Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-04-13
A Little Study in Ethics.

We often hear it said that certain
laws should be repealed because they
are not sustained by sentiment. Thi,
is true only in a measure. A law based
on a principle admitted to be right
may fail to accomplish its purpose fol
time because it is not actively and
earnestly backed by the desire of q
large majority of the people to see il
executed fully and impartially. The
3 result may be the repeal of the law,
but almost invariably in due course OF
time the principle is embodied in ether
laws and is not lost sight of,
instead of being a graduated scale
to register the temporary condition of
a community or state, law is always a
, little in advance OF it. Human nature
is frail and laws are sometimes made
only to be broken, it almost seems, but
there is reason beneath it all. Fortu-
nately, law is not quite down to the
level of the average of human desires
and actions, but little above it, con
stantly raising the standard to which
everyone should aspire
The history Of law-giving illustrates
this. A certain practice is in vogue in
n certain community. BY and by
someone becomes convinced that it is
wrong His first duty is to reform
himself, then his family, then the com
munity. The result is that in time the
majority come to look on the practice
as evil and even though they may not
all at all times restrain themselves
from INDUCING, they recognize the
principle and embody it in prohibitive
legislation. The average of the ac-
tions Of the community is still below
the level fixed by the statute in ques-
ton, but the average sentimeEt-if We
may use so crude an eXpression-sus-
tains it. People know that thing is
wrong, but still, in human weakness,
they sometimes do it. Now ought the |
law to rest on the real or the
ideal? Manifestly the ideal.
Otherwise we should not progress.
There would be degeneration, instead
of advancement The law is an up
lifting force. In time, if it rests on
correct principle, it win be universally
recognized, though even then some
times iniringed.
In mans early history, it took him
ages to discover that theft was wrong
and some races have not discovered it
yet. 1t took other ages of agitation
before stealing was prohibited by law.
Now it is generally recognized as
crime per Sc, and when a thief is ap-
pretended there is no sympathy with
him out of principle. Gambling in all
forms has been tolerated until within
a comparatively recent date and there
are not wanting even now some who
claim that no principle of right is vio-
lated when a man freely and knowing
ly risks his property and wins or loses
in games of chance, but sentiment is
moving up to the stakes set
by law some time ago.
This is the goal which those who
believe that liquor selling and drink
ing are wrong have in sight. Our
people have just arrived at the stage
when the majority opinion is that the
traffic and use are evil and should be
stopped and we have embodied that
theory in law. In Vermont we have
gone the full limit and absolutely pro-
hibited it. In some other states they
have merely restricted it. but all states
view it as a proper matter for adverse
legislation. No state allows free sell
ing Of liquor. For a time, the CON
flict will be sharp between mans iudg-
ment and weakness. In Vermont the
majority will vote Tor prohibition, but
perhaps not practise it. The struggle
may be long. but there will be no per-
manent recession from the high
ground taken. In time, probably long
hence, prohibition will triumph and
not only in precept but practice.
That there will be drinking and selling
always, no one doubts, but the time is
coming when the same feeling Of re-
liet will be experienced in the appre-
hension of liquor seller that is now
excited by the arrest of forger or a
gambler Public sentiment and pub
lie practice will have reached the goal
set but yesterday by the enactment OF
law.
This is not idle theory. but substan-
tiated by the test of fact. Liquor
selling and drinking were never so
unpopular the country over as today
The evil is recognized, is legislated
afrafnzt and in time ynust r-faIH a.