The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-04-30
HON. S. WOLF ON THE MAIN
QUESTION.

"Hon. Simon Wolf of Washington D.
O., chairman of the German American
Representative Committee of the District,
makes an able argument in opposition to
sumptuary laws to prohibit intempernnce,
rom which we make an extract"
= = y y = What is the reason
that th5 two systems OF religion,
the Jewish and Catholic are not engaged
in this mad attempt to force men to do
right Simply because they understand
human nature better, they know that
vice cannot be legislated away. that per-
sonal example, temperance in all things
lead to greater reformation than all ex-
else OF sumptuary laws.
Experience teaches US that to place a
toy above the reach of the child, is only
to incite him to get it, Sc men, children Of
larger growth, will perish in the attempt
to do that, which by arbitrary enactment
they are prevented from doing.
What is essential for the welfare of So
ciety, and for q purer atmosphere, domes-
tic and public, is knowledge, give the lar
gest scope to mans intellect, and no fear
Of his becoming q beast. Give Us a bet
ter, healthier surrounding in the home
circle, let the ONE of America attend
to their domestic duties more, give less
thought to the prevention of having off
spring, make home more pleasant, and
we guarantee q corresponding amount of
less crime and vice.
The chairman Of this committee can
speak as an Israelite, that no temperance
laws have -ever been enacted or needed for
his people, that q drunken.Jew is a tiara
Gris," and that it owes its origin to the
homo culture, to the great love they bear
TO their families and to their general cos
mopolitan intelligence.
The whole committee can say with
truth, that the German needs no sumptu-
airy law he rarely forgets himself and
that he goes to places Of amusement and
recreation where his family are not
ashamed to go; that in associations foun-
ded by Germans and patroniZed by all
classes, temperate enjoyment reins su-
preme and that no disturbances ever &C.
cur, and when they do, are traceable most
ly not to wine or lager, but to fallen Wo-
men therefore why not abolish women
altogether?
The endeavor of the German-American
citizen has been to blend the social hab-
Its, to make the native born forget his
whisky and brandy by taking hight wine
or lager, interpreted with music, song
lectures and the refining influence Of sem
sible women.
The above extract We eheerfully put in
by request of an old friend OF Mr.. Vol
and ourself. No doubt, the social points
referred to in the German character are
worthy of all praise and we are glad to
see he condemns whisky and brandy
drinking and does not approve of excess
IN taking light wine or lager AS
to "this mad attempt to force men to do
Mr.. Wolf ought to know that is
just what human laws are for. Society is
constructed and arranged "to force men to
do right"-that is, some men who refuse
to do right otherwise2 It is certainly a
new idea that ++1ice cannot be legislated
away r. If that were so, why Ieglslate
at all? Why human government at all?
With all proper and due respect to Jew
and Gentle of other nations, we maintain
the American people will compare favor
ably with all. No doubt much room is
there for improvement, and we have here
the more active, because j freer and
less trammelled people, individually and
collectively, engaged in that very work.
In this country, too, we are not SO much
hedged in by old systems and antiquated
We know of no "sumptuary" or
personal expense laws in this country-or
of any One desiring such. We baye laws
enacted to regulate and prevent the con-
traction Of vicious habits attended with
evil results, and the present temperance
movement arises from the constant per-
and open disregard and violation
of these wholesome laws-and this too
bringing sad results upon society in suf-
fering and crime. Let Mr.. Wolf fAeeths
truth and meet the tGots next time, fully
and fairly.