The Cecil Whig., 1886-07-03

the effect of his acts upon others. The
simplest illustration of the idea of the
rights of man, being relative, IS the ia
miliar one-that no one can jeopardize
the property of Others by using fire to
destroy his own property. y very dis
tinguished authority says: "Every So
"ciety of men, united to protect each
"others' rights, and to secure the peace,
"safety and happiness of the whole, has
"the right to do only what is necessary
"to accomplish these ends. It is the
common law of our nature, and of all
''the nations of men," As an individ-
ual, forming an integral part of society,
on whom, as a factor of it, involves the
obligation of protecting the common
welfare, he cannot erect or maintain a
public nuisance; he cannot conduct
any business that effects injuriously the
atmosphere that men breathe he can
not pollute the public springs at which
his fellow men drink he cannot do
any act subversive OF the peace, safety
and happiness of all.
Now, just at this point, what public
agency is there which is half SO inimi-
cal to the peace, safety and happiness
OF those who constitute society as that
of Rum2 We cant put the question
and limit the victims of the evil to men
to guilty men, men guilty of its de-
basing uses 1t were we'll indeed,
could the limit be SO fixed upon guilty
men alone, that the multiplied curses of
its use fell not upon innocent women
and children.
Our present purpose, however, is not
to moralize.
Now it follows as an inevitable con
clusion, from the proposition SO gener-
ally stated as the foregoing, that civil
society established and operated through
government, as its agent, is in an i'm
Dortant sense a moral person, legiti-
mately the subject of duty, and bound
by its obligations. This is fundamen-
tai axiom of political ethics; and it
certainly is a Christian principle. The
State can do wrong; the State is bound
to do right the principles of morality
for the State and the individual are ex-
actly the same. The State is morally
bound to provide for its own welfare :;
no less is it the moral obligation of the
individual who shares that welfare, to
protect society, which is the parent and
life of the State. The State is morally
bound to conduct over all It's citizens
an impartial and wholesome legislation;
no less imperative is the individual OBJ
legation to aid in securing that legisla-
ton. The State is morally bound to
enact and execute such laws as are
adapted to promote the virtue, happi-
ness and general thrift OF the whole
community, while the individual obi
CATION is no less binding to uphold and
sustain such laws. Finally, the State
exists not for a monopoly of benefits,
but for the general good ; not to license
crime or its agencies, or to sanction or
patronize public evils, but to exert its
legitimate powers for their suppression
ard extinction.
If these premises be logically cor
rect, and which we think are so, the
conclusion must be no less correct
that society should, in its own defence
and in the defence OF those whose
rights it, as organization, is intended
to subserve, interpose by the strong arm
of authority to destroy any evil that
threatens its welfare.
Prevalent lntemperance is that evil !!
All concede it; none denv it.
If that evil is to be destroyed, what
kind of legislation IS to be the instru-
ment of It's destructiOn2
Is it to be the tolerative, the pallia-
tive or the eradicative?
If intemperance is to be tolerated
and compromised with, then expert
ence everywhere demonstrates that the
regulative or license system is the true
method.
But if on the other hand, the too
prevalent public vice is to be radically
destroyed by removing its cause.-The
supply of intoNicants- then sterner
method must be the instrument of its
destruction.
The desired result cannot be reached
without resorting to positively remedial
legislation, and by no system of legis-
lation that falls short of this mark.
This consideration treats the ques-
ton upon the highest moral grounds.
We expect later on to treat it in its
personal, social and local phases and
effects.
HemOrrhage of Lungs.
Will you kindly inform me through the
columns of your very excellent journal if
you consider PONDS EXTRACT useful in
hemorrhage of the lungs, as it has been
recommended to me by a friend?-I Sub
Scriber.
Ans.-We have seen such gratifying re-
suits in controlling heinorrhages from
nearly every other organ and part of the
body, that we do not hesitate to advise its
use to controle hemorrhage of the lungs