St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-01-03

ness upon the courts and dragging
some protesting Christians from the
table into the gutter.
But it is said legal prohibition does
not prohibit. Of course the mere pres
ence of law upon the statute book
will do little good. Until temperate
people become inspired with courage
sufficient to insist upon the enforce
ment of a prohibitOry law, 1T can ac-
complish but little good. The law Is
impotent unless its penalties are lnfilct-
ed. 1t makes provision for the pun
ishment of the guilty, and if this result
is secured, prohibition ensnes. But 1t
NAV as well be admitted that Ameri-
cans. and especially saloOn-keePers,
can not be frightened by laws that
have no existence except on the stat
ute book.
The question whether prohibitory
laws. where they have been enacted,
lessen the evils of intemperance, |
remarking that if they tend to render
the business disreputable, if they re-
move the sale from beneath the public
eve. if they force drinkers to hunt
after their beverages i'll secret rooms
OF up dark alleys, if they educate pub
lie opinion, if they render it a little less
likely that our sons will be invited by
their equals or 10y their superiors to
step into an elegant room and take Il
drink, something is gained, indeed, rery
much Besides, without law 1t Is near
Inv impossible to create a healthy pub
lie sentiment condemnatory of any
crime. Little is permanently gained
till sentiment has become crystalllzed
into law.
We hazard the assertion that legal
proLibition is scriptural. Law is de-
signed of heaven to be "a Minister OF
God for good" "lf thou do that which
is evil lac afraid; for he beareth not
the sword in vain" "He is a minister
of God, revenger to execute wrath
upon him that doeth evil Is 1t moi
manifest. then, that we have Biblical
nuthoitv for the enactment of law
which shall inspire fear i'll every den
of drunkenness Certainly, Christians
enjoy the rights of Christian citizen
E shin. UnquestiOnably the church has
the privilege Of recommending meas
ures which are adapted to improve
public morals. Ministers are serving
God quite rs etfectually by striving t'
remove temptation from the unwarI
as i'll praying for their deliveranc'
from sin. Indeed, it may be fairly
. questioned whether they are not guilty
of rreverence in asking God to do foI
them what they are too cowardly 81
too indoleut to do for themselves.
If we are expected to express M
opinion in reference to the manutac
ture and sale of intOXicants under al
circumstances, we are disposed to con
cede that we regard this as IA province
which law cannot enter. The most
, we can hope to do is to suppress theiI
sale as beverages. They have place
in pharmacy, in the arts. etc. One o
the most serious obstacles to the pro
. gress of temperance is the unreHectine
: impetuOsity of some of its advocates
In this reform, rs in every other it Il
good .policY to make haste slowly. /
I-utleI anu ms GU dUUiUIo II'pII IU
, been eminently conservative the grea
=, Reformation might have been crushed
in the bud. Let us move slowly, fol
lowing rather than leading-he always
leads best who seems to follow-ant
. we shall move with almost Irresistible
power.