The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-10-08

caused by the evil at which this legislation
is aimed, it SEEMS unreasonable, to say the
least, especially in a public instructor, to
oppose strenuously an enactment whose
avowed purpose is to extend knowledge
of the Ca uses and effects of this evil. At
Deer Park, Mr.. Squer did favor resolutions
on this subject, ''asking the teachers to
give special emphasis in their teaching to
the subjects of alcohol and narcotics on the
welfare and happiness of society,"" thus
showing that even he did not consider that
the law then existing required such en-
phasis, and raising in some minds at least
the query why he would favor in this reso-
luton what he would condemn in a law.
This was a step, however, in the right di-
rection, and Mr., Squier might feel justly
proud of the length to which he would go
in favor of Especial emphasis" had he not
electrified a number of competent witnesses
at Blue Mountain by declaring that this
resolution had been introduced "simpy to
get rid Of The rhoic matter" +"
AT Blue Mountain Mr.. Squier opposed
the resolution first offered "because,' he
says, "the preamble was untrue" l VEN
ture to assert in the light of subsequent
events, that although Mr.. Squier did OBJ
ject to the preamble, yet "the head and
front of the offending" was not there. The
preamble furnished weak point of which
an experienced and ready debater like Mr..
Squier was not slow in taking advantage.
"He had met men before" as he then and
there informed the discomfited offerer of
that preamble. The Objectionable preamble
was withdrawn, and resolutions expressing
the qualification of the Association that the
Legislature had enacted the special temper
ance instruction law, coupled with the re-
quest that the several county boards carry
the law to effect, and the recommendation
of such books as should fulfil the require
ments of the law. were offered by DR.. Jas.
L. Bryan of Dorchester county, gentleman
of unimpeached and unimpeachable char
scte- and spotless integrity, against whom
no such charge could be made as Mr.. Squier
in his letter in the MIDLAND JOURNAL of
Sept. 3rd sneeringly insinuates, that some
book was to be recommended. In the dis
cussion of these resolutions, whose passage
by the Association could have had no fur
ther effect than to put that body on record
as favoring temperance instruction. since no
action of theirs could bind any board either
| fo tbo l. IL
ing books land no book was named). The
law was very severely commented upon.
''Not," Mr.. Squier says, ''by me-" But
was not his silence on the subject, not TO be
profane, kind of Saul-to-Stephen sort?
Did he not approve, and does not the last
sentence in his letter published in the MID
LAND JOURNAL of Sept 3rd show he ap-
proved? So extreme was the expressions
against the law that, regret to say it, it
was even suggested that because the law
had no penalty attached to it, it would be-
come ''dead letter."
Let not those who have such thoughts be
sure that there is no penalty attached to
tie dill gard of the Supreme law of the land
on the supreme question of temperance. 1t
will be observed that the resolution last
introduced asks that the law be complied
with. Are we as teacher; of the youth of
the land to evade any positive enactment of
the law making power?
Can we inculcate by word or action, Il
contempt and disregard for our statutes, es-
pecially on such a subject, without aiming
at the veay soul and centre of moral life?
Or is it pos lille that teachers shall at one
and the same time evince complete apathy
nay, a positive opposition to the greatest
moral question of the day, and disposition
to crticise and eyade the positive law OF
the land, while they endeavor to make the
wide awake world swallow the paltry ex-
cuse that they are actuated by desire to
save the pockets of the taxpayers and are
moved TO their reprehensibe course by the
conviction that the great tenn perance reform
which embraces this country in it's scope
and effects, is run in the interest of a few
publishing houses?
Respectfully Yours,
w. SMITH.
N "a a. -