Smyrna times., 1886-08-25
For the Smyrna Times.
Temperance.

esteemed by respectable people,-as II
great beverage, considering it a great
calamity if, perchance, the host had
none to set before the guest 1t was
impolite and contrary to decorum not
| to offer it to the weary traveller. 1t
was regarded as one of the essentials to
stimulate and inyigorate for social chat
and enjoyment Ministers of the gOs-
pei, on a level with the inebriate, en-
! joyed the social visitation, and caused
them to be frequent 1t was to the
American people what the pipe and
tobacco was to the American Indians
when they enjoyed themselves around
the camp fires of the wilderness.
Notwithstanding the fact that Anti
Treating Societies and clubs have been
formed by those addicted to the free
use Of rum, yet, the end sought has
never been accomplished, and the So
cial life of the traffic continues to this
day as the curse of society, not only
among the low and vulgar, but it is per
petuated by those who claim to be re.
spectacle and of noble blood, making
their well-furnished parlOrs the start
ing point in the downward path of the
young, whose training and education
have been directed in opposition to
frequenting the bar-room and saloon.
While the thoughtful of the land
witnessed, and contemplated the evil
effects upon society; seen the drunken
ness and prOfligacy of their own, as well
as the sons and daughters of their
neighbors, they rightfully determined
that some changes must be made in the
organic law of the land, as well as in
the social life of the communities
Hence some of the noble, Independent
and heroic, determined to stem the tide
of popular influence and to resist the
commonly accepted creed of the land
From this point reform commenced
the decanter was absent from many
tables, discussions commenced arounC
the firesides, and in the public place.
all over the land until temperance ha'
become one of the most common anC
and best defined and apprehendeC
word of the English language.
In the formation Of the organic law
it was based upon the principles of ne
cessity and prohibition, because of tn,
common usages Of the people of tn,
land, to have their toddy handy an,
constantly in the family; because 5,
many people of the land were accus
toned to the stimulation, making i
necessary for them to have it regularly
many claiming that they could not d,
without it; nor could they carry
bottle or jug everywhere they woul,
go to transact the business of lif
among strangers, so of necessity accom-
mediation must be made for the stran
ger, not for the bar-room loafer of tn
town. The formation of the law cOh
templated the necessity for the rider I
have his rum equally with the horse t
have his oats, and without the need G
carrying either along it being matte
of great Inconvenience to carry thes
two articles together with all needle,
appliances, hence, public houses. TIL
practice of town loafers and whiske
bar-rOOm bummers seems to be an at
normal fungus growing out of tn
legalized ulcer, fungus if not proI
erly treated by surgery, strong, radica
and determined, it is destined to fl
our entire body polite, and so pOllut
the land that its stencil cannot be er
dured, nor can we have any pure legi.
lation from such an impure fountain
The old men, the pure men, the hor
est men of olden times.-Where ou
grandfathers talked and moved an
determined what was law and equity
They thought differently from some
our wise and learned judges of to-day
in fact, every law and statute enacte
from the times of our grandfather
traffic until now, is libel upon ii
learning of our day, which would d.
clares all the prohibitory laws III
constitutional, and opposed to the Ill
erty and happiness of the people,
guaranteed by the Constitution of tn
United States. From the very concel
ton, the very incipping of temperate
legislation, every act and statute hi
been of a prOhibitOry character. u
haze nothing else, and these san
judges have acted under them an
!, recognized the legality of the act pr
y hibiting and preventing ninety-nir
i. men of the one hundred from sellir
y any kind of spirituous or malt liquor
When we extend the prohibition to Il
100, thenitis unconstitutional. Thevel
first temperance thought presented b.
5, fore a law-making assembly was Il
: prepondrous evil flooding the land, al
e the second thought constituted pr
: hibitOry law denying the best people
the land the right to sell, only, as dict
ted to by the law of the land. o.
! fathers and law makers apprehendC
the great evil as in opposition to Il
political life of the nation-the soci
: life Of the people-and as the create
enemy to the cause of Christ in the wor
and a proper subject tor Legislation
In this legislation they provide
that the slum and intemperate of Il
3 land should not be trusted with Il
delicate and responsible business
selling the "poison ofasps" to the travC
ing public, hence they said to the m,
who makes application to sell, y,
must be man of good moral charact
and a man of temperate habits.
man who is in the habit of drin
ing shall have a right to sell and (
fear that such a man shall impose up
|. the court and people he shall be l
quired to advertise before the time
HI | o,,r1;oot;o,, ond ba oboH Gud t,,ol