Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-05-08
temperance Talk.

sembled at Temperance Hall on Sunday
afternoon last to hear an address from
Elder w. NJ. Roe, of the Christian
church, who had been previously an
nounced in these columns. The president
and vice-president being absent, Solan
FL. Fidlar conducted the meeting. Mr.. |
Roe began his address by saying: Can |
intemperance be suppressed, and if so, |
what are the means employed to accom-
plish this end I? Some say temperance |
men have been working for the past forty
years, and still men are dying drunkards
it is no use to labor for the destruction
of the evil. So we might say of sin in
the world. Men have been laboring in
the various churches for the destruction
of sin; they have preached against it,
they have talked against it, and labored
against it, and still sin exists! Shall we
therefore cease our efforts for the sup
preston of wrong? We have ample evi-
dence that with proper heed to Education
and Legislation, intemperance can be al
most entirely suppressed. Here he cited
a number of cases from villages and coun-
ties and States where prohibition had
been tried, and wherever tried proved a
good thing. He showed what a great
saving in criminal expenses, human life
and personal safety was observed under
no-Iieense as compared to the license sys-
tenn. His facts and figures were all from
reliable sources. He said the Maine law
enacted in 1851 !, and quoted from Gen.
Neal Dow, who said, 'sIn large districts
of Maine the traffic is entirely unknown.
This traffic is considered as disreputable
as keeping a gambling house, So much
for the result under State temperance
laws. Now can we fine nation on earth
without intemperance? If so, where
Shall we go to the northern nations OF
Europe? These nations, it is well known,
are addicted to the excessive use of bran
dy. And so the people of middle and
southern Europe drink wines and ales.
The lower class of the English take enor-
nous quantities of ale and beer, and in
London much gin is used. In this coun-
cry, as in Scotland and Ireland, immense
quantities of whisky are used. The Be
douins, or wild Arabs of the Desert, arr
noted for robbery and pi1lage, but they
are not charged with intemperanee. Ant
in this one respect, at least, the Arab ant
Mohammedan may claim to be superio
to the Christian American. And her
we have the evidence that a nation o
community my exist without intempe1
= ance.
: By what means, then, can the grea
evil be suppressed? Two factors will in
sure success: First, Proper education
e Second, Proper legislation. Here ten
perance people sometimes divide-on
n part for education, the other for legisls
y ton. But they are like faith and works
/ we want and must have both, or no PEE
!, manent success will ensue. sKnow th1
self,'' is an ancient heather and tri
maxim. Most people know more of e.
: erything else. If you would be trul
I'd wise "know thyself''-learn your ow
y weakness. No other part Of mans n
ture is so difficult to control as the app
z: tite. Hence we should be well educate
ne in reference to consequences of an unr
r strained appetite. Here he cited a nur
p ber of persons who have stood high
their country's history, men of brain
who with all their knowledge, failed
know themselves-knew not their wea
ne ness-and when tempted they fell. Tht
,, we say, without education, laws mu
~ ever prove inefficient. History prov
theories true or false often. Here he to-
tobacco as an example, and proved
about twenty instances where kings al
rulers in the past had issued ediets, al
laws had been passed for the suppressi,
- of the habit with strong punishment the1
- for. What is the result? Why, the pc
pie were not educated, and all the la,
and edicts proved as ropes of sand. T
evil increased. Hence, this proves til
law will not prohibit unless the subie,
are educated up to the point of reali7
tion that thing is wrong and an ev
and that they would be better and ha
G pier with a law enforced; then all W
unite and prohibition will prohibit.
Too stringent temperance laws ha
been enacted, and drunkards were Du
ished with great severity in many of t
early nations. In early days drunke
y ness was even punished with death, !
- drunkenness existed. This proves IL
the public sentiment was not suficien
educated, and hence law was failu
Then what is needed is creating pub
Isl sentiment and proper education. T.
can be done by example, by publieatiC
and by lecturing, preaching, talkil
public and private. The vile enemy m
be approached from every side-co
pletely surrounded and exposed in all
fS' deformities.
Who can be controlled by educatio
All the truly good and all the consci
tious. This class need no law, their o
good moral habits will be their rul
Law is needed for the evil ones, the
ones. When man is lost to all sense
morality, decency and virtue, then
law will have to come in-that is if
majority are educated they will force
10" 10 obedience. So we need law to
strain and punish. Law is necessary
all departments. Law is an ednca,
, says one. Not so, if trampled updor I
like conscience, if abused. One II
violation prepares us for greater wi
ton; so with law. Step by stem If is
lated until all laws are violated with
'ng punity. Then give education first
law next, and we will succeed in
grand and glorious work.-Danbugy {
Nepos.
Human nature is prone to backslidi
in winter it's ice; in summer it's ban
nPelinn tI,o