The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-03-11

a people be educated TO desire and
support measure against this evil
when editors, merchants, attorneys,
aud others occupying positions of
influence take stand, for the sake
of money or from fear of loss of
power, contrary to their deepest
convictions?
DAVID A. CLEMENS.
Mr.. Clemens excellent COM
munication was unavoidably put
over until this issue of The Tribune
It will be seen that his point OF
view is somewhat different from
ours. His idea is that one cannot
be quite honest, and shirks his duty
to humanity, unless he devotes him
self to the extinguishment,o of every
thing he believes to be injurious to
himself or amy6Ody else. That idea
is at the root of fanaticism as well
as an inspiration to sound progress.
1t animated Cotton Mather as we'll
as John Brown, and upon the whole
has been fruitful of as much evil as
good in the world. The Tribune
speaking only for itself, may admit
practically all of Mr.. Clemens
premises and so may everybody
else who believes as we do. Indeed,
everybody does, but all do not make
the same deductions. From his be-
lief that the use of liquor in any
degree as beverage is harmful,
Mr.. Clemens deduces his absolute
right to restain his neighbor who
holds a different belief. Right
there is the parting of The ways;
that is just where the trouble be-
gins.
1t will hardly do for US who are
opposed to the liquor traffic to place
the slightest stress on the argument
that it does no good. That argu-
ment will apply with equal force
against tobacco, tea, coffee and hot
biscuits. 1t is waste of effort to
argue that the use of intoxicants in
excess is harmful, because that is
universally admitted. Then our
energies must be directed to the
conversion of temperate people.
We must try to convince the mod
crate drinker-the man who takes
a little wine for his stomach's sake
that in the interest of humanity,
for the promotion of the common
good, it is his duty to not only
refrain from temperate indulgence
but to actively assist in the aboli-
ton of the manufacture of malt and
fermented liquors. That good,
temperate individual is the tough
subject. We can't make him see
his duty as we see it.
But we wish to briefly consider
some of Mr.. Clemens other state
ments. In order to show that there
was no good ground for our sue-
gestion that if the liquor traffic
were suddenly abolished by law
those engaged in it would be entitl-
ed to compensation for loss there
by sustained, Mr.. Clemens saws:
slavery ceased and the South
lost her property interests. There
was no reparation made, and he
who would today talk of remunera.
ton would have few hearers"
We are not a little surprised that
Mr.. Clemens should cite. in this
connection an act that no fair man
ever attempted to justify except as
a war measure. Mr.. Clemens must |
know that previous to his election as
President, Abraham Lincoln, when
ever he alluded to the subject, al
ways spoke emphatically in favor of
to slave holders. He
must know that Mr.. Lincoln, as
President, recommended, in special
message, joint resolution to the
Congress providing pecuniary COM
pensation for loss of slaves, and
that the Congress promptly passed
hat resolution. True, the slave
States refused to accept pecuniary
compensation, but that does not
Effect the principle. Mr.. Clemens
must know that Congress did pass
law abolishing slavery in the F,