The Republican journal., 1882-10-12
The Prohibitory Issue.
ABSTRACT OF CONGRESSMAN DINGLEI'S AID
DRESS AL FREMONT TEMPLE.

ABSTRACT OF CONGRESSMAN DINGLEI'S ADJ
DRESS AT FREMONT TEMPLE.
1t has been truly said that this work
IN which we are engaged is part OF the
work with which the Christian church
has been charged, and this day is one,
therefore, all the more appropriate for
such a meeting. The evils Of intemper-
ance, he said, it was hardly necessary to
detail, for every family in the land is ia
millar with them How is it, then, that
an intelligent people permit it to exist
Probably because the evil is SO familiar
that we have come to regard it as almost
necessary and unavoidable. Familiar
ity with vice leads us to look upon it with
less aversion. Yet there is no vice more
within the reach Of remedy than that OF
lntemperance, and we are responsible
that it thus goes on, to such a degree is
1t remedial. What are the causes that
lead men to drink intoxicating liquors I?
The Influence of association is only a
partial answer; there is cause behind
that, which it is our duty to make plain
and spread broadcast The question Of
the use and the abuse Of Intoxicating
liquors cannot be considered. because
moderation is not safe doctrine to
preach. All societies founded on that
platform have died of drunkenness. AS
friends of temperance we can stand on no
other doctrine than that Of total abSt-
nence, and can preach no other doctrine
to effect successful and permanent tenn
pcrauco work, because these liquors
possess within them an element deadly
and insdiOus, and which stimulates to
take more and more to satisfy us 1t is
not safe to deal with this as we would
deal with the ordinary articles with
which we are surrounded. The stronger
the desire, the weaker becomes the power
Of resistance Temperance is the mode
rate use of that which is beneficial, and
the total abstinence from that which is
injurious to the system.
intoxicating liquors are n irritant
poison, and as such can never be aught
but injurious to the system. The doctrine
which is held by ali the great physiolo-
gists OF the day must be taught, that in
toXicants do not strengthen do not pro-
tect from heat or enable us to resist the
cold We must rely, in large part, up
on moral efforts to advance this work.
The community must be educated and Il
popular sentiment created against intem-
perance. But after the moralists have
effected all that they can, the tcmpta-
ton of the dram shop will yet remain !;
upon il oar moral agencies will have 20
effect and We must call to our aid legal
means. But the acceptance of legal aid
does not involve the laying aside of the
moral effort, but is only wanted to remove
4 i
prohibited in no other way, and which is
constantly dragging down those who
wish to become temperate. As far as the
principle Of the thing is concerned, it is
iusttiable. The only question is pra cti-
cally, in regard to the kind Of Legislation
which We shall have to restrain the temp
tatiOns to ntemperanre. The only fea-
lures ot license laws which have ever
been of any benefit in this direction are
the pr0hbitory features, which forbid
the sale Of liquors under certain condi-
tlons Therefore, stringent laws are pro
hibitolN in their character, and, 50 far
from being contrary to nature, they are
the very things that nature needs.
1t has been said that prohibitory laws
cannot be enforced. In the State Of Maine
it has been the license laws with which
we have had difficulty in their enforce
ment, and not the prohibitory laws \
prohibltory law, if .judiclous, only partial
ly and spaSmOdically enforced, stands
upon the statute books as Il wonderful
moral educating influence which cannot
be overcome by Il hundred temperance
meetings, because it is impossible to de
stroy the idea among the common people
that whatever the law says is respccta-
blc. The speaker defended the existing
law in Maine, saying that its evasion in
a few cases was not a test of it, for no law
can eXtinguish altogether the offence
against which it is aimed, although it
can drive it into Il very small corner.
That law has driven the open dram shops
from the streets, and the Illegal shops,
these hidden, are very few. We have
driven the traffic into a corner, and have
accomplished a great deal in putting
temptation out Of the way. No one can
obtain liquor without being initiated and
the young man who is not seeking it is
not attracted by rows Of bottles in a Win
dow. Vice that is prohibited by law,
even though It may find a lodgment in
secret places, is a vast deal different
from vice licensed and with a degree Of
responsibility thrown around it by legal
sanction. GOV. Dinglcy gave statistics
to show that the prohibitory law in Maine
shoWeda better condition Of the comnun-
ity rs regards temperance than can be
found elsewhere, and closed with sum
mary Of the principal points of his argu-
ment. Boston journal.