The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-11-27

natural law to make IL difficult TO do
evil. In fact those appetitcs and pas
sions which are wisely intended for the
preservation and perpetuation OF the
species seem to be immensely overload
ed. There is not In all the laws OF
nature single prohibitory measure.
They are all penalties. "Do wrong and
suffer, disobey and ye shall surely dic,"
is the Divine injunction.
We believe thoroughly in temperance
evangelization. We believe In societies
for the promotion of temperance, In the
teaching of scientific temperance In the
public schools, ard In all laws for the
restriction and regulation of the sale of
intoxicants in every practical way. We
believe in Il wholesome public sentiment
against drunkenness.
But we are sincerely convinced that
there is no virtue in political Prohibit
tion. We believe It retards instead Of
accelerating real temperance reform.
II deludes the minds of those who are
Jealous in this direction with the idea
that they are working, when in fact
they are only playing, at reform. The
reformer who restores one drunkard to
himself and his manhood Is better than
he who makes Prohibition speeches all
his life. The race is composed of indi-
viduals, and we must look after those at
our own gates instead of trying to apply
panacea to cure the whole race at
once. ''But how discouraging this is"
replies the Prohibitionist, with the
open saloon next door. Let us abolish
the saloon. 1t would make the work so
much easier" How Utopian and how
sublimely impracticable. Make human
hearts and human appetites right and
the saloon will die of neglect and starva-
tion. Must we reform the thief while
there are so many tempting things in
the world to steal or must we put all
these things out of the way, so that he
cannot steal?
Let us be practical Let us look at
humanity as we find IL. Let us abandon
the wild dreams Of boyhood, when we
thought the world ought to be made a
Paradise in few years by a few chimer-
ical acts of Assembly.
One John Goff is worth thousand
Prohibition orators--for this reason: II
a man has within him the power OF re-
form, and he can be aroused by an APP
peal to his manhood so that he will
leave off drinking, he Is real man, and
is worth the efforts which have been
made to save him. II liquor is simply
put out of his reach, and he is at heart
still a debauche, craving for drink, he
is no better than he was before. We
cannot better conclude this paragraph
than by quoting again the words of the
Fredonia minister: Temptations are
In the world for wise purpose, and
men develop virtue and character only
by resisting them"
We hope that Rev. Jelbart will here
after be more charitable to those who
have arrived at conclusions different
from his own, that he will be serene and
slow pulsed, graciously according to
others all the rights he claims for him
self, remembering that no one man has
a monopoly of all the truth, good mo-
tives, and sincerity of purpose, and that
personal stabs, with the envenomed dag
ger OF malice, are not arguments.
In conclusion wish to observe that
the Prohibitionists as class are good
men, who sincerely deplore the depravi-
ty of man and the innumerable evils OF
intemperance,b but they are hugging de-
lusion, vainly imagining 1t to be a vital
principle, and in so doing they are vast
ing the good energy and holy zeal that,
If properly directed, would result in
much good to humanity. II Rev. Jel-
bart wishes to pursue this controversy
further, he will have it all to himself,
as have neither the time nor the dis
position to answer personalities or to
thresh over the well-worn and fruitless
straws of ancient Prohibition falacies
Sincerely Yours,
w. o. SMITH.
Punxsutawney, Pa, Nov. 22nd.