The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1876-01-13
Temneranee vs.. Inlcnlncrancc.

NNAN'N - -A-.N - II NhNN
Editor Register,
Now that the conflict between tenn
peranco and intemperanco is over,
let US examine the principles upon
which it was fought. Temperance
was sectarian. Why2 Not because
intcmperance isright in itself. Few
persons will say that it is; but be-
cause the power which temperance
wishes tGwield, iswrong. heques-
ton may be thus stated, though it
will doubtless startle those who are
accustomed to believe that the ma
jority can do no more. If the tenn
perancc party wcrein the majority,
would they have the right to force
their opinions upon the so-called in
temperate minority? In the answer
to this question will be found the rea-
son and gist Of the natter and it
suggests the broad and fundamental
question, what is the rightful limit
to the authority of society over the
individual? We need not pause
here. Every Intelligent mind will
answer at oncestita the authority of
society eyer the individual is Iiini-
ted to the public good, The exercise
Of such power over the individual
without his consent, will appear to
every rejecting person as the worst
of all tyrannies, and not the less ty-
ranny because exercised by a major
ity. am well aware that in allrep-
resentative governments, the MAORI
ty must rule on all questions affect
ing the general interests of society.
But it does not follow, and it is hard
ly necessary to repeat to anyone who
has the slightest acquaintance with
history, that the majority is anymore
apt to be right than the minority
The Pagans prosecuted the early
Christians. The Catholics pcrsecu-
ted the Protcstants in some countries,
and in others the Protestants pcrse-
cutcd the Catholics. In each case
the prosecutors were the majority,
yet no one in this enlightened age
will maintain that the persecution
was right, On the ground then, Of
individual good, everyone who would
not surrender the absolute control of
his thoughts and actions to the gov
eminent, will concedc that the tenn
perato majority would have no right
to control the minority,
But the advocates of temperance
contend that if they were the MAORI
ty they would have the right to con-
troll the minority, for the good of So
cicty. How does intcmperancc in
jurc society? By men becoming in
toxicatcd, and while thus without
reason and self-control the lives Of
others are in danger. Undoubtedly,
over persons in this condition, socie-
ty has II right for its own peace and
preservation to exercise CONTROL
But here all candid men will find
the utmost limit of their authority.
When they attempt to go beyond the
very small minority of the intcmpcr-
ate who are dangerous to the peace
of society, and punish as examples
the vast majority Of the incorporate
who are peaccablo and good citizens,
they confess their own weakness and
exercise the most incxcusablo ty-
.ranny. To punish as examples
merely is the recourse of dcspotisms
and contrary to the genius ofour free
and equal laws,
If this reasoning thus loosely
thrown together be correct, it will be
apparent to every mind, not blinded
by prejudice and solflovc to such 4
degree as to believe its own judg-
mont always infalliblc, that the pre-
tensions of a temperate majority to
control the minority, are founded
neither in justice, reason or right
Every rejecting mind will perceive
the general result of these pen sug-
gcstions to be that the question of
temperance or intcmperancc, and
that other modern dogma of compul-
sorry education should never be made
the issue Of an election, simply be-
cause the power to prohibit the sale
of Intoxicating liquors and to com
plcte education can never rightly
belong to any government whether
local or national Nj.