Evening journal., 1893-03-21
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

Where Law and Intemperance Clash.
To the Editor Of the EVENING JOURNAL.
SIR:-In your editorial reference tony
remarks on the saloon and intemperance
you say you agree with me In denounc
ing the latter, but say that you do not
ascribe it 20 the same cause / ascribe
intemperance TO the abuse of intoxicants.
and therefore logically to whatever local
ICES or popularizes the same. The intox-
icants are properly classed as stimulants.
medicines. and as such may have some
use. The danger about Intoxicating
liquors is found in the alarming facility
with which they are abused For the few
who may use such beverages with the
greatest possible moderation there is an
overwhelmingly large number that
Tushes to excess. ALI admit that alcohol
creates a taste or appetite which it
alone can satisfy and therefore it lives
on the consumption of its victim. 1t
soon makes the man a slave, so that in
the presence of it he will sacrifice the
brightest prospects of life, home, honor
and hope of success. 1t has blighted the
lives of men who might have reached all
that was distinguished In the sanctuary
or the bench, at the bar or any other pro
fession IL seems to me In contemplating
its ravages one must have very radical
views. Just as most men have very radi-
cal views about the multiplication table
that is they have only one
view about.it Now 1 claim that
the saloon is founded on mans
weakness for drink If men were
strong enough to recognize the danger
so closely associated with drink there
need be no excuse for the saloons ex-
istence or no profit In keeping it. The
man who could not be induced to visit
a case of small pox or leprosy will rush
into some other place where he may
contract something more incurable than
either. Now the drink habit, popularized
by the saloon. spreads to the home, to
the club, to the "speak.easy" boarding
house-all of which places in as far as
they supply this drink, fall generally
under the saloon. Whiskey sold with.
out license is not particle worse than
whiskey sold under heavy license. The
high license carries with it no specific
against drunkenness. The license only
represents the states Encouragement Of
the traffic.
You say you do not believe that intem-
perance can be cured by law. With
a distinction, / say the same. It is
impossible to legislate any man into
virtue. Law by itself cannot do this.
Therefore l say it is only when men
realize the sin of drink and its con
comitant sin and misery that they will
refrain from it. Here, the knowledge
that sin is opposed to God, makes
him who processes to love God and
be jealous of His honor, hate and
abhor and then stop sin. Take away
the eternal accountability of human
/ 4 . -.
ing except it be to avoid the police
mans club or the scaffold. A man
who recognizes His creator must al.
ways see God in all his acts, and this
law abiding thought or principle makes
him regulate not only his acts but
his very thoughts in conformity with
the laws of God The Ten Command.
ments from the basis of all legislation.
and just in proportion as l revere
them, and try to observe them, to that
extent will | revere all other laws.
So many of our laws to day are inoper-
ative and Intellectual because they are
not backed up by a sound, healthy
public opinion. They do not reflect tn.
views of the people, and therefore people
J scheme every day to evade these laws
just as we would try to solve the "iif
teen puzzle" If men fully recognized
their duties to God, all laws would bs
worthy OF the name, and every man in tn,
, community would be its jealous guar
dian.
When man hears Gods voice in thl
laundering Thou shalt not commit
adultery, Thou shalt not steal, he has
a motive for being chaste and honest, ,anC
50 with everything else. That man knows
, that he must not only not sin actually il
both or either of these ways, but b,
! knows that he may not even entertain
the thought of such sin. Apply thii
, doctrine to the drink evil. Unless 4
man fears the sin Of fintemperance; unless
he knows that no drunkard" shal
possess the kingdom of Heaven, he viii
drink to excess. No human law car
legislate him into sobriety; no more thar
, it could into chastity, honest,
or truth In like manner the saloor
keeper. with the enjoyment Of an cas-,
! life, with quick sales and large profits
, will continue to sell while there are fool
to buy, unless he is restrained by tn
! fear of Gods anger and justice; for Co
must hold him guilty Of every sin il
which he participates. Ia one way o
another Let our people be educated Il
these saving truths, and then, and no
till then, will we have solution of th
drink evil, or any other evil
DENNIS J. FLYNN.
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