Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-19

SUNDAY. ;. NOVEMBER 10, 1882
TEmPERAnCE AS A aoBBY.


1t has been truly said that "the worst of
M admen is a saint run mad" The cause
Of religion has suffered by the zeal of bigots
who stigmati1s every free-thinker as an in
fdel. The temperance cause has been in
iured by the fanatics who brand every man
as a topper that dares TO doubt the infallibil-
ity of their methods. Incorporate temper
ance is the greatest drawback TO the cause Of
temperance. Every sensible man in the
United States feels and sees and knows that
the temperance cause has been Injured by
permitting small-frY demagogues to lug it
into a political canvass, not for the
purpose of lessening the evils of in
temperance, but as a hobby on which
they can ride into Office. The cause has
not been helped, but hindered, by the folly
OF its supporter. This is especially 30 here
in Tennessee, for if the boilers and their
temperance allies had manifested the same
zeal in favoriug an independent movement,
and advocated temperance on its intrinsic
merits, much good might have been accom-
plished. When Democrats see that temper
ance candidates are encouraged and kept in
the field by Republican newspapers, and in
all respects treated as assistant Republicans,
the movement is regarded with suspicion.
Many are thus alienated from a cause SO I'M
wisely conducted, and the email vote cast for
il is taken as an evidence OF weakness when
it means nothing but rebuke to the folly
and hypocrisy of offce-seeking dema-
gogues. Men can no more be made
temperate by law than they can
be made to live moral and religious
lives by legislative enactment. John 3.
Cough can do more toward putting down
saloons and intemPerance than the most
stringent prohibitory laws. There is no
good man that does not recognize and de-
plore the magnitude OF the evils Of inten-
perance, none that does not desire It's de-
thronement or eradication. In all ages and
with all peoples men have put into their
months that accursed enemy to steal away
their brains. But what is the best method
to employ TO exterminate the evil is prob
lem that seems as difficult and as far from
solution as that of perpetual motion. The
lessons of the elections on the 9TH instant
teaches that the people will not submit
to the tyranny of the prohibition movement,
or countenance any invasion OF their per-
sonal liberty. There is no possibility of
mistaking the verdict. Wherever the prohi-
bition question was made an Issue, there the
voters signifed their intention OF rebellion
against dictation as to their right of private
judgment, and any suhversion of the true
objects and Limitations of free government.
The political parties have been made to
understand that the people will oppose the
tyranny of sumptusry laws. Human nature
cannot be Transformed by statutory laws.
The domain of indiyid1aT rights cannot
be invaded with impunity. Rsstric-
ton breeds reaction. In a free gov
ernment men will never admit the
right Of others, though N the majority, to
control their opinions or theirpraciices. No
prohibitory liquor law has ever been long
successfully enforced in populous commu-
nifty, or ever can be; and the attempt only
falsehood, deceit and contempt
for the law in trying to evade it. All pro-
hibitory laws tend TO weaken the popular re-
gard for Law, the basis OF good government. |
Hence the late temperance movement can
only be regarded as mischievods. If pro- :
hibitory laws are out of the question, the I
friends of temperance must fall back upon
the old plan-that Of regulating the liquor |
traffic.- WHAT IL needed ia a stringent license j
law strictly enforced, and thi, the respect
able dealers are willing TO accept. In any |
event the friends of temperance should
avoid placing themselves on one side and all
dealers in liquors on the other. One thing
is certain, the cause OF temperance will al
ways be injured by making il the tail to the
kite of political party. 1t must rise or
fall on its own merits.