Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-01-27

IN THE SUPPRESSION OF INTEMPER-
ANCE.
1t having been announced that Rev. W.
E. Baker. pastor of the First Presbyterian
church, would preach on ''Local Option
last Sunday night as the topic of one of the
series of Sunday night sermons he is deliv-
ering on every day subjects, an unusu-
ally large congregation assembled to hear
his views.
The speaker took the ground that with
intemperance as a crime, it was the prov
ince of the State and not of the Church to
deal. The church has to do with it only
as sin against the law of God. 1t is her
mission to bring the criminal to true re-
pentance and thus secure the salvation OF
his soul. She is to see to 1T that her mem-
bers set an example of temperance and so
briefly. She is solemnly to warn the in
temperate to beware of exclusion from
heaven, and affectionately to assure them
of her sympathy in their struggles TO over
come temptation.
1t is as crime, however, against the
laws of the State and in view of it's tenn
poral consequences. that all this stir is
made over intemperance. What startles
the public is that it costs so many hundreds
of millions, multiplies crimes, crowds the
jalls, disturbs the peace, destroys the young
and the weak, gives conspicuousness to its
agencies and advertisements, and that
though insignificant in it's command Of
votes it yet aspires to take entire control
so far as its interests are concerned-oi
both legislation and public sentiment
Now these consequences all have to dc
with intemperance as a crime, and for the
church to assail them is as entirely out Of
her province as for her to assail the cor
ruptions in Congress or in politics. Crime
must be denounced, condemned and pun
church to do any of these things. The
chaplain and the executioner should nevel
be united IN the same person.
Further, the church cannot deal with
crimes. In this sphere the little finger Of
the constable has more weight than all The
churches in the land. Thieves are muct
more afraid of policemen than OF pulpits
The Gospel might have any suppesablt
amount of influence in the community, ir
inducing all the present liquor dealers t6
give up their business and there would
still be men enough willing, for the sake
of profit, to take their places. We are moi
to rely upon the Gospel to put out fires
but upon the fire companies. Pastors are
not to assail liquor sellers; nor are grey
haired doctors Of divinity to patrol the
streets for the purpose of arresting drum
ken men. The church in attempting tt
deal with crime. puts herself in false Pc
sition, is made to appear weak and thus
incurs disgrace. Crime may be rampant
when the church is full of vigor, and il
may be unheard of where there is NJ
church at all. Every thing in this domain
depends upon the State.
And the State can deal with crime ani
the crime of intemperance. It has ths
power necessary, for in its sphere it has al
the power there Is. Let it's decree 60 forth
and the crime of intemperance will become
like that Of theft; not extinct indeed, but
invisible, And the young men and boys
who now look upon those who commit o.
abet this crime as heroes, will change thei
the Changing, and never hear of then
except in the jail. And the State has no
only the power but the right to interfere
with individual liberty whenever it is nee
essary to restrain men from crime.
But it is said that the State ought mo-
to so in advance of public sentiment
That is true, and it is just here that loca
option puts in its.claim. Public sentiment
differs in different communities. And th'
hal dslip is that the temperate are KEEP
back by the intemper ate-those that ar
trying to do right by those that have glve1
themselves up to do wrong. No commu
nifty in the State, as our laws now are, il
allowed to be better than the worst. an(
though the voters in county or township
are unanimous in their opposition to thu
sale Of liquor, they can do nothing if TIT
judge who has been sent there, is in it,
favor.
This hardship and grievance, local option
is designed to remove. We want gener
| al law giving each county and each town
ship the right to decide at the polls th'
great matter for itself. Those that wan1
intemperancs can have it, and those tina
do not want it can Danish it beyond thei
bounds. Could anything, asked the spea
ker, be more fair, or more in accordance
| with the spirit Of American liberty?
Deaths