, 1874-10-10
suMPTuARY.. LEGISLATION.

Sins Tow mon have contributed more, III thoir
day md generation, to tic advancement OF uBo-
ful knowledge, than tho Dtcssrs. Chambers, Of
Ediuburg," THOR popular works on almost oe;
cry hubject nccosaary to d BOUND practical cdu-
cation AaYo oarriod Tor. teul q Worldwide fame,
mud lave justly placed them among tho .trueat |
honefactota or tho ago., Mdny na have boon tho
works wlicl, havo been iksued from tho prosa Of
William mud Robert Chambers, and numerous as
are tho topics. which tlioir publications
liaye embraced. lit - must = be- admit
tod; . oven ; By tho most fastidiouB
taAte, that they hhyo mover collntonanced any,
thing III any way detrimental to tile beBt inter-
estu OF aooioty. In mattors Of. religion, ns well
~ upon political subiecso. they have been strict
lynousral, seeking "rathor to instruct than to
bias tho mind OF the reader. Aud yos their
works MI have Il tendency towards gonuino re-:
1igion mud puro morality. Some Of the Houn1ost
advice upon social ct',ics is contained in their
Information for Tho reorio.n They hayo never
hesitatru to col1tlo,nn nn5thing injurioun to tho
found among tho cautnrB who would cut oil NIL
naeana OF nMocent enjoyment simply becauso
vico will 1aFo its rloaHlros. That popular
serial, ChambrIs' Journal, oioneh up d now era
cinsisoiy tint literature, iii order to bio ino1pon-
siye, iaet noe, Of nacossity, DO nasty.
Oh thu temperance question, the Influence OF
tho Alcssru. Chambcrs soonla to mo to havo
boon peculiarly belioicial: They have hlways
been AMONG thd strongest oppotlenta or
immodnrate drinfing, md yet they hnyo never
aiiet with those extremists who would tlany tho
right Of 1ndividualH to l,so their own Judgment
rs to what, they should cat or drink: Ia fact.
they havo boen; no believers ii .pr5hibition aud
| other sun1puary legislation. Within tho past
year, sesesaE articles Aavo anpearod from the
surviving nionlUer Of the firm hayo referred to-
Oil this inteieettfg subject. On thia ndo Of Tho
Atlantic. we hayo heen tho abortivenoss OF pro-
in this respect, tiio experience OF tho Old World
! only repeats Tho history Of tbs New.
lii u recent atticle, Dir. William Chanlbers
proves, TO tho satisfaction Of oil reasonable
minds, that prohibition, or untne restrictive leg
slation would, IN tho light Of past experiences,
bo III ,EnyailiiE in England Us it haa been in tho
United States. mr. Chambora- quotes from
Snaolott to show tho state Of ailall'' it, London
80 carly rs tho year 17a6. According to
tho yeraoiolas authority mentioned, drunkenness
.was Infinitely moro proya!ent then than it is
today. Y system Of eia.-seliing was thca lnau-
gurated which would to moro to gladdon tho
| beart Of tho Chicago hummer shaa al! the FREQ
soncorts and 'anehcs q present Y & existence;
ns ottDu iii their inclination permitted theH A.
person might get drunk fer QUO 1enuy e.
| couts), and :. tho tayeru-kcepcra ndycr-
tiaad that Z. person, might get dead drunk
4uE ar lGAtct hAA AAa50 WV pAtfApao
Of aobcri,,s 9H upon +. bed Of atraw, without
oxtrn charge. General riot aud drWnkenness
wero tha consequence. Legislative onactmeuta
| wero. rosortca to. "a pyohibisory duty Of 20
ahillings per gallon was teYied Upon asl spirtu-
| ou9 liquors, aud every taVorll-Eoopor was COM
! pellest to jay E5v per nnuuni for Ills liconSe
| to sell spuituors liquors. Woro tlleao
| measures productive Of any good ? List ua look
ut tho results: Only two l!conBcs wore takon
| o.t III all London, end tho reyon.le.rcturua did
not materially swell tho Golfers or. to Troasury,
| And yet tho sale and lna5uGactNye OF intoxieat-
Ing lil,.o,s itefeascd. Liquor WIS sold il, secret
| t.ons, Ana hAwIea about the atgeeta ia bottles.
The respectable Dealers and tticro yerB MANY Of
| thom III those days, notwithstanding tho facts
recorded by EQiollott, wero driven out oe tho
| trade, which was abandoned to the n1ostprolgato
characters, WHO ,reapetl incstimabo bouplta
from the so-callel proisibtivo legislation.
| Such Tero tho results of AuinptunrY laws
| century and q half ago; and, comparatively
| speaking, suck arc tAoy today. WAatever may
| be the euro tor tho aproad Of intomporancp,-
which Is not untitIy called the .moustes evil Of
tho ngo.-it is cortinly not in prohibtiyo logia-
lasion. BY tho prevention Of adulteration III all
kintls OF hYnorg, moro can 10 done to
stem tho tiIo Of ltolnparanco than by any otl.cY
| moanB. III countries Woro thero il no aGtlltera-
| tieu, 1ntoApesance doea not exist to any cp,,-
| siderable cxtent. Among tue higher und cul-
tiyatcd classes, 1t ID not ncarly go preyalons III
| among tho luwar aud uncducaled masses. Auch
| or this il doubtless tuo to tho influences Of
| k.,uwB tho different eifecta Of good and batt
+! liquors will admit tho demoralizing effects OF
| the latter Us compared with tho forner.
4