National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-13
WOMAVS TEMPERANCE UNTOl

The Woman's Temperance Union, as
may have been noticed in our advertising
columns, have issued a card to citizens
whose names they have found to be ap-
pended 10 applications for license to sell
ardent spirits as a beverage, in which they
call upon them to prayerfully consider the
subject in a moral and religious view be-
fore repeating the act. We have been in
vited to second this movement and have
also been presented with a copy of the
pledge adopted by the Union, which not
only obligates the signer to abstain from
the use of intoxicating beverages, but also
to discountenance its manufacture and sale
by others, and to decline to lease or rent
premises for the purpose of carrying on the
manufacture or traffic.
1t is the privilege as well as the duty of
all good citizens to discourage vicious and
immoral practices, and it is no doubt the
right of each to do it in his or her own
way, as they may feel called upon to act
from their convictions of duty. And,
while it may not be well to criticize the
chosen methods of the performance of duty,
it is, perhaps, only proper that some views
should be stated which are not exactly in
accord with those of the ''Womans Tenn
perance Union" upon this highly i'm
portant subject. We have not a single
word to say in apology for the vice of in
temperance, nor would we utter an express
sion which might be construed into dis
enlargement of the earnest workers in that
cause which has for its object the suppress
sion of that vice which now appears to be
the bane of society, because it is, in a
greater or less degeee, the primary cause
of the crime, misery and want which is so
prevalent throughout the length and
breadth OF the land of which we have many
other reasons to be proud.
Admit that drunkenness is an unmiti-
gated evil, and that its ravages are CO.
extensive with the civilized world; and,
more, that it must be suppressed itself. or
it will succeed in suppressing the human
race, do we not thus make the humiliating
confession that we are no longer free moral
agents, when we insist that the only way
to stop it is to stop the manufacture of al
cohOlic spirits? The laws of supply and
demand are supposed to control and regu-
late all other manufactures. When the
demand for the article ceases it will no
longer be made. The same laws precisely
govern the manufacture and sale of wines
and spirits which apply to all other articles
of trade and commerce. 1t follows, then,
that the only sure method of stopping their
manufacture is by the destruction Of the
demand. 1t is a sad comment upon mans
free moral agency to assert that the only
way in which he can be prevented from COM
hitting moral and physical suicide by drink
is by legislating away from him the power
Of obtaining the wherewith to crafty his
artificial and morbid appetite. We are
taught to pray that we be not led into
temptation, but we are not told that temp
tation shall be removed from our path with
out our resistance. What virtue is there
in abstinence from evil which we have
no temptation or inclination to commit?
We may pity the slave of his appetite, but
we can have little if any respect for the
man who tells US that he cannot pass his
cup without partsking 1t. Such confess
sion is no more nor less than a confession
of the loss of his manhood; that which con-
stitutes in him the Divine attribute, the
knowledge of good and evil 1t is ques-
ton in the minds Of many good temperance
people whether the attempt to place the
onus of dram-drinking upon the maker and
seller does not result in positive injury to
the drinker by, in appearance at least, re-
lieving him from the moral responsibility
of his folly. VIII the child ever learn to
walk if we always carry it? VIII it stand
erect, relying upon its own strength and
feet if it is always furnished with something
to lean upon? Will it believe that the fire
will burn before it has tried it, Men are
only grown children and will only rely on
tbeir own strength when they have no one
else to lean upon. If they can satisfy their
consciences by saying that the manufac-
turer and seller of spirits is responsible for
their debasement and ruin they will not
take the guilt home to themselves. Let
the "Woman's Temperance Union" con-
slider how far it may safely go in this direc-
ton.
On the other hand, those who are en-
gagged in the liquor traffic, it is to be pre-
sumed, engage in it only for the gain which
it promises them. They have no particu-
lar love for that especial traffic from any
other cause. And it is fair to suppose that
when we have so reduced the demand, by
abstinence from the use of their beverages.
that they no longer find the trade profitable
they will shut up their shops. They do
not look upon this trade as sin. They
have not been educated upon that high
plane of morals and religion which would
cause them to see it in that light. Shall