The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-10-01
PROHIBITION AS A FACTOR IN
MORALS.

Editor Of the; EmporiS Daily News:
For some years, and up to within a
few months past, have been pTohlbi-
ZIONIST of the radical kind; but as time
passed and prohibition had not appeared
to accomplish what was promised for it,
have been led to consider, In looking
upon human nature under Its various
aspects, whether 1t is not better TO take
men as We find them, ana endeavor to
mitigate the evils under which they
labor, rather by education than interdic-
ton. If man had been created per.
feet being. that would have been an end
to all further progress. material and
spiritual. Arguing from the:standpoint
that two controlling elements enter into
his composition, that one of these is
grounded in sin and wIckednees and the
other In goodness and strength, we are
compelled TO accept the man as he is,
rather thaBlss we could wish him to be.
Fortunately, we find him q creature OF
suscsptibilities, willing 20 be reasoned
with, but who can not be cajoled, threat.
ened or driven into a course of pro-
cedure for which he has had no previous
preparation. Even the earth upon which
he lives has been created with imperfec-
lions which the ingenuity of man has
enabled him TO overcome to q degree;
not indeed by legislative enactments,
but by constant study and hard labor
and education In mechanical skill, In
civil engineering, In the arts and sci
ences, in agriculture and industries of
all kinds; and this has been essential
for his own safety and protection. Man
is endowed with reasoning powers that
enable him to realize his own deformi-
ties as well as the imperfectlons of the
earth. Like the earth. he is the subject
OF commissions, and he finds his ingenu-
itY taxed to control and subdue them,
and that his great stronghold is in edu-
cation, supplemented by moral and re-
ligious culture. Standing upon the pm
nacle of all Gods created life, man finds
himself called upon to assume the re-
spOnsibilIty of becoming his own regen-
Grafton, and in doing 90 70 battle sgainst
the evils by which he finds himself sur
rounded, and of all these he sses that his
vicious appetite for food and drink and
his passions are most peFn;cious. It is
the exhibition of these vicious habits
and passions that enables the mOrslist
and philosopher TO draw the line
Of demarkstion between the good
and the bad just as unerr-
ingly as the naturalist draws
the line between the jagged mountains
and the beautiful plains pelow; just as
cetalnly as between the tempestuous roll
ing of the stormy ocean and the placid
bosom of Its calmer days. If there were
no crimes there would be no realization
of integrity and virtue. II there were
no drunkenness sobrIety would not be
appreciated. ImpeFfectiOns must exist
until the day of the millennium. because
people will allow themselves to exceed
the bonds Of propriety in the use of
things which excess renders injurious.
1t IL not the thing itself that makes the
crime. If 30, then prussic acid and
steychnine and Paris green and arsenic,
most valuable in mechanics and manu-
features. would come under the same
ban. Pastry gives one man indigestion,
and too much religion makes another
man insane Shall we, therefore, enact
q law that shall prohibit all other men
from eating pastry, and make religion
q crime on account Of its effect upon the
mind of few. Does it not rather ap-
pear that it is the passion, appetite and
of the man that is to blame,
and not the article. thing or subject of
which he psrtakes. These are clearly |
questions for the mOralist and not the
and the moralist must not be a |
canting hvpocrite. bat one whose exam |
pie both In public and private, must be |
on par with the precepts. II Is not |
mere lip service that impresses great |
moral truths upon the minds of men,
where the lips smack loudest |
when In closest proximity to the demi- |
john. Il is the public and private acts |
Of the teacher that carries the, weight of |
Influence, and not the mere words that /
issue not from the heart. Force and ]
violence come with q shock upon the /
human mind, thai daze it Tor . moment |
Agd then leaves IL 20 rebound 10 point /
where IL not only cannot, bat will not,
be controlled. Clutch q man by the
throat and has first instinct Is TO repeat /
upon his assailant the injury which he
believes is about "a be inflicted upon
himself. IntradIct him by legislative
In the matter of his social |
and domestic habits and all has ener-
yies are aroused 70 resist and defy such /
egIslatioD. It is method belonging
% the dark ages of the world and should /
be releg1ted to the obliVfon from whence
L has been brought furfh by the fanatics
Who are its advocates. Il IL time tbs.
10 place should b. taken by reason, by
by high moral culture, and
BY education.
{ l trust you GIll pardon the length OF
his communication. 1 know il reflects
he sentiments OF many of my neighbors,
MI have therefore written freely.
VKRTrAs.
rnE MINsrREzs.
Il