Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-05-19

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houses filled with valuabies. Depend
ence is there placed upon tta general
self-control, which is the highest and
most successful principle of lhumah,
conduct. OF course there is a oprac- 1
'tical limit to this spirit Of trustfut
ness; but the general truth is evident
that true civilization is in the direc-
ton of self-control, and not in that
of governmental removal of all pos
sibility of seh-indulgenee. We. ex-
pect law to prohibit crime, but selling
and drinking beer and wine cannot be
ranked under that category, and the
Legislation that prohibits them as such
is open to the charge of imposition
on the public conscience. The tenn
porary prohibition of both at certain
times and in certain places may be
defended; but total prohibition of
them, the cardinal doctrine of the
total abstinence people at once brands
selling and drinking beer and wines
as crimes not to be permitted under
any and all circumstances. 1t is al
ways proper to regulate by law things
not vicious in themselves, but which
are readily abused to vicious ends.
Such regulations is hint to people
to be on guard; but prohibition is
removal from public consideration.
Now, the public always revolts at
such treatment. 1t says: s'Give US
certain wise rules about this thing;
but for the sake of respectable and
dignified humanity do not sweep it
away from the earth.'
A third reason why the plan of to-
tai abstinence will not be adopted is,
because of the spirit of intimidation
that Is connected with demand for it.
OF course this is not inherent in the
cause itself, and yet it has been its
invariable accompaniment. Its advo-
Gates have assumed violence of lam
guage that admits of no excuse.
They have condemned everyone, how
ever faithful in all moral and religious
duties, who has refused to enter their
ranks. They have confounded all
idea of right and wrong, calumniousIy
declaring the man who drinks beer or
wine moderately is as bad as-nay,
worse than-the drunkard; asserting
that all drinks, whether vinous or
malt or distilled, are alike poisonous
villifying those who teach any other
doctrine by calling them traitors to
the truth-Judas lscariots betraylns
their Master, and exercising where
they could fearful prescription in
driving good men from the pulpits OF
the land because they would not and
. could not conscientiously pronounce
, their shibboleth. Their principal
. printed organs have been full o
fierce onslaughts upon the characters
of respectable men, and their harsh
and cruel judgments have been exc.
cuted in the spirit of Inquisltion. The
political world has lately invented s
word for this way of settling a ques
ton. They have called it "bulidoz
ing 1t makes peace by creating {
desert. 1t pronounces unanlmity b,
shutting up the mouths ofopponents
Tile would ls apt 20 conclude tha
, such conduct indicates cause tha
: is indefensible, and the reaction i.
like to be excessive. 1t is exactl,
4 such a reaction that is making run
, and ruin more successful than ever
: Success through such methods, her,
: and there, may impress some will
e the idea that the course that has beeI
g pursued is the.true way to make mel
e temperate. A partial success il
: Maine has been proclaimed as settlin!
G this, but Maine is small State, ant
n has an highly educated people VIII
are experimenting in morals with .
: philosophic spirit. A few strong
: minded men there have become as
S cetics, but the great world can not
t and this is matter which concern
/ it. But even Maine cannot perma
: nently keep its Maine law. There i
e a notion abroad that the present con
n dition of Name in regard to prohioi
u ton is temporary, and whether tina
i notion is right or wrong, it is part O
d that public opinion that has to be re
IS spected in prudential planning. Th
v outcropping thought concerning tn
i Maine repression is, that it belong
e to system of intimidation that ca
a never be permanent in this country
d Thus far the prudential aspect G
IS total abstinence only has been cor
d sidercd. What we have endeavore
@ to establish is, that it cannot and wi
o not succeed, and that to push th
If plan further will be. to defeat the en-
V that all should have in view-the les
}. sening of drunkenness.
q We now turn to the moral aspet
E. of this matter. Ought the plan {
is total abstinence to be adopted? Is
= a healthful and legitimate method (
is diminishing drunkenness? One stant
N at great disadvantage who argue
ct in behalf of his belief that the tot
q, abstinence system is immoral, bt
ID cause in doing so, he exposes himse
h to the assault of slanderers, who in
pugn his motives and deny his hol
is esty. Radicalism has 50 ruthless
T. mobbed down independent thoug
re by its intimidating process, that ed
ar tors who have no faith in the total a
a. stinence system still uphold it in the
re columns, and ministers deem it pr
T. dent to say nothing against a eau
Id so popular among some religious CT
pit cles. Men are loath to come forwa
er and be bespattered with mud throw
O. in the name of truth and godlines
be They are loath to lose the support al
at good will of those whose fanatics
in despises argument and brooks no o
90 position. Hence, if one is constrain
he to speak, he is tempted to come fe
q. ward as an humble apologist al
on modestly plead his cause with ma
an concessions and compromises. Sure
,ly this is not for the advantage of trut
ng but l take no apologetic position.
en- carry the war into Africa. l have
contest with men but with false prl
lat ciples, and assert that the total a
lot sainence system is false in its philos
of ply, contrary to revealed religio
ng and harmful to the interests of Q
d. country. Ieharge upon that systt
d. the growth of drunkenness in &
sp- land, and the general demoralizati
IL A