Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-15

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Gates OF total abstinence maintain that
there is authority in the Greek ana
Latin classics for the distinction between
fermented and unfermented wine, and
that as such distinction cannot be &C.
cepted by classical scholars, the cause
for which it is sometimes used as an
argument must fail. Here again we
may agree with the learned scholar that
such thing as an unlntoxlcatlng wine
was never known to exist; but we fail
TO see that the fact has anything to do
with the success OF the total abstinence
cause. III il can be established that
there we're two kinds OF wine, the HARM
less and the hurtful, this might strength
en- the argument for total abstinence IN
some respects, but it is really very un-
important element in that argument
and the very best advocates OF the sys-
TEN make no use OF 1t.
The third example OF receptions Civ
en- is the twisting Of Scripture in the
advocacy OF abstinence, especially
in maintaining the theory OF two kinds
of wine, one intoxicating the other not,
the first always condemned, the other
always approved.
Here again we admit that scripture
texts are often perverted but this per-
version is not confined to the advocacy
| of any one cause. 1t has been practlsed
| from the DAYS OF the apostles, IN good
and bad causes, and it is not nop prac-
tised by all advocates OF total abstin-
ence.
After enumerating these three decep-
tons or false arguments the lecturer
makes the strange declaration that they
are "main supports" 81 unhesitating-
ly AFFIRM" he says, that cause having
such falsehoods as its main supports
can never be accepted by the public"
There seems to be no appropriate way
OF meeting such declaration but by a
simple denial that these are the main
supports Of the total abstinence system.
We may begin an argument
for total abstinence and prohibition
by admitting that temperance Is not
synonymous with total abstinence, and
that there is no good foundation IN the
classics or scripture for an uuintoxicating
wine, and then proceed to argue from
that point on.
am ready to admit at this point that |
cannot myself prove from the scripture
that il is the Gsd ordered duty OF every
person totally to abstain from that which
intoxicates. l cannot say that there Is
the same scripture warrant for demand
ING that all shall refrain from all use oil
LIQUOR that exists for demanding that all
shall abstain from stealing or lying.
The use of intoxicants occupies posi-
ton somewhat similar to that OF slavery.
1t is not directly forbidden, but there
are words of caution, principles OF Char
ity and expediency, that work silently
and issue in the voluntary abandon
ment OF such use. The more the
spirit of the Bible is imbibed, the
more generally will its lovers abstain
from practices that wear the appearance
of evil, that may be misunderstood or
lead others into wrong. As the silent,
unobtrusive working OF the Golden
Rule in Individual hearts has resulted
in the abolition of slavery almost all
over the world, the similar influence OF
the principles Of Paul, or OF the require
ment to glorify God IN even our eating
and drinking may cause men to find
more real pleasure in abstalnlng from,
than in the indulgence in, the use OF Ii
quors as beverages.
We may not, without the help OF the
two-kind-oi-wine theory, demand total
abstinence, but we may still have good
reasons to urge persons to voluntarily
adopt it. We can say to every person,
it will do you no harm, it may be OF in
calcuable service to you, 1t may in
crease your influence for good over
others, it will enable you consistently
to work heartily in the temperance
cause, and it will give you the
assurance that you can never
be lead unsuspectingly into bondage to
drink and drunkard's grave. We can
say to every man that has ever been in
toxicated, to every descendent of intern
perate parents or OF a regularly drinking
ancestry, to every Young man exposed
to the temptations OF city life 1t is your
only safe course, you take your first
glass at your peril. And We can exhibit
the perils of indulgence, pointing to the
thousands OF examples OF persons who
never dreamed than they were anything
more than moderate and occasional
drinkers until suddenly awakened, too
late, to the fact that their drunken hab.
its were already confirmed. With the
revelations constantly made OF the rrac-
teal and common outcome OF drinking
liauors, we do not need the aid OF
theory that rests upon doubtful usage
of classical writers and doubtful inter-
probation of Scripture texts. We may
therefore deny that what are termed the
three false arguments are the "nain
supports" of total abstinence.
The second reason assigned for the be-
tief that the total abstinence system
will not prevail is its uananiiRsss. To
put it ont Of the power OF people to use
LIQUORS because they may abuse them
and hurt themselves is to treat men as
il they were children. Instead OF train
ING them to selicontrol by leaving them
free to get drunk, We put it beyond their
power to drink. This, it is said, people
will not submit to, "The community
will not unreasonably las they think
be put into leading strings and kept in
a permanent nursery
Now We grant it would be more CON-
plimentary to our human nature to as
sumo the presence in men OF the power
and disposition of self-control and not
try TO remove temptation from them,
but allow them rather in their manli.
ness to resist it. We grant that is
nobler race Of beings that in the pres
ence of manifold temptations to sin, re-
SYST them all. And II We could wisely
and safely treat men as possessed OF this
power of seli-control We shonld much
prefer that way.
But the facts are against us, and all
history and all experience teach the
folly in legislation and moral movement
OF ignoring the depravity OF human ma
ture. We have certainly tried long
enough the plan of not removing the
temptations to drunkenness from men
to be sure that the result is simply the
growth of-not selfcontrol-but the re-
verse. 1t is because so l~ge number OF
our fellow men fall, the helpless victims
of intoxication, that We are constrained
at last to cry out: Lessen the number
of temptations; remove them altogether,
ifpossible."
As to the prediction that the peo-