Daily Republican., 1879-08-02
SUNDAY READING.
MORAL AND LEGAL sUAsIoN.

| SUNDAY BEADING.
Il MORAL AND LEGAL sUAsIoN.
You ask me II | believe in "mora
suasion :" Certainly | do. But be-
lievs In "legal suasion." | would ex'
haust::svery kindly means to persuade
. man to abandon the Intoxicating cup.
| would present the gospel for his ac.
ceptance, and commend him othe only
source of delivsrancs frGm his fearful
appetite, and l would use means with
the liquor seller to show him the sin
fuln-sa of his business, and to induce
him to abandon it. But there are men
with whom no amount of moral suasion
will avail. For such, there Is nothing
like the "suasion" of wholesome law
faithfully administered. "Then you
would use coercion !' Certainly l
" ,uli to keep men from injuring them
selves, as we'll as TO prevent them from
injuring others. Then you don't ad-
here to the gospel "plan?" Why,
this is Just what do adhere to. | find
that under the gospel, governments are
instituted among men, and law Is Or
dained to be terror and restraint to
evil doers. You say, then, that am a
prob ibitionist. So am. And why
not
Lately | have got In the way Of using
my Bible as a temperance text. book,
and | find that the Almighty himself
II speak it reversntly] is prohibi-
tionist. The first law ever given TO
mankind was a prohibitory law. You
will find 1t in Genesis, chapter, 2, B, IL.
But of the tree Of knowledge of good
and evil and thou shalt not eat it, !"
&C., and If you will examine the ten
commandments, given forth amid the
thunders Of Sinai, you will find that
eight of them are "prohibitory laws "
-"T Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt
not steal, +" &c., &c. Some people pro.
frss to be very uneasy lest laws should
bs enacted in advance Of public senti-
uent but the original prohibitory law,
70 which Wa have already alluded, ap
pears to have been very much ahead
OF the public sentiment Of that time.
True, the family of mankind was not
very numerous just then, but they
were all against the law yet We do not
read that the Almighty was dissuaded
on that account either from promulga
ting the law or from inflicting its pen
alties.
"YE'RE ON OUR SIDE"
Some contend that they are more eff
cacious for the promotion of temperance
by modern drinking practice, than
they would BIZ by total abstineHce-
moderate drinking is in their estima
tion the golden medium. So thinks the
drunkard, too. Did ever any one eulo-
gize inteuperance Only let minister
holding such an opinion advocate it,
and who will applaud more heartily
than the Incorporate 7 The late Prof.
Miller, in his work entitled "Nepha-
lism," gives case in point:
eat public meeting in the west Of
Scotland" he says, an endeavor was
made to establish temperance society
by the people. Several had spoken
earnestly in favor of the movement.
The parish minister was present; but
remained silent till near the close. He
was = good man, an advocate of tenn
perance specially so called, and could
not ses any necessity for tsetotalism.
After all had spoken, he said little in
favor OF temperance in general, dsnoun.
cling drunkenness as a great sin, but
adding that he saw no need OF any
pledge or any association that each
one for himself or herself, should be
able to use the good gifts Of God with
out abusing them.
He had no sooner sat down, than
drunken weaver staggered to his feet
in the body of the hall, exclaiming,
"That's RIGHT, sir-that's richt! Ye're
on our side ~
The minister rose on the instant, pale
and under deep emotion, saying in
tones of great solemnity, "lfI am on
your side sir, am wrong" That was
the turning point on that question.
His temperance theory was scattered
to the winds before the demopstrative
power Of stern experience; and the
practical result was, that the associa-
tion was formed, and the minister name
headed the list of its members. .'-"Dr.
Reid"
rnpn ug gRRnINn