Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-06-05
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING, June s, 1875.
AN IMPARTIAL VIEW OF THE SUBJECT

-
As the temperance lecture of Rev. D.
N. Utter, the Unitarian minister, deliv-
cred in Olympic Hall, last Sunday even
ing, has been the subject of much I'M
just criticism from some very jealous
but altogether impractical " temper
ance" men, We propose, as usual, to
express onr views on the subject. The
lecture was just such an address as
might have been expected from one
occupying the liberal, philanthropic,
Christian grounds assumed by that gen.
tleman in all his teachings and inter
course with the community in which lie
has cast his lot. His views are advan-
ced with modest conviction of right,
and candor and earnestness which in
dicates that his heart throbs in sympa-
thy with the great human family, who
prefer to be actuated by good impulses,
and await the guidance of Moses who
is content to lead them on to righteous
ness, without climbing over all the
stumbling-blocks placed in the way by
Jealous but misguided bigots. We
know human nature well enough to as
sert that the moral impulses of all man
kind cannot he reached by the same
appliances; that their lives cannot be
improved by the same code of morals or
mode of instruction.
An evidence of this is found in the
work of temperance reforms the past
thirty years. Every effort thus made
has found advocates; and each associa-
ton has drawn within its folds those in
whom its peculiar doctrines enlisted
nature responding to its demands and
exactions. But that which suits one is
burdensome to another, and that which
may lead to moral advancement in some
instances, is just as destructive Of vital
principle in others. If We assert self
evident proposition, there are some ever
ready to bubble about the exact terms.
If we assert that twice two is four, there
are people who will strenuously insist
that twice two are four, and in their zeal
lose sight of q result, which is not af-
fected by the exact process of reasoning.
Thus it is that we have the Sons of
Temperance, the Good Templars, the
Champions of the Red Cross, the Inde-
pendent Champions, and the many
other organizations instituted for the
purpose of advocating temperance re-
form. This is why we have the in
Vulnerable churches, which insist upon
leading their focks by devious and di-
verse paths to common goal; and this
gives life to political parties, honestly
intent on promoting good government
by the means they conceive to be the
best adapted for that object.
1t would be the height of folly to con-
denim all organized effort to promote
the public veal, because we cannot agree
with the LEADERS, in few inessential
particulars. Still we find this spirit
predominating to the largest extent
among those who are the sef-constitu-
ted champions of measures of reform.
1t win not surprise anybody, therefore,
that the most severe criticisms of Rev.
Mr.. Utter's lecture should emanate from
the protested apostles of Temperance,
those who by their violent and indis-
Greet advocacy of their special hobbies
have aroused the most bitter opposition
to an object which all alike feel
common interest in promoting. The
same spirit which inaugurated the move
ment, few years ago, that made it i'm
possible for saloons, in this county, to
obtain licenses, resulted only in depriv-
ing the municipality of several thou
sand dollars revenue per annum. And
the movement which eliminated in the
whisky crusades and the establishment
of a Temperance Home" led to ar
increased use of liquor every Sunday
afternoon, and the institution of hot
house of iniquity, in which the blight of
vice fell upon scores of our youth.
This is the lamentable result which fol-
lows all effort to coerce popular senti-
ment, or enforce measures instituted by
a minority of the people for the govern
insnt of the majority.
Mr.. Utter recognizes all the human
family as belonging to common broth
erhood. He believes that there is i'm
planted within every human breast
preference to do right, and that erring
manhood can be easier led to paths of
rectitude by moral suasion than by
arousinp the antaponisms Of b;a he;no