The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1888-10-12
DRUNKENNESS.
for The Egls and Intelligenner.

Written for The Egis and Intelligenner.
Drunkenness is a vice. In all its stages vice. |
lion and SOW. But with evident Injustice to- |
the brute. The ape by his antics, ridiculous in |
our eyes, gives expression to a God-given frolic-
some nature. The lion Is not fierce and cruel |
without a purpose. 1.-The lions roaring after |
their prey, do seek their meat from God" The |
SOW, though she return to her walowing in the |
mire does so In obedience to a healthiul instinct;
she never wallows like a drunkard, in her own |
Nth. Drunkenness, In any degree, is degra-
dalton to man. 1t is a monster of horrd mien
in whose train are often found poverty, misery
and woe. 1t is crime against self, ones family
ness be suppressed or checked2 During this
century the question has especially occupied
Christians and philanthropsts in our county,
At Arst temperance societies, rightly so called,
commended against immoderate use of what, in ex-
cess, produces drunkenness. Out OF these soon
grew societies retaining the The, old name but ncu-
alone relied on. The victim to intemperance was
addressed as reasonable being. Later 1t has been
now there is q growing party that hopes to do
away with all drunkenness by taking away the
power to get drunk The PrGhbtop party
bid throughout theUnited States the sale, manu-
facture and importation of all liquors contain
ing In any degree the cause Of drunkenness, al
coho Exception In favor OF arts and medicine
Is spoken OF. few years ago prohibition OF. 1.-the
sale OF all intoxlcs', h neverases IN hsrtord
called the local option law, and soon we are to
be called on to decide at the polls the question
of liquors be permitted on tho payment of a high
license2 Among all good citizens the question
is simply, (which restraint is the more likely to
lessen drunkenness and its attendant evils?" The
question touches expedience only. The sale of
alcoholic liquors is alone considered. Advocates
ford openly ' and Continuously said, I'VE do not
wish to control what goes on 10 mans ewn pri-
vste house. We intend only to prevent rum
ton In its fullness been avowed. there Ia little
doubt that local option could not have been car
red in the county. Without doubt there were
advocates of the measure who. glad to secure
vantage ground, looked forward to the time
when their principles may be more thoroughly
enforced, when change In public sentm cnt
may permit the passage Of more stringent en-
actments. Nothing short Of the punishment by
law of the use or possession of anything contain
ing the poison alcohol, could satisfy the require
ments of their principles Perhaps all that they
can demand may DO legal; I. e.. within the pro-
vince of the law. Our highest courts have de-
cided that the State has the power to prohibit as
well as regulate traffic In intoxicating liquors
But the exercise of power Is not always consist
ent with right. Laws change; right is immu-
table. In the establishing of law expedience
may well he-generally is-a guide. The mere
politician lin the better sensel cognizant of all
the difficulties of government may persuade him
self that the best that can be effected under ex-
nounce as "theorists.S "doctrinaires, those who
can not compromise, can not yield their convic-
tons Of what should he, for the sake OF obtaining
in part what they wholly approve and desire.
But yet 1t is clear to the morast that II right be
evident, nothing short, of this should satisfy.
Inc question DeIOre inc CltlZenS OF HhrtOrQ 10
both political and moral. But in considering
any question a Christian can not set aside
Christian principles. those that bind him to act
in all things at all times as God has bid him. And
he seeks Gods will. not in the promptings of his
better nature only, but, as expressed In God
written word. Without doubt many who are
called on to vote on the liquor question In No
vember are persuaded that what most concerns
them is to decide, rs the sale of what may lead
10 drunkenness right, |. O., consistent with Gods
law2" II not, then whether local option be q
success or not, whether prohibition do or do not
Of other mems sins +; We cannot sanction evil
we can not consent to sell, at any price, the
States authority to do evil; we must vote
against high license and for prohibition. The
statesman may talk as he will about striving &c
regulate an evil that he can not suppress the
man with the one idea that he must in all things
seek TO please God can not discuss the propriety