The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-04-02

We must respectfully beg Brother Arnold
10 excuse nv from pursuing with him in these
columns the discussion of the subject of pro-
hibi,ion, IN which, we imagine our readers,
an seeing tut one side, could take but lin.
tied interest. On the contrary, We take the
liberty of turning him over to Brother Mac
pherson, of the Baptist church, whose last
Sunday evenings discourse on the subject IN
hand, and published in Thursdays Ottawa
Republican, we heartily endorse. The dis.
course was delivered to house densely
packed, and We believe commanded general
approval. 1t not only takes the ground OF
practical common sense, but the scripturai
ground Il condemns drunkenness, as the
scriptures do, a. r Crevous sin, yet II
docs not condemn the use OF liquor in all
Gases and under all conceivable circumstances
~ necessarily sinful. Brother Macpherson
knows, for instance IN bis own case, that hs
life was saved by the use OF a few spooniulS
of brandy, and that, after d long and danger,
Gus illness, his ConvalesCcncc was greatly as.
sisted by the very moderate and judcIous use
Of pure wine. To confess himself, after such
an avowal "a great sinner winch he must
be If the views OF the total abstinence Zcalots
are correct, is something against which his
good sense iey0lts, and We think very right.
fully. II is not the proper use, but the abuse
Of liquor that is sinful; and so IN regard to q
thousand other things. The right to vote is =
good thing and at the bottom Of ell good GOV,
ernment. vet that right is often sbameful,y
abused or course an infaliblc remedy for
headache is to cut oil the sufferers head, but
is 1t wise remedy? Arc there not remedies
for most great ills tar less sweeping and
radical! ....
The PROHIBITION EXPERIMENT IN KANSAS
is likely to lead to some curious and unplcas-
ant as we'll as some ludicrous results. The
law passed to enforce the constitutional pro
vision is very stringent, and prohibits by the
severest sanctions the manufacture, sale. bring
ing into or use in the state of 5pirituous liquor
Of any sort for any purpose except strictly AS
medicine. OF course it forbids the use OF wine
in the administration Of the Eucharist or Holy
Communion, and Is so construed and I'm.
derstood by the clergymen. Yet almost with
out exception they have decided 70 disobey the
law. As Bishop Clarkson of the Episcopal
church says, the administration OF wine al the
holy table Is the command Of the church and
its head, and, as ST. Peter put 1t on some.
what similar occasion, Ought We not TO obey
God rather than MANI Yet to make the law
as odious as possible, its euemles will take
every opportunity TO prosecute the ministers,
who will have no choice but 10 20 to prison
AS well as pay heavy fine.
But the experiment also assumes q ludicrous
phase in the cunning devices that are con.
rived to evado it. One of these Is being put
in operation on the border line between Kan. |
las and Missouri. Saloon keepers IN the for.
ner state are erecting houses on the line, with
= bsr-room IN Missouri and the rest Of the
building 10 Kansas, so that they can continue
selling liquor withou, being responsible to
the laws OF the state of which they remain
citizens The border between the two states
town has been iald oil between Bourbon coun
ty. Kansas, and Vernon county, Missouri, with
the significant name of Wh,skyville. The
dram shops, Of which there will he a gO0dly |
number. are TO be located In a straight rOw on
The dead line. on Missouri SOIL, and yet with
as great powers Of mischief IA il in the heart
If the prohibition state.
D. -, a. H..