Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-01-06
Example VS.. Precept.

Tue last issue of the TRANSCRIPT
contains letter of thanks to Gov.
Newell, signed by the joint commit
tee representing the temperance o.
carnations of this place. 1t is dat
ed Dec. It'll, and is based on o rec
ommendation in the message of his
Excellency which reads as follows:
"The evils o: intemperance multiply
from year to year. and its vOtaries and
victims are conveyed in hecatombs to de-
struction and to death. Wise statesman
Snip; SOUND political economy; your obliga-
tons to promote the personal prosperity,
health and happiness of your constituents;
the prevention of crime. the reduction of
the expenses OF government, the prOlOnga-
ton of life to mankind, high moral con-
sideratiOns, all these influences will con-
strain you to the adoption of laws, how
ever stringent. which will suppress, and if
possible, eXtinguish this curse which
brings only affection and deterioration to
the race
Excepting only the big words,
there is nothing in this recommend
alton but which will meet with the
hearty approval from every advocate
of temperance reform. 1t is an un.
qualified advocacy OF any measure,
=" however stringent" to ex:inguish
the curse" of intemperance. 1t is
just the sentiment that finds an echo
in the hearts of those who have been
laboring SO long, SO strenuously. and
with SO little hope of personal re-
ward, in the cause of temperance.
Why, then, was not the Governors
recommendation more potent for
good? Except the re-enactmsnt of
the laws already on the statute books,
and the passage of Sunday law SO
clumsily drawn as to be of doubtful
utility, the Governors recomme nda.
ton appears to have been intirely
ignored by body which was ready
to 60 even outside the pnrview of
the law to sanction his Excellency's
will.
In searching for cause for this
seeming disparity in the influence
exercised by the Executive, we do
not wish to trench in the least upon
individual freedom, or to publish a
sentence which would appear as q
reflection upon our Executive for
exercising the utmost freedom of
concience. But it will be seen that
his bold, unqualified utterance in
favor of any measures "however
stringent" for suppressing the
curse" of intemperance, has placed
him so near the van of temperance
reformers as to elicit the warmest
plaudits of three powerful total
abstinence organizations. Their ad-
miration of bis position is SO marked
that they do not hesitate to publicly
avow their endorsement of his
position, and this of course carries
With it moral right to disapprove
OF either words or acts which do not
harmonic with the sentiments
avowed. The Governors position
in the community, by virtue of his
Office, is one which gives direction
and tone to popular sentiment. It
should be consistent and straight
forward. Example teaches as we'll
as precept, and while the policy
which dictated such wholesome Adj.
vice to the lawmakers is highly
commendable, it would have been
ten-fold more effective if it had been
emphasized by q bold, determined
adherence by example to the golden
truths enunciated.
Advanced sentiment on this cues.
ton requires something more than
mere professions Of fealty. A man
who processes temperance sentiments
would be criticised for drinking in.
toxicating beverages behind the cur
tain and cold water at the festive
board, while one who made no pre-
tense OF CONSCIENTIOUS scruples might
drink anywhere he pleased with i'm.
punity. The offense against pro.
consists not SO much in