Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-19

articled clerk-was the noble pneassnt'
There is nothing as strong as habit.
1t is told Of physician, who always de-
handed payment on the spot, that he
was so particular that when he preserib-
ed for himself he used to take guinea
out of one pocket and put 1t into an
other.
Why Temperance People Are Not Better
United.
Springfield Union.
No good cause can be permanently
benefitted.by false or sophistical reason
ing. Truth only can maintain and ad-
vance truth. Apparent successes other
wise won amount to nothing in the end.
Our temperance extremists will lind
this out if they live long enough. 1t IS
not easy or pleasant TO unlearn ana
abandon mistaken notions and methods;
but il il much harder to hold on to them
too long One Of the clearest signs OF
getting on to a wrong track in moral re-
form is when partisans OF theory De-
gin TO charge those with sin who dissent
from them upon questions OF detail,
while firmly holding the main purpose
involved. AS here-when our teetotal-
lers arraign for moral delinquency all
who do not accept their opinion about
tho Inherent yickedness OF taking a sim
Ole swallow OF alcoholic beverage; VINO
deny that the Bible enforces any such
principle; who therefore claim the iree-
dom of putting this indispensable refor-
nation on the Pauline basis OF volunta-
rily relinquishing an individual right or
pleasure for the welfare OF others and
the safety ofthe community. This ans
wered the judgment and the feeling oil
the Apostle: at is good neither to eat
flesh, nor drink wine, nor anything
whereby thy brother stumbleth, or IS
offended, or is made weak. Romans
"A: 81. This answered the conscience
of LYMAN Beecher and Justin Edwards
and the temperance speakers and writ
ers of forty years ago, when the move
ment against the use of intoxicants and
the traffic in them was much more hope
full and deserving OF public confidence
than it is to-day.
For this movement has come to be an
intense determination to force the gen
eral conscience into bondage 10 opin-
ions which are not fundamental TO the
cause, however useful they may be as
helps TO its progress II total abstinence
had been left to be advocated on its orig
mai grounds of "brOtherly kindness ana
charity" seeking to protect and rescue
the imperiled by self.denying example
and magnanimous helpfulness, it would
be an effective working power in count
less hands now, which have become
comparatively inactive, unwisely SO,
from disgust with the narrow puRscl-
ty which persists in demanding, as an
absolute observation-disclosures, what might
be very cordially rendered as free Will
offering to the general good. Even gotd
men and women like TO have some little
liberty left them in doing good. But
our task masters say, No! You shall
have no freedom of conscience IN this
thing at all. Ii is fixed conclusion as
TO positive, elementary right and wrong
TO which we have arrlved-as unmov-
able as one of the ten commandments.
Thou shalt not drink drop Ofintoxicat-
ing LIQUOR, as a common refreshment, is
as binding on your obedience as thou
shalt not steal" And when the very
intelligent and Christian oblector to this
dogmatism presumes TO assert the priv
ilege Of private judgment in these prem
Uses, not that he may himself indulge
some vicious appetite, but may put his
exemplary temperance practice on a
higher and worthier plane, he finds his
manly independence sneered at as dis
ingenious, lukewarm shrinking OF duty.
The truest friends OF thorough morality
i'm the State have been slandered times
beyond counting, as secretly on the
drunkard's side, simply because they
have not seen their way TO rush on with
the foremost in the fight OF the anti
liquor campaign.
The right of individual liberty which
we claim in temperance work extends TO
the legal bearings OF the subject, wheth-
er TO seek for legislation in its behalf,
and il so TO what extent. Legal re-
straints of the liquor traffic are required
in the interests OF social good order and
general virtue. But il is another error
OF our special pleaders for legislative in
reference here, that statutes are TO be
made in advance OF the convictions OF
the community. in order 10 educate the
people UP 10 a higher average of moral
sentiment and expectation; as If men
can be taught to respect the laws OF the
land by seeking them continually brok-
en- and dishonored. Anyone ought TO
know what rybody can see, that a
| dead letter law is as useless and NAL
odorous a thing as are most dead thirgs.
| liz brings down the common reverence
| for all laws, at least in minds that in
cline to lawlessness. This, of course. is
nothing better than "damnable heresy''
to our out and out legal suasionists,
| lust as il is TO deny that the licensing oil
LIQUOR selling carries with 1t a moral
sanction of the traffic, when II really
i SlNnlUtS llit ll"NtcsAtN w ~
far as practicable dangerous and hurt
full business. Else why not free rum as
well as free tea or milk? There is talk
about petition to our General Court to
prohibit even the manufacture otslcoEol
within orr State limits. How impOssi'
bic such legislation, or, ii it were enact.
ed, TO fence out thus the condemned
article from our territory. Some things
can be done and some cannot. Possibly
| il is easier for some people to spend then
time and strength in advocating what
they know will never be done, than in
honestly doing what is or may he with
/ in their power; less noisy but much
more profitable and praiseworthy bust
nsss.
The Chesapeake aud Ohio Extension,
As already announced, President
Huntington, of the Chesapeake and
Ohio, has agreed with Virginia con-
tractors for the eastern extension from
Richmond to Newport News, % miles
long. Ivy the LIST OF July. Meanwhile
i u a