Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-11-23
Answer to Prohibitionist.


EDS. TRIBUNE The reply 10 MoR-
Al SUAsIoNlsT, in your last issue.
Notwithstanding its hrcvity aud pos
itiveuess OF statement, we cannot al
low TO pass uuuoticed, since it tx
poses au individual prejudice of
Nuiou, calculated tosw ty the iudg-
ment aud prevent it from arriving at
correct conclusions.
Prohibitiou.st com plains of the pre-
reution of outgrowth, whereby pro
hi0iton might be fairly tested, and
its acquisitions manifested; whereas,
moral suasiou has had its sway since
the fall OF Father Adam to the pres
eaf, and all this time has been bar
rem of the desired results to which
prohibition now asserts itself with
so much confidence aud hope
bet Us try to meet and dispute
those premises of our worthy op
pouent in a friendly spirit, aud bring
the true state of the case at issue
clearly and conviucingiy before our
minds, 10y putting 1t III telling shape.
Prohioillouist denies that any sa,u
tary Influence for the suppression OF
moral evils has at any time been ef-
iected through the principles OF NOR.
al snasiOu. It is from this line Of
iuys ,j,l.jf panSatip,, that h, "A ,., "A. q,
the main argument in favor Of pro-
hihition Here it is ia a nutshell:-
Moral Suaslonist, you are wrong;
therefore am right. This is, no
doubt, u very easy and convenient
mode Of demonstration, but you viii
not find every one willing to be con
vluced by such logic as that, and the
more particularly those who are iu
the naOit of thinking aud investigat-
ing for themselves ! would, there
iote, suggest that ProhiOitionist con-
sun on the subject the following
recognized authority, namely, Dr
Hatsojjs 1heoiQgicai institute, where
the great commentator says,
Nothing appears in the institu
tions Of Nature, or the proceedings
OF the Divine administration, TO in
dicate it to be the will OF God that
che appetites of the body should
be restrained within the rigid rules
of sobriety; except that 1t be, by a
connection that has been esta bIished
by hlm, in the shane Of moral sua
SION, setting forth that the excessive
indulgence Of those appetites usual.
ty impair the Ae&Ith.'
IL, therefore, we suppose this even
TO amount TO tacit prohibitions, it
sdl leaves free to use whose firm
constitutions do not suffer from in-
temperate qualifications IL gives
one rule for the mau Of yigor, and
au0ther for the man Of feeble health,
and is 40 guard against the occasion
al iuebriety that may be INDUCED IA
without obvious danger to health,
leaving the perfection Of the rule -
the influence Of example, advice, and
to moral suasiou. There is more
danger to our youth to-day from
lrequeuting low theatres aud read
ing sensational and immoral puoi
cations than even the contamina.
lions Of the bar room. What we
want must are those powerful couu
ter attractions, reading rooms, liter
ary clubs and public entertainments,
made so interesting as to draw, SO
pure as to chasten, and SO refining
and elevating in matter and style
that they will be real school for
all OF genuine Christian culture.
All this moral suasion can accom-
plish; It's benefcence will extend
ful ther than prohibition can ever
reach, in church, or in State, or in
Gods authority
MORAL SUASf0EisT.
Mineral Point, Wis. Eov. ~, 1882