Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-06-24
The Temperance Reform.

The philanthropist who relies On the
machinery Of laws to grind out bcneticent
results, without continual and energetic
cooperation, will be miserably disap-
pointed. No legal enactment, however
wise in its provisions and salutary, if en-
forced, in its effects, can ever take the
place Of individual responsibility and ex-
ertion. Conscience IS Il divine authority
in the human soul, and it is absolutely
non-transterable. TO say the right thing,
and to do the right thing, all the time and
erywhcrc-thi:; is the Interchangeable OBJ
legation imposed upon US by conscience; );
and obedience to it is equally the source
of Christian manhood and Of truast sue
cess in reforming others.
Forgetfulness Of this simple truth has
been the cause of immense mischief in
the matter of temperance reform. The
foes of alcohol. have often put forth tre-
mendous efforts to secure the passage of
prohibitory laws, and after having sue
cecded they almost as often have relaxed
their energies in the line of moral suasion,
losing sight Of the vital fact that a strong
and rigorous public sentiment lies back
of a law, and is the only guarantee Of its
faithful execution. There are hundreds
of dead laws on our statute books that
have never been officially repealed. They
are dead simply becaus the public senti-
ment out Of which they grew is dead. To
make lava living force,it is necessary
to keep the sentiment Of the community
in state Of moral agitation; to infase
into it a ceaseless and regenerative pow,
cr Of righteous and purifying principles
At the very point therefore, where on.
labors are likely to be relinquisl.ed, they
ought to be enlarged and intensified
Have you got a no-licensc law passed foa
your town? Then work, not the less, by
all the moral agencies, but harder than
ever. The Legislature is 4 good enough
manufacturer Of strait jackets with which
to curb somewhat the evil propensities OF
society; but it is not a fountain Of life
and of righteous purpose. The most that
it can accomplish is in a negative form
but as a substitute for the inspiration that
comes from the living voice, and from
contagious personal example, tits worth
Hess. 49,. p.
1t is a fact Of supreme significance thai
our Lord, who was the Prince Of Reform
ers, did not begin at the governments OF
His day, though they were about as bad
as could be, but at the individual. BY
His friendly inculcation Of Transforming
precepts, and especially by His sympa
thetic and exalted example, he lifted
one after another into higher ideal OF
| life, and a erperformance Of its :du
ties, until society was shaken as with i
moral earthquake. and men cried out fol
salvation. Thus through htheregeneratiol
Of individuals, lis religion finally, in the
pcrson'of Constantine, mounted the throne
Of the Caesars, and dictated the laws of ar
universal empire. Friends of temper
ancc, let Christ be your model. Do no
fail to exert your influence over the indi
vidual who may .bc@your personal &C
quaintance:or relative. The law can nev
cr.see drunkard, but you can. If the
| officer closes the saloon on Sunday, thu:
keeping your son little while fromtcmp
tation, what is to be his safety on Monda!
except the strength Of principle will
which your teaching and example have
inspired him? An ounce ofprevention i:
worth apound OF cure. Heis not a re
formed man whosdoes not drink simply
becauseshe cannot get liquor at the bar
but if lie, rcstrains himself in obediehc,
to your Kindly infuenc in pointing gu
the danger Of irrevocabIt drunkenness
with its.poyerty, its broken health, its III
ined intellect, its degradation Of famiI,
and blasted hopes in regard to the soul il
eternity, then he is ina fair way Of refor
nation. Thesfascination Of wine is s.
great, the peril Of forming by even an &c
casional indulgence an ungovernable hab
. it is SO imminent, the. crimes perpetuatet
. by the intoxicated are so manyand awful
| that every lover Of humanity and Of Got
may we'll feel constrained to be s.indetati
gable and persistent, to a degree which
some may call fanatical, in his efforts tt
hold men back from the bottom]es
abyss of strong drink. Tits said on goot
authority that with the passage Of every
hour in these United States seven poor
helpless inebriatcs drop into that dread
ful grave from which there can be NJ