The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-07
LegI,IotIop and Temperauce.

klA4AANG@N1 &
from tho Chicago TrlbnnOi
Al the last weekly meeting Of the
Methodist clergymen IN New. York City
the question for discussion was: "Whst
b the most desirable legislation at the
present time for the advancement Of the
interests Ol Temperament" The leading sen.
timcnt OF the meeting was In favor Of
prohibitory legislation as the most effec-
i've means Of checking intemperanCe.
There was one minister, however, who
took more rational view Ofthe question.
He admitted, what everybody OF sense
and decency admits, that drunkenness Is
q great evil and one Of the principal
causes OF crime; but he was not prepared
TO admit that the quickest and sureat
means OF preventing 1t was to be found In
statutes prohibiting tho sale ofinlQxics-
ting liquors, for tho very sensible reason
that laws which arc too stringent are pref
" sure TO defeat themselves. He went fur.
Their, and pointed out that the moral. pow.
er OF the Church should exert itself more
largely in tho work Of suppressing the
vice OF intemperance, and that the effect
Of excessive legislation in the matter had
o tendency to render this power inactive.
This protest did not prevail, and the ma
iority OF the ministers insisted'tha strin.
gent prohibitory legislation Is the
only way in which drunkenness can be
eSadicatcd. This general proposition Is
probably true. For those who believe
that drunkenness will ever be Thoroughly
eradicated,-aud 10 believe this would
betoken the highest confidence In the mil.
lennial doctrine,-the theory Of prohib-
tory legislation as q means 10 this end
will, probably, commend itself. These
persons will have to admit, however, that
tho enforcement Of the legislation would
DO even more necessary than the legisla-
tlon itself, and 10 believe in this would
require still greater amount OF faith.
Students In history would scarcely VEN
ture'Upon the conclusion that this could
ever be secured.
America, like every land Of promise,
must be regarded as in transition or ex-
detrimental state. Our earliest foretathers
started out with ArcAdian dreams, and
their posterity has not entirely abandoned
them as illusions. There are still dreams
Of government, Of society, Of virtue, Of
universal happiness that perVade certain
respectable and valued communities EX.
periments are the order Of the day. Not
the least important, nor the least embar-
RAISING, Of these, Is the hope Of establish
ing the use oil stimulants, whichis 80 like.
ly to DO turned into abuse. Legislation Is
the most suggestive method Of attaining
this and all other desirable things in 4he
country. While the law making power
rests with the people; the people nat
urally think that 1t Is only necessary TO
make the laws in order TO suppress
practices Of any kind. Il is
unnecessary to enter into details to point
out how numerous and humiliating
have been the disappOintments attendant
upon this pleasant lallacy. The doctrine
that the majority rules, which Is suscepti,
BILE OF such varied misconstruction, Is
largely responsible for the hallucination
that q law Is all that Is necessary to insti-
tule any change in the condition OF things
which the majority may happen to desire.
The idea oil prohibit0ry legislation In
liquor will serve 10 illustrate the absurdity
Of the fallacy that must sooner or later
force itself upon the American people. To
enforce a law that intoxicating drinks
shall not be sold, it would be necessary
to make law that intoxicating drinks
DO not manufactured. To enforce the
latter law, 1t would be equally necessary
to make law prohibiting the growing OF
material from which intoxicating drinks
may be manufactured. 1t would not be
difficult to trace the whole doctrine.to q
reductio Gd dbSurdum, which would be
by the most obtuse advocate
of prohibitory law. It would be necessa-
~ 10 enact and enforce law prohibiting
the desire oil stimulant among the human
race, and Furnishing Ii in q manner CON-
with the eAormity Of the Of
tense.
1t Is not strange that ministers OF the
Gospel should have extreme views on
subject like that Of intemperance. The
made, that the Methodist
Church shall not recognize among It's
ministry any gentlemen who has become
10 the personal misfortune Of
using tobacco, is Indicative OF the spirit
with which the clergy are apt to pursue
the purpose ofputtiDg down abuses. No
body Of people Is moro apt, as class, TO
confuse use and abuse than the clergy.
However this train Of thought may affect
ecclesiastical discipline or churchgovern.
ment, Is for them to decide; but when |
they come 10 apply 1t to secular govern
ment, which has not 10 deal with the |
personal thoughts or habits Of It's people,
except as they affect the general welfare
and the pnblic safety, the idea Of prohibl-I
lion, whether in liquor, or tobacco, or the
use Of anaslanguage, or any other
matter Of parsonal concern, is entirely
repulsive. The Government can only
deal with sbuses;it is Tor the Church to
overcome the uses and break down the
hahita which lead IN thpsn ahnEpa |