The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-02-03
ksznPsranee serrnen.
icy REV. DONALD xcDoNALD.l

ley REV. DONALD xcposALD.l
Let no man put a stumbling block, or an oc-
oasaoxS fall in his brother's Way."-Rom. lAls.
I mt to say at the outset, that I
hav6ao sympathy with the ex-
tren statements that are some-
time made about alcohol being 80
poisco oous, and that to touch, taste
or hlhdle It under any circum.
stances is simply por se, and that
any oxe who does touch, taste or
handl&it cannot be a Christian.
Such assertions weaken a right
eous puse, and beget misgivings in
tho lnds Of thoughtful people,
Who now that such statements
csnnd be sustained.
Butthe question at issue now is
not, \ ether it is sinful under any
circu etences to touch wine or any
other average that has any alco-
hol i4 but, is the manufacture,
sale Z consumption of alcoholic
Nquol > stumbling block to our
brcths man? To this there can
be but pne answer-IT IS. It is a
stumb ng block over which mil
lions s(1mble and fall into all kinds
Of ims1 efalities, into social, Anan-
cial, pbysical and eternal ruin.
Who put the stumbling block
there : The voters Of this country;
they a1thorized, licensed and en-.
dorsed Ifit be answered "Oul
forefatiprs did and we are not re.
sponsib !" then let me say that
finding Z stumbling block in my
brother way, and failing or refus.
Ing to rehove 1t, is but the negative
way Of p1tting 1t in his way.
i How I sall It be removed? By
chissllin pairing, polishing, &C.
That hsa been tried, and has mis-
erably faled. No, but by rem6v
ing II, re- md branch; that is Pro
hihitio feve we any right 4
j tsohik ,Ikd iI = -
the objective have Ia view. Wha
Is that? The protection of our fel
, low-men. But Il may be said tina
while 1t may remove temptation
; out Of the way Of some, it break
, up and destroys an important in
dustry, employing thousands O
, men and millions Of money. True
1t will do that, but must it not b
/ SO In every good government, tina
the interests Of the few must Civ
: way to the interests Of the many
And this would be true with refer
: ence to the liquor traffic. Althougl
in itself there might be nothin
. wrong in It, 1t or any other busi
ness must 60. III put q packag
: of dynamite under your buildin
and blow II up, I have committe
a crime, butif, when a fire is ragin
and the whole town in danger,
+; blow up your building to save tn
town, l have not committed a Grim,
!; / have done q wise and praise
worthy act. Things that are righ
in themselves may and must b
J, prohibited when they become offer
sive or Injurious to the public; 9. z
The business Of my neighbor ma
be good and useful and necessar
in itself, but its odour may be g
;. offensive as to cause its prohibition
|, Civil law is Society's arrangemen
for self protection; 1t does nc
;. trouble itself with the questio
. whether certain things are right i
themselves or not, but with this:
J, 1t injurious to Society, or is it not
Ifitis, prohibit it; If not, permit
l The trs1ic in strong drink is injul
iOus to Society; 1t is an occasion
J, fall in your brothers way; ther,
fore it must be prohibited.
I "Have I not . right to drink
glass Of wine II 1 choose ?" Ye
I "But If Society has right to pr
hibit,it interferes and conflicts wit
I my right to drink" No, the inte
ference is only incidental. tn
law does not care whether you ind
: vidually drink or not; it only col
Germs itself with removing or pr
!. hibiting q public evil. OF cours
= when 1t prohibits the manufactul
!. and sale Of strong drink, it infrinl
0 es upon your liberty to drink, b,
your private liberties were n,
!. what the law Of Prohibition aime
t at, but the evil which threatens 8
ciety. The law cares nothiu
: whether I SOW my field with thi
D ties and briers or not, but II I so
my neighbors field with them
!; does cafe-it prohibits me. I ma
take my purse and fling It in u