, 1873-05-04

admitted and approved
LEGIBLATI0N AND TEMPERANCE.
1t the stroek1y meeting Of the Methodist c1er-
gymen in New York City the question for Discus
sion was: "What is the most desirable leglsla-
ton at the present time for the advancement OF
the interests tcmpcrance7" The leading sentiment
Of tho meotingwas in favor Of prohibtory legiala~
ton rs tho most effective moana Of checking in
temperance. There was one minister however,
who took moro rational viow Of tho question. He
admitted, what everybody Of sense and dccency
admits, that drankenness is great evil and ono
Of the principal causes Of crime; but he Was not
prepared to adnit that the quickest and surest
means Of preventing it WAS to be found in stat
utes prohibiting tho sale OF Intoxicating
liquors, for the tery sensible reason that
laws which are too. stringent ire
pretty sure to defeat themselves Ho went fur
ther, and pointed out that the moral power Of
the Church should exert itself more largely in
the work Of suppressing tho vice Of intemper-
ance, and that tho effect Of excessive legislation
in the matter had tendency to render this
power Inactive. This protest did not prevail,
and tho majority Of the ministers insisted that
stringent prohibitory Legislation is tho only way
in which drunkenness can be eradicated. This
general proposition is probably true. For those
who believe that drunkenness will ever be
thoroughly eradicated, and to believe this would
betoken the highest confidence in the millennial
doctrine,-tho theory Of prohibitory legislation
as means to this end will, probably, commend
itself. These persons will hayo to admit, how
ever, that the enforcement OF the legielation
would be even more necessary than the legis1a-
tion itself, aud to believe in this would require
still greater amount Of faith. Students in his
tory would scarcely venture upon the conclusion
that this could over be secured.
America, like every land of promise, must be
regarded as in transition or experimental state.
Our earliest forcfathers started out with Area
dian dreams, and their posterity has not entlroly
abandoned them as illusions. There arc still
dreams OF government, of society, Of virtue, OF
universal happiness that porvade certain respect
able and valued communities. Experiments are
the order of tho day. Not tho least important,
nor the least embarrassing, of these, is the
hope Of establishing the use Of stimulauts, which
is so likely to be turned into abuse. Legislation
is the most suggestive method Of attaining this
and all other desirable things in tile country.
While the 1aw-making power rests with the peo-
pie, the people naturally think that it is only
necessary to make tho laws in order to suppress
Objectionable practices of any kind. It is unneces
sary to enter into details to point out how nu-
morous and hurniliating have been tho disap-
pointments attendant upon this pleasant fallacy.
The doctrine tint the majority rules, which is
susceptible Of ouch varied misconstruction, is
largely responsible for tho hallucina:ion that Il
law ia all that is necessary to insti-
tute my ..chango in the condition OF
things which tho majority may happen to
desire. The idea Of prohibitory legislation in
liquor will serve to illustrate the absurdity OF
the fa1lacy that must sooner or later force itself
upon the American people. To enforce q law
that intoxicating drinks shall not bo sold, it
would be necessary to make g lar that into1i-
eating drinks should not DO manufactured. To
enforce the latter low, it would be equally noces
sary to make law prohibiting the growing Of
material from which Intoxicating drinks may be
manufactured. It would not be difficult to trace
the whole doctrine to O reductio ad dbsurd,m,
which would be understood by the most obtuae
advocate Of prohibitory law. It would be neccs-
gary to enact and enforce law prohibiting the
desire Of stimulant among the human race, and
Furnishing it in d manner commensurate With the
enornity OF the offense.
It is not strange that ministers OF the Gospel
should hare extreme views on subject like
TINT Of intemperance. Tho proposition mndo
thht the Methodist Church shall not recognize
among its ministry any gentleman who has be-
como committed to the personal misfortune OF
using tobacco, is Indicative OF the spirit with
which the clergy are apt to pursue the purpose
Of putting down abuses: No body Of people is
more apt, as class, to confuse use aud abuse
than the clergy. However this train Of thought
may affect ecclesiastical disciplineSr church
government, is for them to decide; but when
they come to apply it to secular govern
ment, which has not to deal with
the personal thoughts or habits OF its
people, except as they affect the general welfare
and the public safety, the idea Of prohibition,
whether in liquor, or tobacco, or the uso OF pro-
fame language, or any other matter Of personal
concern, is entirely repulsire. The Government
can only deal with abuses it is for Tho Church
to overcome the uses and break down the habits
which lead to these abuses.
DETECTIVE STRATEGY.
Tho examination OF George Bidwe1], one OF
the parties connected with the forgeries on the
Bank OF England, which took place in London