Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-12-28

prospects al ie''ei w WV N'''''' -
says;
81 have been an attentive observer OF
these methods Tor more than hall cen.
tury, and rs Journalist have been
always and earnestly endeavoring To pro
mote the cause vi temperance. hut ]
was unable to concur with those who
sought To effect their object 10y means
which | regarded impracticable aud i'm
possible. The abortive efforts OF able,
influential and good rpen and women to
eradicate intemperanceN by prohibi-
tory laws will, ii is hoped, IN
duce that class To adopt wiser
and better methods. The late Mr.,
+. o. Deleyan, of Albany, the we'll
remembered champion at temperance,
who for several years was at the head oil
the Maine Law movements, ran the
whole thing into The ground. Growing
more and more ultra, Mr.. Delevan's
career eliminated disastrously in an at
tempt To drive wine from the Comnu-
Mon table. The time, talent ana money
lost in efforts 10 obtain the passage oil
the prohibitory laws wisely used would
have done very much Ia lessen the evils
ol intempcrance. But for the halluclna-
ton thar Mr.. Greeley labored under in
this respect, the Tribune would have
been lar more potential influence Tor
good. While, however, nothing can he
accomplished Tor temperance 10y pro-
hihitory legislation, much Is attaihahlr
by other methods. There is wide field
iIr usefulness opened, ii wise and good
men will unite their influence III laNor
oi practical measures.
But temperance people believe that
prohibition is right and ought to pre-
vail. They argue that the evil OF cx-
posing for sale beverage that is in Its
composition proved Ia be poisonous and
deadly, and which destroys the health
and happiness oi large classes OF the
community, is Il proper subject OF lcgls-
lation, and one against which the law oi
the land should he interposcd ior the
common good.
But temperance people do not and
will not learn that what IL right is not
always cxpelient. They Il" not con
ceiye that prohibition does not and can
not prohibit The arm of the law is 10"
short for such contest. intoxicating
drinks are the product I'll the same ma
terial "a the bread VIZ eat They are Il
part of the natural products al the
earth They have existed from
the earliest point to which We
trace the history of man. And
as far back rs We have any knowledge "t
mans habits he has bccna tipler. There
il no more prospect now than there Was
eighteen centuries ago that his pr"prn-
sites i'm this regard will be rradicatcd.
There is 10 more prospect ola cessation
in the manufacture at intoxicating
drinks than there is in the preparation
Of the grain for food, and as long as they
exist he will use them. These ar" con
illusions from which the Intelligent r.
former must start - basis. The l'oli-
tician, the business man. the successful
man in any sphere, viii not liz found
always rowing squarcly against the cur
rent when he can flank ii anil acComp-
lish his purpose more speedily and
eiiectuully in another way.
The intelligent opinion oi this nge ~
| well AZ oi the past, is that the civil law
will never bC able Ia do away with the
use al Intoxicating drinks. 10 prohibit
the sale in public does not accomplish
it, and often tends To- increase the sale
and CONSUMPTION.
Evidently, then ii We must have III
toXicating drinks, il is the province III
the intelligent rciurmcr To- deal with the
drinks Tor another purpose. Ii he cant
abolish them he has the consent al all
mankind Ia prevent their adullcratlon
| with destructive p"isons. lie can ~
form the drunkard much easier Nv first
reforming the Intoxicating draught.
The most bcsotted as we'll a. the most
ii,stidious dcvotrcs ol the glass will join
him in this.
alt is only by mixtures and adultcru-
tons, says Mr.. WEED. that intuxica-
| ting drinks are made cheap enough 10
ruin aud DESTROY hundreds ri thousands
These mixtures and authorizations not
only intoxicatc but poison their victims
The evidence that those who habituuIlv
indulge in the use al cheap liqunrluhulo
more ar less OF deadly poison has been
clearly ascertained 10y chemical analysis
The sale ui poisoned liquor may
also, Tor sanitary reasons, he
prohibited lat this reform he
accomplished; let Us obtain the passage
al Il law which will prohibit hy strin.
gent penalties the sale oi adultrralcd
liquors the gin shops AMI groggrlrs
will rapidly disappear. Nor. it all the
friends ri temperance will unite IN an
effort To- regulate the disiillation and
sale Of alcoholic liquors, will 1t hc long
before much the largest aud much the
most helpless class OF victims will hc
emancipated from the blight OF intrm-
pcraucc."
These practical measures do not at all
come III conflict with or interfere with
what is known as Gospel Temperance
Work. on the contrary they are inn
portant and Indispensable aids In the
very clear, sensible AMI comprehensive
review made by Mr. Weed. To which
We have referred, hc not only approves
bat applauds and cjoiccS in this branch
OF the practical temperance work. lie
saws on this head;
After lapse Ot many years, during
which, through instructed efforts, the
Temperance cause made little progress,