Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1891-05-14
THE THEORY OF PROHIBITION.

by it. or that church courts ought TO pro-
nounce ii the voice of religion. Indeed,
the whole argument for proh 1 -
utterly hostile TO the free spirit Of the
gospel. Now, this objection. it may be
needful To remark, is not directed against
the social expectancy of Prohibition.
Such statute, if enacted, the good citizen
will welcome, or submit to, as an expert
ment for the public veal. II not approy-
ed, it may at least be tolerated. But this
is quite other than the imposition OF 1t
as q moral precept, or the preaching OF it
in such form. Assuch 1t Is simply mon
strOus.
2. AS further emphazing the points al
ready made and adding to them, it is to
be noted that the real principle involved
in Prohibition is directly adverse to the
spirit, the method, and the aim of Chris
tfan morals. Aside from the social
events, the thing proposed by the moral
attitude of the measure is to reduce vice
and promote virtue, to rescue and reform
the drunkard, and to deliver others from
temptation. ut may be safely said that
sirous OF such benefcent ends, IS oppos-
ed to such method of reaching them.
The philosopher will tell you that, as q
matter or fact, you can not make men
virtuous by compulsion. To this the
Christian moralist will add that you
0u20G u0b bO tTys Oudt you SLOu1u IUts Ii
you could. The ideal of Christian man
hood is In spiritual and moral power in
inward gracious strength, not external
safeguards: in the self-control of manly
virtue, not in continuous pupilage to SUI
perior restrictive negations; in the VIC
terry that overcometh the world, not the
safety OF the coward who runs away
from the battle. The strength Of moral
manhood says, " will not, because /
ought not It is a moral child who says,
!, g. will not, because can mott This lat
ter speech it is that the moral theory of
Prohibition seeks to put into mems
mouths. Instead of teaching them to be
men self-poised, self-controlled, strong
i'm grace and virtue and faith, growing
in the measure of every of every part"
of the moral man, tcompacted by that
which every joint supplieth,o it would
keep them forever "as children, whom,
lest they "be driven about by every
wind Of tevilI and cunning craftiness
whereby (men) lie in weight to deceive"
it would surround with iror vail cf
external circumstance, so that they must
be sober whether they will or not This,
indeed. is very far removed from the
Scriptural conception of Christian man
illness and virtue, which is "strong in the
Lord and in the power of his might, able
20 withstand all the fiery darts OF the
wicked one, and, having done all, to
stand.u Such lis your Christian soldier,
who "endureS hardness" and does not
plead for extraneous assistance. Accord
Ing to the moral theory of Prohibition
there ought to have been high fence
around the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil, so that Eve could not reach it.
Consider how great misery such prohi-
bitiye statute would have saved the race
The poinG of objection, then, is clear.
Whatever the benefits OF Prohibition as
civil measure may be, it is not to be
urged by the Church and Christian NOR
atty as remedy for moral ills. We may
not teach society that Prohibition IS re-
uuired by Christian morals. We may
not teach the drunkard that his salvation
from the curse of run is to be found
only in Prohibition. We may not teach
the youth their best safeguard is to be
made by Prohibition. We may not teach
the world that Christian virtue and man.
hood require any civil law for either
their creation or their preservation. To
do this is false to the principles of Chris
tian truth, and is treason TO the Lord.
But in the predicament of doing just this
very thing, this theory of Prohibition
stands, when urged as moral precept
and enforced with the sanctions of relig-
ion. Verify, not on such food as Prohi-
bitlon brings will men grow to the stat
ure of moral manhood. Put your pro-
hibitory enactments on the statute book,
make them operative and successful, and
then. whatever material benefits may ac-
crue for season, the world will have
taken a step backward in true moral pro-
gress; and Christian doctrine and man
hood, so far forth as they shall depend
thereon, will have received from their
divine ideal.
8. For, in the next place, as a conclu-
sion that is irresistible and a fact beyond
denial, it follows that the acceptance by
the Church of Christian morality of this
moral theory of Prohibition, as neces-
sary means or meeting and Subdu1ng
moral evil, is confession OF failure and
of hopeless weakness on the part of Chris
tianity. Such failure certainly has been
charged by a number of advocates for
temperance and Prohibition, whose as
saults upon the Church have been often
more bitter and virulent than upon the
rum power. The adoption by the Church
of this modern Shibboleth of so-called
moral reform virtually confesses that this
false charge is true. Lit goes to the root.
It declares that Christian methods are too
weak that the Gospel is unequal to saw
ing men from the sin of intemperance,
however efficient it may be in coping
with other forms of sin; that spiritual
power must be supplemented by civil
law in order to redeem the world that
the preacher of righteousness, temper
ance and Judgment to come" must be at
tended by the Constable, to give to at
least one of his doctrines the desired eff
feet.
There is no evasion of this conclusion.
It is so plain as to be self-evident. In
stead of relying on Gods spirit, this
preacher of moral prohibition puts his
trust in fallible legislators. Instead of
using spiritual influence, he resorts to
the tricks and treacheries of politicians.
Instead of holding up the pure law OF
God he seeks to submit to Ordinances
touch not, taste not, handle not, after
the doctrines and commandments s4oi
man. against which the Holy Ghost has
expressly warned. Instead OF educating
to the stature of perfect manhood in
A-Christ Jesus, he would bind men to
soberness by statute, and keep them
children for life. Both the method and
result of such moral training are alike
unchristian. 1.-THE weapons of our war.
fare are not earnal, but mighty through
God to the pulling down of stronghoids-
and bringing INTO captivity every Thoughts
10 the obedience of Christ What the
church needs for the successful doing Of
her work in saving men from the sin Of
!, intemperance, as from all other sins, Ii
not a prohibitory statute, but a soul
filing baptism of the Holy Ghost.
A. Still another objection to the theory
of Prohibition in its moral aspect is that
III 10 the unpnilosophicala and unbelievine
language of impatience. He that be
lieveth shall not make haste.o The
world, under Gods rule, is working GU
its salvation Al steady redemption Ii