The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-10-24


gether with the relation of present
parties to the matter, is not german
to the subject, as we are considering
it.
What | wish to impress is that the
magnitude and uniqueness of the
question demand supreme thought
fitness, and a sterling integrity, that
will see what is involved in any action
and then have the heroism to meet
the issue. Every man and woman
who aids in the creation of that spirit
is at work for the temperance cause.
There are many things that must be
overcome before the goal of endeav-
or is reached. l shall proceed to
point out some of them. But before
dong so let me remark:
First-You will notice that some Of
them are urged with equal force
against all prohibitory legislation,
State or National, and some of them
are urged only against it as National
question.
Second-From what has already
been said it will be seen, that though
the presentation of these facts does
not imply that they are beyond solu-
ton, yet it cannot be deemed as
within the scope of this address to
present the methods of that solution
because it is at that point men are
differing, honestly, we hope, actually
we know, and expressing those differ
ences by party affiliations.
There two trends in the very life
blood of this nation that are charac-
teristic Of what we denominate ma
tives; that is, those whose foreign an
cestry dates back some generations,
and which are augmented by the com.
ing of people from other lands. One
is the latent appetite for intoxicating
stimulants, which however much re-
pressed is still there, and which,
among certain citizens of foreign
birth is in constant, even if in mild
exercise.
The other is a Glove of liberty"
which doubtless constitutes as strong
factor as any other in this problem.
Liberty being as much of misun'
derstood term as any word used in
our land to-day, but designating a
power existing as fact, alike in the
loftiest utterances Of Gospel truth,
and thence through all its concep-
tons, down to the most incendiary
utterances which ever came from the
sand lot orator.
There is theory of personal lib
erty" advocated by such men as
John Stuart Mill, Won Humboldt and
others, both in foreign lands and in
our own, that has to-day large fol-
lowing. 1t sees in the entire prohi-
.bition of the sale Of liquor as 4 bev-
erage an infringement on the inalien-
able rights of man; while it does ad-
nit the right to prohibit its sale to
minors or to the irresponsible, either
from age, mental weakness or drunk
enneSs. and strongly favors stringent
laws against adulteration. For a
popular setting forth Of the theory
see DR.. Dio Lewis article in the Au-
gust number of the North American.
That view of the traffic is held by
many who are neither in sympathy
with it through an active appetite, nor
through financial connections or So
cial affinities or relations.
But there is yet another factor,
which if it is remotely or indirectly
related to the theory of personal lib
erty, is not viewed as from thar stand
point. 1t is prevalent in the minds
of a vast multitude all over our land.
And it is not born of any sympathy
with the liquor traffic. l refer to the
States Rights tendency. l use the
word henaency, because as used it is
not confined to either polical party,
though as fact of history, one party
has emphasized it more than another
along the path of our nations pro-
gress.
Let me recall some portions of our
history;
When the Colonial Confederacy
4