The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-04-23
Prohibitionists Discussed.

An address delivered by Rev. Geo. ii.
Wilson at the Congregational church,
April II, 1886.
The subject of my discourse to night is
prohtbdionistS, not prohibition. On other
occasions have. and God willing on flu
ture occasions l shall discuss prohibition,
but not tonight.
HAVE THIS AS THE OBJECT OF MY DIS
COURSE, TO ENABLE YOU TO THINK MORE
CLEARLY AND TO DECIDE MORE INTELLI-
GENTLY CONCERNING THE NATURE AND
MERITS OF THE FOREMOST CONTEST OF THE
DAY AND NATION.
If were Il stranger to this community,
| could discourse on the theme proposed
in Il manner which would make it difficult
to discover my personal position on the
question in hand. That being impossible
l wish at the outset to say this: do not
purpose to defend with argument what
from your knowledge of my own views
cannot be disguised. Believing the ques-
tion of prohibition to be so mixed in the
harm to the cause itself, l simply desire to
show you what are the essential features
of this and kindred questions. Questions
on which man must not only have an opip-
ion, Tut for which he must have combi-
nation, or to use Mr. Cooks well defined
word, a conspiracy of reasons, which will
compel CONSISTENCY ot acti9n and Intelligence
Of rier.
In relation to prohibition we must first
of all bear in mind that it appeals TO us
under two distinct questions.
WHY? AND HOW?
These I say are distinct questions and
belong to different branches of thought.
One Of the foremost objects have in view
is to show you that these are distinct qucs-
tions and to show the relation of each to
the other. If we are confused at all on
that, we are confused from end to end in
our thoughts on the problem of prohibit
tion. Things that are as light rs day to
one who has, ,and holds clearly this dstinc-
tion, are as dark as midnight TO one who
confuses them. The man whose course is
as straight as an arrow, and as consistent
as it is possible for man to be, is seen as a
changing by one who fails at this point.
Those whose hearts throb fastest in sym
pathy with desired reform are seen, as
cold to woe, and indifferent to anguish, by
one who is blind to the dual nature of the
question to be. solved.
Anyone who answers to the satisfaction
of another mind the chy, makes or con-
firms prohibitonist. That is, any man
who deals with this simple question,
Why should we be prohibitionists? and
tells us why to our satisfaction, makes of
us prohibitionists; or if we were such be-
fore confirms and strengthens us in our
position. To do that, to make us prohibi
tionists, every power of the mind, every
affection of the heart, all love of money,
of name or fame, of home, of nation, may
and should be appealed to. Men may,
and should, bring forth and hold up to the
mind and heart the claims of weakness
and womanhood; may and should bring
the law of man and the law of God TO bear
on the question. But all this has, or
should have, specific purpose on the part
of prohibitionist TO make men prohibit
tionists
But what do mean by prohibitionist?
My definition could be given in sentence.
But that sentence might not eradicate your
conceptions, and might not be 10 you fair
or full. So must dwell here moment.
Bya
PRoHIBITIoNIsT
mean one gho 6eliereS that tie traffic IN
strong drink should DC st0pped By lac, and
,cho acorks as % citizen TO effect that result
You will notice that there are two phases
of thought here. l deny to no man the
right to call himself prohibitionist. but
prohibitionist as | mean the term when l
use it, is one who believes in the suppress
sion by law of the traffic in strong drink,
and who works as citizen-that is votes
to effect that end. You will see this
more clearly if l call attention to those
who are excluded from this definition.
1. exclude of course all who believe in
what is called "free rum" that is, all who
believe in letting the traffic run itself un-
hindered by law, all who believe in
leaving the traffic just where it was when
distilled liquors were first introduced
2. exclude all those who believe in the
regulation of the traffic Inv tay or Inv