The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1874-07-11
For the Hickman Courier.
"SpecIaI OptIOn.o

On the 2jth inst. the citizens of Fulton
county will vote upon the question kn 4,
as Special or Local Option Law" or in
other words whether Intoxicating liquors
of any kind shall be sold in the said
/ county in less quantities than one barrel,
except by lice. sed druggist; and then
/ only when prescribed by some regular
| practising physician" The term sober
might without injury have preceded
| physician.
Query-Wiu some friend OF this meas
ure tell US why the words "For Prohi-
/ bition" is required by the law to be writ
| ten in the first column, aud against
/ Prohibition" in the other column? Did
| it's trainers suppose that that old hacknied
ruse Of ''frst column would win rs it
has often done in the past2 Our people
have kept pace with the times, and
| persons who have heretofore prActiced
unless backed by real merit.
viii they also give satisfactory rea-
son why this proviso was embraced in
the act: "but said election shall not be
| ordered or held on the same day OF
any other election in said county"
| This looks a good deal like the frances of
the bill expected 10 catch some one nap
! ping.
But this is a question that demands the
| calm and mature consideration OF every
| good citizen of Fulton county as it is
one that they cannot evade or avoid if
! they would The writer of this is a
friend and well wisheI to moral Organi-
cations that have in view the elevation
! and moral and intellectual culture of man.
! (An opponent 10 the '.OptiOn Law" does
not mean opposition to Temperance, or TO
| Temperance organizations, any more
| than MethOdism means infdelity, when
| ID mentions the difference between itself
and those of the Baptist or other faith }.
That Temperance organizations, when
kept in their legitimate sphere, have done
much good and will still continue to do,
no one who has been an observer of them
will deny, nor would any we'll disposed
person attempt to thwart them in their
efforts toysave the fallen, or 20 educate
the young in the principles and habits of
sObriety. Nor will any student of the
history of this, as well of past ages, deny
that the highest state of civilization and
intellectual culture are attained in the
different countries where the Bible is the
basis of their moral code. This brings
us TO the main question, which may be
summed up about as follows;
Should the principles of morality and
religion be enforced upon q people by
.. So M. now many OF tnese
which must be enforced by aw, and which
shall not be? The eptire protestant
Christian world-with one exception
are agreed that Church and State must
be separate. The most powerful and
most enlightened government in Europe,
is at this time is using its best talent and
most skillful diplomacy TO perfect a sew
erance of Church and State. The ex-
perience and best matured wisdom of ages
have proven that morality in all its forms
natures best when left to natural
growth; IN other words, it is a matter of
education, enforced best by precept and
example. When society wishes to get
clear of an evil it is never amiss to look
well at its own eye and clear it of the
'.beam" 1t might be that some degree
of the liberation taught by the great mod
ell christian St. Paul, would enable them
more successfully to bring back the lost
sheep.
The world cannot he reformed in a day.
We have the best efforts of countless ages
before US, rs well as the examples of the
wisest and the best people that have
lived; and still we are far, very far be-
hind that state of culture-in both morals
and intellect, of which the race is capa-
ble-we need many more school houses
and honest, capable teachers-more work
and less talk. | doubt if the best
mathematician living could enumerate
intelligibly the number of years that will
be yet required TO make man a hit repre-
sentative of himself.
Are our people prepared to say that
Legislation is the proper way to force this
growth? forced growths seldom, if ever,
last a great while). Are they prepared
to say that they by the enactment of laws
will be the keepers of their neighbors
consciences? But you will say that in
toxieating liquors are a curse and blight
to our race. So they are when used to
excess. The flesh of swine is, by a large
number of intelligent people, considered
unciean and unhealthy, while large
number of our own people would be sadly
at a loss in making up their bills of fare
if you were to deprive them of their
"bacon and beans" Shall the anti-pork-
ers insist that those cloven-footed gentry
of ancient renown shall again enter the