Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-10-20
ARE THEY ANALOGOUsg

Evening Wisconsin" Editorial, Oct. Is.
The La Crosse Chronicle of .re
cent date has the following: -
We have read in republican organs
II we mistake not, great praises of The
old abolition party, for their steadfas
devotion to principle year after year
in the face of inevitable defeat at The
polls. We do not agree with the pur.
pose sought to be accomplished by
the prohibition party, but they can
hardly do less than express the SINGER
ity of their convictions in the manner
proposed, or else, take a drink and
modify their avowed principles to suit
the twosided platform of the republi-
can party.
The blunder which the Chronicle
makes and which the advocates of the
prohibition ticket make, lies in the
supposed analogy between the anti
slavery question and the temperance
question. They are analogous solely
in the manner of their advdranv
The question of Slavery was primarily
one of system of labor, and there
fore very properly matter Of political
and civic action. The question of
temperance undoubtedly is one of
personal choice and appetite, and
therefore not proper matter for
legislation The qaestion of freedom
has been undeniablc, in all ages,
matter for law to detail with; the
question Of the wine cup has always
been one for the moraliSts and preach
ers. Labor is a commodity in the
markets of the world, and it is a ques-
ton of civil polity whether it shall be
offered by the laborer himself, or by
his owner and master; but the predom--
mating element in the drinking ques-
ton is of a purely personal character.
Doubtless it was the moral side of
the slavery question that finally alb
sorbed and overshadowed every other
consideration; and slavery went down
because an abundant and abiding
majority decided against it, and were
ready to fight and die for the union
threatened by secession in behalf Of
such a system of labor. 1t is utterly
inconceivable, however, that men
should threaten the integrity of the
union on account Of possible, or pros
pectiye prohibition. Drinking and
drunkenness becomes habitual, but who
ever referred to slave-owning as a
habit? The drinking question touches
the Individual and through him the
state; the slavery question touched
the state FIRST and the individual after
wards Slave-holding was convic first
and moral collaterally; whisky-drink-
ing is moral, spiritual, and physical
frst the civic afterwards because,
through excuses it threatens society
and the common public veal
That labor should be free and every
man his own master is one proposition;
but that men should be temperate,
moral, and frugal is proposition eff a
fundamentally different character.
Labor can be controlled by law, but
not so the appetite. Freedom is an
inalienable right, but sobriety is an
eutgrowth of personal character and
conscience.
By these reasons it is clear that
there is no true analogy between the
two questions. To assert that there
is, and to bolster up the prohibition
movement upon such assertion, is to
abandon logic and resort to sophistry
Sickness in our city prevails to a
large extent, and particularly among
the youno Measels and dvntheria