The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-09-02
qoRREsPoNpnN NcE.
BnowSsstLtn, Aug. 30, 1881


10Th | notice lengthy communication
aigned by Robert IT, Stephens, and
having carefully read The same | feel
some slight claim TO be counted among
those especially addressed therein. Be
ING myself what IL usually termed a
Temperance Man." one who feels that
his position Is just and reasonable
one, bsing at all times ready aud will.
ing to help those who from n fixed
principle are active in effort TO assist
in reclaiming those who having become
intemptrate, realize their enslaved and
evil condition, and would. but II seems
cannot, overcome habit or disease,
whichever IL might be-. Also in devils
ing and upholding any and all proper
means whereby temptations may be
removed, especially the closing of those
places wh,re every opportunity Is Civ
on, and indncemout for the Indulgence
of a deprased appetite on the part of
those who, IA the direst result Of
emodeiation," (which my worthy friend
lays iown as the true and proper
courSe,) bas passed beyond, into the
path which AL are 30 very ready 10
deplore, hut many, like our friend are
very "moderate" when it comes TO lend.
ing any aid toward aLaling the evil.
Now, Mr.. Eiitor, If properly un-
dertand tho teachings Of true Chris
tianity,it especially demands seIf.denial
wherever your fellow man may he ben
e6tted thereby. PresuIning that we
agree as to the evil, sin and misery,
which IL the result OF traffic in in.
toxicating liquors, and that drunken
ness is crying evil, entailing large
burden in taxes besides, upon those
who are innocent, and at present help
less, therefore We c.aim It to be unjust,
that any business shonld be maintained
the s4ult Of which is only evil, will
We also agree that it should be- abatedl
But / .eg 10 differ from hin in the
plan las lays down by "moderaiion. 7"
Ihat word ! find is very hard TO de.
tine. have no doubt every saloon
keeper in the land will agree with and
fully endorse his Position. | would
ask him il he has ever considered from
whence tie ranks Of tho great army Of
drunkards are filed, as they drop
into the drunkarl's gravel DO they
step out at once from among the alb
stainep, or regularly fall into line
from the class which our friend prides
himself to commend 10 highly as pat
tern followers OF Him whose life was
one of selfdcnial, even unto death. "
Moderation Wa hnd then in this mat
ter delusion and snare, and ani
much Of the opinion that il ono Is new
er smolerate" diinker he will never
bc numbered among tho 10000 which,
il Is said, every year, in this country,
enter their graves in a state, which
the same Bible that our friend no
smoothly quotes, alAo says shall never
inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. That
certainly is one way Of teaching Chris
tianity. Ii our friend Is writing in the
interest Of the traffic and of the saloons,
he Will certainly find his words very
acceptable, but il in theintereat Of Chris.
ton temperance, as intended, beg be
will reflect little. Just consider how
much will be doae in abating the evil,
in mans taking just what liquor he
pleases, FOR II you allow any one else
to say when he is immoderate, then
comes in the. dictation aud compalsioh
80 much dreaded, while by abstinence
you thereby reduce the business by one
at least and set an example for all good
and none for evil, so far as that goes,
besides running no risk Of the curse for
him who "putteth the bottle to bis
neighbor's lips" Much more ! might
add, but as hc has been ably noticed al
ready in your columns, l beg, Mr.. Ed
itor, yoar further indulgence in order
10 notice an article from near home,
which leaves no doubt as TO its object.
A writer from this place in your
last issue saws, aud correctly, that there
is a petition in circulation here, and
signed TO considerable extent, and
gives the purport of the same, adding,
''expecting to do away with intemper-
ance by putting the yoke OF tyranny
on the people of Oregon"
lie then proceeds TO shed some genu.
inc crocodile tears over the "evils,
arising FROM intemperance, and "other
causes incident TO the imperfections OF
human nature" But notice that he
does not so much rs suggest any means
whereby they may be corrected. Mr..
Stephens and he seem very ready 10
meet on common ground, but tho form
er bas the grace to offer some remedy,
whilst the latter can only give his
little sneer and abuse for those who
are openly and honestly devising a
remedy. Tie says ''all sensible and
good men differ widely as to the means
best adapted for their correction.
That's 10, hut what is bis plan.
think he misses the point very muclI
when he says "temperate and reslec-
table men win not suffer any conceited
fanatics and npstarts to dictate 10
them what they shall eat or drink. "
'.Temperate and respectable" persons,
man or woman, do not usually require
any dictation in this matter. There is
another class who are always afraid of
"dictation." and they are very ex-
tensiye class too, to the peace and well
fare of our country.
They claim that restrictive laws are
always interfering with their freedom.
To which does my friend belong that
makes him 20 vicious, and makes him
speak Of "rebellion, bloodshed, civil
war, and revolution" He also states
in legal language "the business Of civil
government is merely to protect its
citizens from aggressions,to shield them