare Philanthropy.

oSieatioA Vi the question OF total |
abstinence from Intoxicating drinks was,
and those who believe it a duty have
hitherto relied mainly upon appeals to
the conscience and the reason to estab-
llsh lt as an absolute rule whereby men
were 70 regnlAte their lig ges. COnsidering
that have been used the zeal That has
been expended, and the moral and re-
llglous influences that have been brought
to bear, 1t Is not strange that those who
Delleve In such a reform should despair
at length of accomplishing their end by
persuasion, and should determine to re
sort to force
For. evidently, total abstinence is as
lar from being accepted as an absolute
moral duty as it was forty wears ago.
There is undoubtedly less drinking of
ardent spirits now than there was then,
but the improvement is confined to peo-
pie OF distinct class who as they were
never immoderate drinkers, so now, if
tney drink all, do so even still more mod
erately than those of the same class who
preceded them. So far unquestionably
good has been done, inasmuch as there
has been a change in the habits of society,
and as no onefi is expected now, as all
once were, to use liquor unless he chooses,
and may abstain either because he thinks
it dangerous to himself or dangerous to
others from his example, without being
accounted singular. So far, then, the
success of the temperance reform is
marked and positive. >st. <ss
But it stops there. The class that al
ways drank to excess, whether from nat
ural craving, or love of excitement, or
the supposed necessity of stimulant,
drink now as much as ever Influences
which are potent in small communities
or in rural neighborhoods are powerless
in large towns and cities, and there the
temperance movement is just as far from
final success as it was at the beginning.
The proposal to take the subject into the
political arena and enter there upon q
conflict to make men virtuous by act of
the legislature is melancholy acknowl-
edgment that the method of conviction
and persuasion hitherto relied upon is a
failure. 1t is a melancholy acknowledg-
ment because it is n confession that the
temperance reform has hitherto been
conducted upon an illogical basis, and
because it is an attempt to establish what
should be purely moral conviction by
the butt end of a constable's baton.
1t may be an evidence of the earnest
ness and the strength. of principle by
which the temperance people are gov
CAIC0 LIdb Gu0Y are bncJ
cannot persuade the world to their way
of thinking and induce it to accept their
code of morals, to compel it to acquiesce.
But whether they can control obedience
to such laws as they may choose to have
enacted; whether what they may gain
politically is worth what they may lose
morally; whether they will not in the
attempt at coercion arouse an opposition
to the cause of temperance itself which
has hitherto lain dormant, and which
will undo all the good they have ever
done, are questions which is to be regret
ted. they will not take time to consider.
The credit that is given them for their
zeal and determination is at the expense
OF their good sense tiE 4f
1t would be wiser for them TO recon
slider the whole question of temperance
when forced to accept the conclusion
that their cause is a failure SO far as it is
based upon absolute morality. IF they
cannot persuade mankind that the use
of wine, of spirits, or of fermented
liquors, however moderate, is positive
sin against God and crime against man
they had better stop to consider whether
any pFohibitory laws, however stringent,
will be able to wipe these articles out OF
existence, and whether, if they are not
wiped out, total abstinence from them
can be brought about by compulsion.
But even if they cannot bring themselves
this view of the subject it is pity that
they should not so far call common sense
to their aid as to accept such measures
of regulation as are within their reach
before resorting to the extremity of max
ing their cause purely political one.
The last legislature has put into their
hands a powerful means of ssuppressing
some of the evils and abuses of drinking
1t would be well worth their while to test
the power of the law which makes the
rumsellerrespoaisible for his acts, and to
use their organization in compelling that
responsibility and protecting those who
are the sufferers from his unrestrained
license in making drunkards. 1t is a
fact that wherever similar law has been
enforced the cause of temperance has
been the gamer, and that wherever pro
hibition has been attempted it is failure
Experience is always better than theory
and We are persuadede that could the
temperance people of this state consent
to lend their energies to the enforcement
of this excellent law, they would do more
in year towards gaining their professed
end than they have done for the last
twenty years with their old method, OF
than they will ever deas political party
And OF tins we are sure-that no class o.
p0Opl0 Will reDOlcS more HedrGlly dG LAell
opposition to the law than the rumsellers
1t is not impossible, however, that the
conventions in session some days ago al
Albany did not represent all the people
of the state who recognize and deplore
the intemperate use eof alcoholic drinks
and that these will neither rush into {
total abstinence political party nor foregc
the great advantage to the cause o.
morality and good order of the ..enforce-
ment of the new law for the sake of try
ing something else. We suggested some
time ago that an organi nization be forrned
to carry the law into effect. The sugges
tion is now more pertinent than ever, for
it would not only be, we believe predtic
tive of great good directly in enforcing
civil damages against those pests of so
ciety, the liquor dealers, who throye upor
the wretchedness and the vices Of the
poorest and most depraved, but it would
effectually ward off any dagger Of sinjudi
cious laws in future5 and put amend tc
these periodic attempts of hair Drained
philanthropists to set themselves up as
Legislators. q ss'fsa =